National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-04-02
THE LEG END oFST row.
A swampoodIe Cat-astropbe--A Tale with 4
Moral.

AswanpoodIe Cat-astropbe--A Tale with y
Moral.
CHAPTER Far beyond the Government
printing Office In the land Of the billy goat where
flows the Tiber and sings the bull.frog, dvelt an
ancient feline, OF the gender masculine, yclcpt
ST. Thomas. Beneath tho shadows Of ST. Aloysius'
tower was born into this world st. Thomas, the
elder Of twins. But tho brother met an early
fate, and was found at morn floating upon the
waters Of pond near by, thus leaving Saint
Thomas sole heir to the estate Of Thomas list.
Of the kittenhood Of Saint Thomas there is little
to relate excepting that IL was passed In unin.
terruptea peace, save q few hair-6readth escapes
from the same treaeherous pool In which tho
neither did he spin" but he was feasted by his
maternal sncestor. who survived the elder
Thomas BY several years, upon tho latest Of rats
crock by the mistress Of the manse, Kitty Mac.
Ginnlss. And betimes Saint Thomas became n
r ssa tn, she T nas ne
the hands0mest cat within the precincts OF Swan.
poodle But alas his vanity proved his ruin, for
tales of nattsry and the LIES troubles Of this
noble Thomas cat begun to end, lu'-
SnArTLG MANY were the moonligh t nights
and his beloved Scratcbilina were wont to meet
and make melodlous the midnights summer air
dom, known TO the dsnizens of that romantic sec
ton as Mike MSloney, would lay in wait. with
history Of St. Thomas, and take upthe tale Of the
cat In the later years Of his life.
CHAPTRR lIl.-Twns the sprlugtime. Luna's
bright lace had Just appea ed above the hills Of
she threw the s Of hsr smiles
reflected the sh slows Of Mr.. OLtherty's cow
shed deer into the waters Of Finncgan's pond.
The bells OF 81. Aloysious had tolled the hour Of
midnight, and the chorus of bull.ffogs from the
surrounding water grew loud'r as the southern
reigned over siumbsriag SwamroodIe Our hero.
81. Thomas who slumbered upon the roof ut n
romantic brick.klin, yawned, stretched HIS weary
limbs and arote, as the echoes OF the bells died
away in the distance. He was aweary from .
pigeon eSpedi ton, into which he had engaged
before Aurora's rays ceased to light the western
But not long did ct. Thomas remain In llstiess
contemplation Of the beauties Of his native
which caused his heart TO soften with the tender
feelings Of love. IT was the voice Of his own
50 familiar 10 his ear are heard. The voice is
deep and earnest It is the voice OF q stranger.
Cautiously st. Thomas peers over the edge or
that which turns his love into hate and hiIs his
heart with the dreadful crime Of murder. For
there, teaied upon the box Of demoraliIed cart,
scraichilias, her head resting upon the shoulders
OF q strange feline, while she spoke her love in |
One brief moment only did our hero stand as Il |
aNTE q ,hs sPGs 'hsr he prepared for The
soul. Urouching low, and utternv one long,
piercing howl, he Jumped upon his victim.
tHhrrKR lV.-Ths sound OF STRIFE that had
echoed with such startling elearncss across the
waters OF Finngan pond had died away, and a
more startling stiffness reigned. Upon the face
Of the orb OF night there was blood. Upon the
ranks OF the waters two corpses lay In all their
ghastliness-the lives OF the beautiful Scratchl.
lima had ned forever. A hgure moved slowly !
along by the cOw-shed. 1t was st. Thomas, with |
the stain Of murder upon his soul and terrible |
cut across his back But hsshi lie stops. There
Is q sound that causes the blood OF the murderer
10 CONCEAL. The terrible ogre, Mike Maloney,
STANDS before the murderOus feline. There is q |
nash, piercing cry, and St. Thomas is waited |
to-let us hope-the blissful abode OF feline |
ieiieity' cat heaven. RsquisS-est In pare