The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1881-09-01
A NEW BRANCH OF THE POSTAL SERVICE.

letegfdph, Wnlcn is Always saying
something to get somebody into
trouble, published an article relative
to the engrossing Partially which the
domestic cat feels for its homo, its
vehement yearning to return thither
when circumstances over which it has
no control have resulted in its transfer
to unfamiliar localities, and all that sort
of thing winding up BY giving an in
teresting account of how certain emin-
ent Dutch naturalists had utilized
Grimalkin as letter carrier; made q
sort Of carrier pigeon of the cat in
fact. OF thirty seven cats, carried
miles from their native village, and
turned loose with letters tied around
their necks, not one failed to get back
to the starting place on time.
Well, young Mr.. Tillinghast, out on
West Hill, read this article, and a
romantic conception occurred to him
right on the spot. While he was
burning limited quantity Of old
Judge Difenbaugh's gas and just
running Miss Difenbaugh's bangs
thateveniDg, he told Miss Difenbaugh
all about it. Happy scheme; born of
loves emergencies. Mr.. Tillinghast
would carry Elfrida's beloved maltese
home with him that night. The next
evening, when the stars were shining
and the presence Of the old Judge, re-
turned from circuit, forbade Clarence
about the premises, the maltese, home
returning, would bear, bound to its
neck by silken cord, memoranda Of
Clarence, his undyiDg affection and
one thing and another.
Clarence loved the maltese for its
mistress sake, but it just called for
all the love he had 10 the warehouse
before he got it home. The maltese
was one Of the fiery untamed Ukraine
breed; blue as smoke with tail like .
second growth bologna sausage, and
It weighed about % pounds. It's
name was Cleopatra. It was really
Mark Anthony cat, but il was such
a pretty name. You never can tell
whether cat has right to vote OF
not, By the name girl gives it.
Mr.. Tillinghast tucked the cat
under his coat as well as be could, but
the cat struck out fore and aft. Vain
ly he struggled with it, bowsprit or
spanker would stand out in spite Of
him. And when be was about half
way home he met group Of friends,
ladies and gentlemen returning from
some festival and expensive ice cream
saloon. They accosted him, and he
had to let 60 with one hand to lift his
hat, and as he did SO, Cleopatra got
his head out and yelled for fresh air
in q tone that blighted the lilacs and
threw one of the ladies into Mysteries
Appalled, by the fearful sound aud
its terrible consequences, Mr.. Tilling-
hast was hurrying on, when one Of
the gentlemen collared him and told
him that in bis opini& il was brutal
cowardly trick, and one that no gen.
tlsman would be guilty Of, and he be-
lisved that Mr.. Tillinghast would
never have done it had be not been
intoxicated, and he would expect an
explanation and apology from him
when he was sober.
Greatly depressed in spirit, Mr.
Tillinghast pursued his homeward
way, Cleopatra occasionally clawing
his ribs in manner that indicated an
early grave. Often the cratic eccen.
tricities of Cleopatra compelled the
young man to weep aloud, but they
reached home at last. Cleopatra
curled on the foot of the bed and
purred himself to sleep with tina calm
content of cat that had made sub
stantial lunch of human ribs, and Mr..
Tillinghast sat up the greater part of
the night, writing letter full Of poe
try, and bathing his lacerated body
with "Pond's Extract"
Next evening he made ready to
send his messenger home. In order
to increase the cats vehement yearn-
ing 10 return nome, Mr.. Tillinghast
had fed it nothing during the day,
and Cleopatra, in the frenzy of hunger
had chased imaginary rats about that
room until there wasn't left in it a
piece OF fragile furniture big enough
to break again. The only thing that
wasn't scratched was the ceiling, and
the only thing that wasn't broken was
the hammer.
off" said MIR. Tillinghast, holding
his lacerated hands in bath of water
and soda, after tying his letter care
fully around Cleopatra's neck with a
blue ribbon, "if your 'ye,rning' to re-,
turn home is one-half SO vehement as