Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-06-13
Cats and Candy.

I knew by the sympathetic glow up
on his bald head knew by the
thoughtful look upon his face that Bill
bury's memory was busy conjuring up
a "reminiscences of his youthful days.
His infiction was coughed in the follow
ing language -
Me and 10, were boys then. and didn't
worry about nuthin, only how to shirk
school and keep up revinin' state of
devilment at all times. We had prem
tice at our house, and he was the best
hearted, forgivin' and onselfish Teller
ever see, we'll, there couldn't be better
boy than he was, take him how you
would.
I'VE was Away Fostering him, and
FASTING hoss-bills on his back, and so
on; sometimes we'd crowd in an bunk
with him, Notwithstanding his 0bjec-
tons, an then we'd let on to get mad
an fight acrost him, so as to keep him
stirred up like. He was nineteen, long.
lank, and bashful; he was fifteen, and
tolerably lazy and worthless.
One night sister Nell gave candy
pullin' an started us off to bed early, so
as the comply could have full swing
an we run in on Jim to have some fun.
Our window looked out on the roof of
! the kitchen, an about ten o'clock a
| couple of old tom cats got to rarin' an
| chargin' around on it, an carryin' on
like sin. There was four inches of snow
on the roof, and it was frozen so that
| there was right smart of crust on it,
and the moon was shinin' bright, an
| we could see them cats like day light.
First, they'd stand off an e.ow-yow-
VOW, just as if they were a cussin' one
another, you know, an bow up their
backs an push up their tails, an swell
around an spit. all of sudden, the gray
cat he'd snatch handful of fur out of
the yaller cats ham, an spin him
around like the button on barn door.
But the yaller cat was game an he'd
come an clinch, an the way they'd
make the fur fly was perfectly powerful.
We'll, Jim he got disguised with the
row an lowed he'd climb out there an
shake IN ofi'n that roof. He hadn't
RELY no notion of DOM it likely. but we
everlastin'ly logged him an bully
ragged him, an lowed he always
Dragged how he wouldn't take dare,
an so on, till biMeby he histed up the
winder, an 10 an behold you he went
but shirt. You ought to see him cree
| plu OfCl UAdU ASC3 OIL NIS5SAh Lis wv
nails an his finger nails in for to keep
from sIippin'; an above all, you ought
to have seen that shirt fappin' in the
wind, and them long, ridjck 'lOus shanks
OF his'n glistenin' in the moonlight
Them comp'ny folks was down there
under the eaves-the whole squad OF
'em under that ornery shed of old dead
Washin'ton Bower vines-au sett'n
round two dozen sassers of hot candy,
which thed'd sOt in the snow to COOL
An they was laughin' an talkin' live
ly; but they didn't dream Of the pEno-
rama that was goin' on over their
heads. Well, Jim he went a sne-akin'
an a sne-kin' up unbeknown to them
tom cats-they were swishin' their
tails an VOW yowin' an threatenin' to
clinch, you know, an not payin' any
attention-he went she akin right up
to the comb of the roof, till he was with
in a foot an half of 'em, then all of a
sudden he made a grab for the yaller
cat! Thunder! he missed fire an
slipped his holt, his heels flew
up an he Topped on his back an shot
off'n that roof roof like dart went a
smashin', slashin', an crashin'. down
thro' them rusty old vines, an stopped
. right quick in the dead centre of them
comp ny peOple-seC GOWN IKE yeartn.
quake all in them two dozen sassers of
red hot candy, an then let off howl
you'd a hearn mile off! Them girls
we'll, they left, you know. They seen
he wasn't dressed for comply so they
left. It was just little war whoop,
an blame the one of 'em was seen sec,
ond after.
Jim he were sight. He was mixed
with that bilin' hot lasses candy clean
down to his heels an had more busted
sassers hangin' to him than if was an
Injun princess-an' he came prancin'
lup stairs just whoopin' an acussin' ;
at every jump ned t shed some s. china,
some candy. AM bless your soul, he
was so elevated that he didn't set down
comfortable for morn four weeks