The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-08
THE WHITE CAT.


praise to God"
The WHITE CAT.
Her name really is "The Flying
Sylph," suppose. At least, that is
the name painted on her bows-or is it
the stern?
Although l lived ON an island nearly
halt the year and my husband
and children, during those months,
have hardly an idea in their heads
which is not more or less impre ynated
with salt water, remain from year to
year, in spite of all opportunities and
instructions, the same hopeessly ig-
norant, unnauticai land-lubber. So,
when | heard papa and the children
saying to each other THE thing we
need is cat. Yes that would be per-
fectn' I, bent upon pleasing them,
walked two miles in the MONDAY sun
to a sort of witch's den, where 1 had
often noticed a perennial feline stock
disportins themselves. Having invested
halt dollar in a scratchy little white
kitten, l carried it home without
basket, greatly to the detriment of my
lace shawl and my temper. ANY graft
tude may have hoped for proved as
visionary as it usually does. Eugene
laughed until the tears ran down his
brown cheeks, and Harry and Isabel
capered round, with shrieks of delight.
ITO tn nix that mamma did not know
what cat was! Poor mamma! What
does make her so queer about boats?
About other things she seems to have
as much sense as most people"
SOthe cat was bought. and christ
ened with her fine romantic name, and
many more half dollars invested in her
than / cared to investigate. And then
began the wear and tear of heart
strings when the three devoted sailors
launched themselves upon the treach-
erous deep, and let me behind to sigh
over ''all my eggs in one basket" All
but one very little egg (small Robbie),
whom, fortunately. nobody wanted on
THE Flying Sylph;" and so he stayed
with mamma and the white kitten in
the small seaside cottage which is our
summer home.
1t was of no use to be plaintive or
timid or make myself in any way disa-
greeable. Nature was too strong for
me. Eugene pitied and petted me; but
all the same set sail the next day, wind
and weather permitting. When wind
the piazza, scanning the sea with
glass; or, clothed in rubber garments
and boots, with Harry. in similar cos
tune. trotting by his side, he went
down to the wharf and passed his time
in "fussing'' over the boat, which
seemed to want far more tidying than
any lady's drawing-room--- kind of
white cat having no little red tongue to
clean herself withal, assure you.
Why did not go. too? Was I afraid
of an upset? Upset indeed! The COM
plete upsetting of my inner nature, the
total unwilling of all my most hidden
reserves makes me at sea very philo-
sophical about any other kind of upset.
ting. How such born sailor as
Eugene ever came to fall in love with
SO utterly unsympathetic a character
cannot explain, except on the
theory of counterparts. So on land l
atayed, and preferred terra frma to
any other kind of terror or in6rm.a.
The morning of the 18th of August
last wakened with sense of oppres-
sion which was more than physical.
Although the heat and closeness of the
day were intense enough to account
for any amount of exhaustion of nerves
and muscles, still felt that the boat
was the true reason of my constrained
aud unnatural sensations. With the
witness of a favorite sultana l made
my toilet that morning, putting on my
prettiest white nainsoOk and my freshest
and crispest blue ribbons; even sacri-
feed q treasured rosebud Ga rare lux
ury On a windy cliff to my pretty
costume; and, beaming with the most
assiduous smiles. descend, to make
myself so agreeable to my lord and
master that my hated rival would have
no chance against me.
Little Robbie was demonstrativelv
affectionate and as pretty as picture.
Surely" l thought. 'these restless
spirits, for once. will content them
selves with home and happiness and
me-" lgossiped, made Jokes, even
tried to talk sea-wise; out the shrieks
of amusement elected by my innocent
criticism upon a schooner which was
coming in, with her "bying gaff jib-
sails wing and wing" discouraged
such efforts. My heart grew faint as
l watched Eugene's distract look and
saw his pOrtentous yawns and stretches.
After the early dinner he could bear it
no longer.
1t was really too hot for endurance,
he said, and nice little breeze was
springing up. Surely the good little
MuttercAen wanted to take q nap, and
would be glad enough to have the house
quiet. $50, come, my HEARTBEAT he
cried, starting up and finging away
dull sloth, as well as the stump of his
cigar; and, with shout of approval,
Harry and Isabel seized their shady
hats and waterproof cl0aks and started
off, with five-fold the animation I had
been able to infuse into them through
all the morning hours.
cit is going to blow, Eugene"
said. piteously. II feel it in my
~ only wish it would, my lover he
replied. "Your bones are such entire
ly invisible aud problematical oracles
that do not venture TO trust them.
MY only fear is dead calm. However,
if the worst comes. I can row the
.Sylph' home in time; though it's slow
work. And, with kisses and laughter,
the trio departed, and turned my face
to the wall and wept my little weep of
disappointment before the nap. which
helps the slow hours Of . simmer after
noon to pass so refreshingly, came to
my relief, 3.
1 must have slept . longer time than
usual, and dreamed heavily and
gloomily. / seemed to hear the sounds
Of war and feel the frowps Of heaven. I