The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-20
From the New York Tines I
An Improbable Cat.

cats may be divided into two great classes
limp and stiff cats. The limp cat is distiu.
gulshed by peculiar looseness of muscle and
want OF rigtdfty OF rai1 and DacKDone, Cats of
this species when handled are found to be yery
SOFT and pliable, almost as much so, in fact as
is the ordinary wet rag. If limp cat is lifted
by one hand placed under her midship section.
she will suffer each Of her ends to droop. and
will purr softly, with half-closed eyes. Linn
cats are well suited for nursery purposes, since
they can be used as necklaces by the children,
and when taken up by one hind leg can be car
ried around the room without making the
slightest disturbance. The stiff cat, on the
other hand, never droops, and can not be bent.
She objects to be handled except with the
greatest care, and insists on being kept right
side up. Stiff cats detest children, are about as
tit for the nursery as is can of nitro-elycerine
Inasmuch as limpness is generally bat errone.
ously regarded as synonymous with tameness,
certain geologists have refused to regard the
limp cat as separate species, aud Insist that
it is merely an unusually tame cat Every
child knows this is not true. Limp cats ara
born, not made, and are limp from their earli-
est kittenhood, while no amount of tanning can
render stiff cat soft and pliable.
This distinction, however, is purely physical,
Morally. there is very little difference between
cats. They all possess about the same degree
OF intelligence and the same want of principle.
All cats will steal, swear, and fight, and there
is not one who can be thoroughly trusted. 1t
IS for this reason that scientific persons view
with doubt the tales that are occasionally told Of
cats who evince superfeline intelligence or a
purely dog-like sense of duty. OF all these
legendary and improbable cats, perhaps the
most improbable is an alleged cat who lately
resided 10 New Milford, Conn. 1t may not be
right to assert that this cat is utterly incredible
but she is beyond doubt the most improbable
beast on record.
Some time ago this cat lost large family of
young kittens, all of whom died within three
days. The nature of their disease is not known.
but they were probably the victims of an acute
attack of mill pond. The bereaved mother was
ardently attached to q respectable duck, with
whom she had long been on terms of the clos
est intimacy. That cat should descend to as
sociate with so silly aud tough bird as a mid
dle-aged duck is certainly improbable, but it is
one OF the least improbable features in couuec-
ton with tne New Milford cat, and it would be
waste or time to undertake to disbeeye what
is mere unimportant incident of the story
On the very day when this really doubtful
cat lost her kittens, the duck died suddenly.
not without suspicion of tramps. This left
incubation, which it was naturally supposed
would perish without maternal care. La these
circumstances that surprising cat, recognizing
the great truth that there is no remedy for sor-
row so ettcacious as active and earnest benefi-
cence, took her dead friends place upon the
vacant nest and proceeded to hatch those eggs.
Although totally unaccustomed to sitting, the
cat discharged her pious task in the most unex.
cepnonaole % way, aud in three days hatohed out
eight small goslings. There may be persons
who can believe this without permanently
straning their intellect, but it is, to speak
plainly, next door to incredible.
As the goslings grew older, the cat took
them out to walk, and scratched up worms for
them with exemplary diligence. She taught
them to take their morning catnip with as
much relish as if they had been young and
fashionable kittens. She was little grieved
that they should not take kindly to mice. out
she forebore to press her own view of the mat
ter upon them. In reference to bathing she
was liberal and indulgent. She would not her
self enter the mill pond, but when the goslings
wanted to swim she would lead them to the
water and sit on the bank watching them. and
occasionally affectionately warning them not to
90 out too far.
The time was close at hand, however when
that fond foster mothers heart should break
One afternoon, just before dark, abe was seen
leading the gosiings toward the back fence.
Her face wore happy smile, and her perpen-
dlcular tail proved that she was a proud and
satlshed mother. With considerable effort
ono inuuoou eno gOSllngS 10 uouue tuo ieuCo
and to range themselves in row on its summit.
Then taking up a position at one end of the
row, she howled with wonderful brllliancy and
expression and looked inquiringly toward her
family as if asking why they did not initiate
her example They remained dumb and mo.
tionless, and again and again that earnest cat be-
sought Them with entreaties and example to
howl Instead of obeying, they deliberately
went to sleep. The disappointed mother mewed
to them, licked them and even cuffed them on
the head, but the stupid gosngs only slept the
sounder Finally, overwhelmed with disap-
pointment and filled with disgust, the cat
kicked them one and all off the fence aud then
,age1 and swore to such an extent that the
nearest neigbor felt compelled so shoot her
lead.
Mr.. Beecher must have preached in New
Mi ford and convinced the people that there is
10 warm climate" in the future world, to
= hich Mr. Anderson might be properly sent as
Jonsul Else they would scarcely attempt to
,alm oil cas- upon the public so improbable
lie and incredible as the alleged step-cat of the
New Milford goslings.