The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-03-08
MRS. BUNSBY'S CAT.

one emu, was the home OF the DClittle'S-
type Of thousand other homes in New
England.
by the doorway, now illuminated by
the last rays of the setting sun, sat Mr..
Doiittle, smoking his evening pipe With.
in the door sat Mrs. Dolittle, stringing ap.
pies. Their ages you could not have
guessed within a dozen years, because
You could not have told how many of the
lines on hands and faces were written by
Father Time, and how many were due to
unintermittent toll. while there were no
little subterfuges of dress to conceal de.
fects or set off attractions. In all this
they also were types of their class.
Never had the Dolittles known actual
want; never had they known what it was
to possess a dollar for which they had not
twenty different uses. Yet they had L.
bored on contentedly enough, making the
days toll meet the days necessities, and
this was all they expected to do. Not but
that they had their dreams, like other
mortals. Even now they were discussing
the good fortune of neighbor who had
lately received u bequest of thousand
dollars
''If all the world should die, shouldn't
inherit thousand dollars" said Mr.. Do
little.
Nor l either" said his wife. ~ re-.
member | read story once-a real nice
story it Mas-about girl that went
through all kinds of trials and tribulations,
despair, news came that her Uncle Rich
ard. way Oft in the Indies, had died and
left her all his money. couldn't help
thinking, what if that should happen to
me- But then, never had an uncle, so
how could he go OFT to the Indies and
DIZZY"
Mr.. Dolittle pulled away in silence a
few minutes, and then said
1t does seem, sometimes, as though
the Lord showed partiality, giving 80
much to some folks, and so little to
Others
Why, husband, I'm afraid that's
wicked. Perhaps he does it because some
folks can take care of it better than
Others"
"Umph"' grunted Mr.. Dolittle. 81
guess could take care of it as we'll as old
Wyatt; l shouldn't be afraid to risk it,
any way"
Well, don't know as should He
haint got half your gumption, that's GER
tam and as to his wife, She don't know B
from broomstick, as you may say"
said Mrs. Dolittle; then breaking off sud.
denly, she exclaimed, MY gracious,
who's that.'
..'Taint anybody that lives round here, "
said her husband.
Anybody might know that" said she.
He's coming this way, as true as you
live.''
"'Taint likely" said her husband.
He is, thought @
All doubt was set at rest, for the object
of these remarks, a gentleman in black
bioadcloth, now left the highway, and
crossing the green, approached the house.
Bowing politely, he said
This is the residence of Mr.. DOlittle,
/ believe"
Well, yes, sir, calc'iate l own the
place. Don't know of anybody else that's
got any claim upon it," answered Mr..
Dolittle facetiously.
Just so. Nice thing to have a clear
title. as we of the legal profession under
stand very well. That isn't what came
to talk about, however. My errand, in
fact, is to your wife,
At these words, Mrs. Dolit;le pushed
her basket under the table, pulled of her
apron and tucked it behind the basket,
rolled down her sleeves, and even took q
sly peep into the looking glass all be.
fore the stranger had fairly crossed the
threshold.
This is my wife," announced Mr..
Dolittle.
"And I am Mr.. Driscoll," said the
gentleman, taking the chair to which Mrs
Dolittle motioned him.
g don't remember as ever / knew any.
body by the name of Driscoll," said Mrs.
Dolittle, doubtfully, and beginning to
think there was some mistake in the mat
FOR nd I, 81, 4.
sought, after all. But his next words re.
moved her doubts.
Your maiden name was Nancy futile,
was it not."
:" 1t was, sir, now peering into his face,
with heightened curiosity
And some years before your marriage,
you were in the service of Mrs Bunsby ~
SO l was" exclaimed Mrs Dollttle.
Then, madam, have news for YOU"
Good news, hope"
Most persons would so regard it, and
yet, as is ever the case in this world, the
bitter is mingled with the sweet. Mrs,
Bunsby herself is dead"
My poor old mistress! And what
allied her!''
"She died sitting in her chair. Apo
plexy, most likely; but before her death
she made will"
Mrs. Doolittle leaned forward eagerly
Our deceased friend was, as you
know, woman of many peculiarities.
One of them was great fondness for
pets" Then, drawing from his pocket a
legal looking document, he read, Z" l give
and bequeath my beloved cat, Spotted
Tail. to my former serving maid, Nancy
futile, now the wife of Thomas Dolittle "
Mrs. Dolittle's cOuntenance fell.
nd in hot cos1 It'll
be properly cared for, without detriment
to said Nancy, / further devise that the
sum of sixty dollars be paid to said
Nancy annually during the life of said
Spotted Tail, or SO long as said Nancy
shall observe the conditions .hereunto
affixed"
Then followed minute directions fol
the treatment of the cat, which Mr.. Dris.
coll having read, he asked if Mrs. Dolit.
tie desired to accept the bequest on these
terms. o Is s&
Certainly do, - said she. "I'd have
taken care of the poor beast, any way
and sixty dollars don't grow on every
bush.''
Then the cat shall be sent to You TO-
morrow" said Mr.. Driscoll, and, return
ing the will to his pocket, he took hi
leave without more ado.
Well, if that don't beat ALI" ex
claimed Mrs. Dolittle.
The luck's on our side this time" re-
turned her husband. "Sixty dollars q
year! Why, that's the interest Of thDu.
sand, SO We are as we'll Oft as Sam Wyatt
after all, and better, because he'll fool his
away, like enough, and ours is all tied ur
safe"
Late in the afternoon of the following
day, a carriage and pair dashed across the
green and stopped in front of Mr.. Do
Titles door. Spotted Tail had arrived.
Never did ease-loving bachelor trave
with more appliances for comfort thar
this fortunate animal. First. he himself
was handed out, lying in . basket, lined
and cushioned. Then followed . bottle
OF mix. the wing of a chicken and 9
hara boiled egg, the remains of his lunch
Next came porcelain plaae and saucer
his ordinary dining utensils-a paper
Gag containing catnip: and a porringer tc
veritable he'd with eiSlor Ho,r- -:1,-