The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-06-28
An IMPROBABLE CAT.

limp cat is distinguished by peculiar
looseness of muscle and want of rigidi
ty of tail and backbone. Cats OF this
SPECIES when handled are found to be
very 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
ewes. Limp cats are well suited fol
nursery purposes, since they can DC
used as necklaces by the children, and
when taken up by one hind leg can be
carried around the room without max
ing the slightest disturbance. The
stiff cat. on the other hand, never
troops, and cannot be bent. Sbe oo-
iects to he handled except vltil the
greatest care, and insists on Icing kept
Tiqht side up. Stiff cats detest chil-
dren. and are about as &c for the nurs-
ery as is a can of nltro lycerine.-
Tnasmuch as Iimpdess is generally but
erroneousIv regarded as synonymous
with tameness, certain geOlOgists have
refused 70 regard the limp cat as a
separate species and insist that 1t Is
mercy an unusually tame cat. Every
child knows that this is not true
Limp cats are born. not made, and are
limp from their earliest kittcnhood,
while no amount of tanning can render
a stiff cat soft and pliable.
This distinction, however, is purely
physical Morally, there is very listle
difference between eats They all
possess about the same degree of in
telligence and the same want of prin-
ciple. All cats will steal, swear and
fight, and there is rot one who can be
thoroughly trusted. Iti for this rea-
son that scientific persons view with
doubts the tales that are occasionally
tod of cats who evince a superfeline
intelligence or a purely dOglike sense
of duty. OF all these legendary and
improbable cats, perhaps the most
improbable IS an alleged cat who late
" resided in New Milford, Conn. 1t
NAV not he right to assert that this
cat is utterly incredible, but sne is be-
yond doubt the most improbable BEAST
on record.
Some time ago this cat lost a 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 acute
attack of mill pond. The bcreaved
mother was ardently attached to a
respectable duck, with whom she had
long been on terms of the closest in
timacy. That cat should descend to
associate WI II so silly and tough a
bird as middle-aged duck is certainly
very improbable, but it is one of the
least improbable features in connection
with the New Milford cat, and it would
be waste of time to undertake to dis
believe what is Il mere unimpOrtHnt in
cident 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 nearly a dozen
eggs in an advanced state of incubation,
which it was naturally supposed would
perish without maternal ca e. in
these circumstances that surprising cat
recognizing the great truth that there
is no remedy for sorrow as eHicaciOus
rs active benefcence, took her dead
friends place upon the vacant nest,
and proceeded to hatch those eggs.
Although totally unaccustOmed to sit
ting, the cat discharged her piOus task
in the most unexceptionable way, and
in three days hatched out eight small
goslings. There may be perOns who
can believe this without straining
their intellect permanently, but it is,
to speak plainly, next 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 a little
grieved that they would not take kind
ly to mice, but she forbode to press
her own view of the matter upon them.
In reference to bathing she was libel al
and indulgent She would not herself
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, occasionally af-
fectiona'ely warning them not to go
out too far.
The time was close at hand, how
ever, when that fond foster mothers
heart was to be broken One after
noon, just before dark, she was seen
leading the goslings toward the back
fence. Her face wore happy smile,
and her perpendicular tail proved that
she was a proud and satisfied mother
With considerable effort she induced
the goslings to mount the fence and to
range themselves in a row on its sum
NIT. Then taking up position at one
end Of the row, she howled with Won
derful brilliancy and expression, and
looked inquiringly, toward her family,
as if asking why they did not initiate
her example They remained domb
and motionless, and again and again
that earnest cat besought them with
entreaties and example to bowl. In.
stead of obeying, they deliberately
went to sleep. The disappointed
mother mewed to them, licked them,
and eveu puffad thon, ON tho bao1 Int