Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-08-23
GLOW Moses Saved the Store,

wonder If you will laugh when you hear
that this Moses whom | want TO tell you
about had four legs and tail. Yet he had
whiskers too, and very proud of them he
was, il you may Judge from the way in
which he carefully performed his toilet
every day, stroking them with his velvet
paws. There now have let out the Sc
cret, and you know that Moses was a cat.
He belonged to Mr.. Brown, who had
large drug store on c street in those
days, and this kind-hearted man told me
that some years before, when he went down
to his store one morning-a cold, windy,
March morning 1t was-what should he see
shivering on the doorstep but poor little
gray kitten, who cried piteously at sight of
Mr.. Brown and looked so frightened and
starved that his heart was touched, and,
taking kitty in, the good man fed him
with pint of milk from the nearest milk
cart, All how kitty enjoyed that milk
And then how he licked Mr.. Browns hand
with his little rough tongue, just as If he
had been dog.
So Mr.. Brown resolved to keep the home
less kitten, saying "At least, he can learn
to keep the rats away from the store. Now,
what shall we call him ?" And the clerk
said "Call him Moses he looks so meek"
So Moses he became from that day.
AT first it seemed large name for very
small cat, but by and by Nose (for so he was
soon nicknamed) began to get bigger. The
clerk said that he grew like Jacks bean
stalk, all in one night; but | must say
have doubts about that, and | can't help
thinking that the pint of milk every day and
the rats and mice that Nose ate had some
thing to do with his size. What big,
handsome fellow he was when | first made
his acquaintance Nearly three feet long
from his nose to the tip of his tail, and his
fur was as soft and thick as any wild ami
mails. Then | wish | could tell you all the
cunning things Nose learned to do. He
would fetch and carry like dog sit gravely
down on one side of the scales to be weighed,
then rise up and examine the figures, as if
his turning the scale at twenty-five pounds
were a matter Of deep concern to him, as
| perhaps it was.
Mr.. Brown would say Charge Nose,
charged And instantly Nose would drop
flat upon the ground, with his head between
his paws and every muscle quivering with
intense excitement. Then "Jumpl' said
Mr.. Brown; and with one leap, as quick as
a flash, Nose would stand upon Mr.. Brown
shoulder, waving his tail triumphantly in
| the air.
| changing was one of Moses favorite &C.
complishments. Mr.. Brown would say
"Come, Nose, want you to hang now,'
and instantly Moses assembled chair, made
a leap, as if to spring over the back, and
coming down directly across his middle,
would stay there perfectly motionless. The
first time | saw this feat thought the poor
animal had made a mistake and could not
| \ .laA FL
position, as he hung over the back of the
chair like dead rat. But as | fastened
forward to help him get down, Mr.. Brown
exclaimed: "Be careful Don't touch him
Nose would bite you if you were to lay a
natured cat in the world, he will bear no in
reference when he is performing"
"Go on" said | to Mr. Brown. al want
to see all he can do"
So Mr.. Brown produced raw oyster from
a pail in back room, and said: Nose, do
you want this Z" | believe Moses's mouth
really watered. Certainly his eyes glistened
as he narrowly watched his Master, and he
waved his great tail to and fro.
He is passionately fond of raw oysters, y
said Mr.. Brown. "Now watch him.
Then, laying the tempting morsel on the
floor, very close to Mosess nose, he said, SOL
emily: Nose, this is Presbyterian oys-
ter" The great gray cat laid his ears back
| upon his head in an instant, as if he were
mortally offended, and, drawing back, he
raised one dainty paw and pushed the oys-
Ter from him.
Indeed ?" said Mr.. Brown, in CONVEX
sational tone. al was not aware of your
very strict ideas on this subject, Moses.
| Well, sir, it is Methodist oyster" Again
the grave refusal and the solemn shake of
the head, while Nose eagerly watches his
masters face
How very particular you are to-day, my
friend I'm afraid you'll go hungry, if you
are not careful. That oyster Every slowly
and deliberately is Baptist oyster" Still
Moses sorrowfully, but persistently refuses
to be led away from his own belief. "Well,
well, sir, you will undoubtedly go to bed hun
cry on account of your strange ideas. But
you shall have one more chance. The oyster,
Nose, is an Episcopal oyster"
| If you could have seen him spring upon
it, and, with hungry, satisfied little growl,
devour it at mouthful, and then walk off
with the dignified air of one who knows he
has resisted temptation and been rewarded
"You see," said his master, "that Nose
is good Episcopalian." ut is not neces-
sary to say that Mr.. Brown is, too)
| And now come to the really wonderful
part of Mosess story, and the one wanted
to tell you of particularly.
| A large share Of every morning Nose
spent in the cellar of the drugstore where
! the straw and paper from the old packing
cases made magnificent nest for rats, and
many was the big brown fellow that this
ambitious cat dragged up the cellar stairs
| anI trin hap 1u laid OF his mo stare foot
One morning, Mr.. Brown was very busy, in
deed, making out bills and adding up long
columns of figures, when he heard loud
rafting and scrapng at the cellar-door.
| "Will," said he to the clerk, q" ust open
that door, won't you, and let Nose cut
He must have a rat he wants to show us.
And Mr.. Brown went on with his work.
So Will opened the door, aud out flew
Nose, so fast that he looked like a gray
streak as he darted across the room, jumped
upon Mr.. Browns desk, and, catching that
astonished gentlemsn's coat-sleeve in hi:
sharp little teeth, began pulling his arm
from the big ledger, where it rested.
"What in the world possesses the cat !
exclaimed Mr. Brown, really frightened
al believe he's gone mad !"
But Nose was evidently not mad, only
very determined, and pulled harder and
harder. Suddenly viii sprang up in great
excitement believe, sir, he wants you tc
go down cellar I've heard of such thing,
as dogs quick 4" With which very clear re
mark VIII dashed into the cellar, with Mr.
Brown after him, and Nose, evidently salts
fed, at their heels. Aud what do you think
they found Up from one corner, where lay
scattered bits of old paper and straw, curlec
thin little wreath OF smoke and tiny rec
flames were creeping, creeping from under
meath. Yes, Nose had discovered the fire
and Nose had saued the store! The little
creeping lame was very easily put out but
in less than another hour it would have beer
past all control. Mr.. Brown was perfectly
beside himself over Moses's quick wit.
"You great magnificent old fellow ~ he
fairly shouted, as he held his pet on his
arms. you are better than half the peopl,
in the world, because you've not only 60
brains, but you know enough to use EN-, too
You shall wear a silver collar and dine OF
| Nyatarg ayaru lau in ha xuaak Won gnlAuHif