Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-28
NO. so.
miscellaneous.
TIP. POLL AND KITTY.

ne WISH ScttcT. nor u CockeT. Sp3il-
iel, nor Laverick pup, but n homely,
stubbed-tail. cropped-eared, yellow cur.
named Tip, but tor knowingness and
lovingness Tip might take the cup. We
had n cat also, and the two not only toll
Grated each other. but actually enjoyed
playing and eating together. One plate
of bones did for both, and they lay
amicahly side by side on the mat
Tip liked to take his walks abroad, and
puSs stayed at home, but when she heard
mis- bark at the door ran to welcome him.
One day his bark didn't bring anyone TO
let him in. and the cat used her feline
wits 10 some account. The door bell
hung a short distance from the floor, and
she struck it with her paw. The sound
brought me into the entry. and | saw
pussy prepared for another strike. while
Tip was outside barking his head off On
opening the door Tip rushed in, and they
were tearing around the dining room in
high frolic. Don't tell me cats can't put
this and that together.
| wonder why music affects dogs in
such Il mourniul manner. II Tip had any
sorrow the sound of the piano always
seemed TO bring it to the surface. We
were singing Moody and Sankcy the other
evening, and Mr.. Blowhard. our hand
some tenor, was doing his pretticst Tip
sneaked in and sidlied up to Mr. Blow
hard. who, with his handsome nose toward
the ceiling. was in the midst of There's
Il land that is fairer than day." when the
dog gave a prolonged howl that was
enough to make the neighbors shut their
doors and windows. and send Tip under
the piano with "ki-i-i," being fastened
thereto by gentle reminder from the tip
of Mr.. Blowhard's boot, lie broke up
the concert. have heard others speak
of the same effect of music on dogs
If Flossie. the cat. loved Tip. she hated
Poll Parrot, and we could never Keen
peace between them. Polls weapon was
her strong beak. and il she wanted a con
vincing argument. she would bite hard
enough to draw blood. I've seen Poll
perched on the back of chair. silent and
motionless, asleep you would say, but | !,
knowing her innate ugliness, would be
sure she was planning mischief Kitty
would be taking her after-dinncr nap by
the fire, when Poll would climb down the
back of the chair. waddle across the car
pet and grab the end of ktty's tail With
an angry new she would dash for the
lounge, while Poll would give vent TO an
amused chuckle and waddle back to the
chair. muttering Naughty Poll, very
naughty Poll"'
Kitty would drop asleep again, and
Poll, after watching her from the corner
OF her eye, would steal down again, climb
the lounge and get firm grip of the cat s
ear. This would he too much for kitty.
and she would rush for the door, while
Poll would chuckle harder than ever.
But kitty would have her sweet revenge,
for Poll was always on hand at dinner
time perched on the back of chair, sober
as Judge, and waiting for chicken leg
| or wislr-bone. She would hold the bone
with one claw, and look very much us if
she was playing on the flute. Now was
kitty's chance she would jump on the
seat of the chair and give a little pat with
her paw on Polls breast. Polls ire
would be raised in an instant her ewes
would fash and dropping the bone. she
would 20 for pussy's ears with her beak,
but kitty would Jump down, grasp the
| bone and silently steal away.
| You could not make Tip understand he
| wasn't one of the family, a sharer of Joys
andsorrows, and perfectly proper to be
with us on every occasion. Sundays were
| trying times for him; if he was not locked
| up in the house he would be sure To 90
| with us to church, and his mournful
| face at the parlor window, and dismal
whine would quite haunt us. The Doc
tor remembered one Sunday morning that
the back pantry window was open, but
| hoping Tip wouldn't find it, gave himself
| up to the service. But Tip was on the
| alert, and was out of the pantry window
and off for church before service was well
begun. A late conner let him into the
church. and Tip walked up the broad
aisle, smelling at every pew door as he
went along. Talk about perseverance I!
that dog went slowly up the middle aisle
and never missed a seat crossed Mt the
top and came down the side where he sat
near the door.
| Of course we were in a cold prcspera-
| tion, and the doctor was trying TO look OBJ
| livious to every earthly consideration and
engaged with old DR.. Pentatcuch's seven
teenthly. But TIP arrived at our door
and then his stub of IA tail commenced to
wag. and we let him in hurry to stop
any further demonstrations. and his stub
would come against the side of pew like
the beat of drum; The doctor had to
! hold it through the rest of the sermon,
while all the young girls around giggled
instead of keeping their eyes on old DIR.
| Pentateuch. and the doctor vowed Tip
should be locked in the cellar every Sun
day and he would keep the key in his
pocket. Forest and Stream.