Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-01-26
Cat.

But / detest the cats evening re-
.Eersalsl / have often sat and list
ened to their spiteful- bowls and
maulings, until at last, in fit of
madness / have resolved to kill eve
ry cat that came within my reach.
One night in August, after long
and tiresome days work, / went to
my room to read awhile before re-
firing. A description OF the sur
roundings may not come amiss. My
room was on the second floor, and
beneath my window was grape
harbor, while the yard was surround
ed by tall board fence. As | said,
sat down to read, and had just be-
gan to awaken to the beauties of
Bryant's ages when the stiffness
was broken by a low, blood -curdling
cry. 1t was cat. Then silence
ensued. / had dropped the book at
the cry, but now started to read it
again. Heavens two cats yelled
out at precisely the same time! |
laid the book on the stand and cross
ing over to the window looked out
The whole grape-harbor was full of
cats! 1t must have been political
meeting. One made a motion to
adjourn sine die, and all the rest, in
great anger tried to cry him down.
There were yellow cats, black cats,
gray cats, big cats, little cats-every
kind of cats imaginable. My indig
nation was kindled | wanted to
kill couple of them An old boot
lay close at hand; in desperation /
grabbed it up and launched it
through the air. The speaker caught
it on the fly and suddenly left the
chair and dropped on the other side
of the fence. Then there was a holy
calm. 1t was like the calm before a
storm. The cats all commenced to
sing at once. One big yellow cat
started up "Wait Till the Clouds
Roll by, Jennie" but was Missed
down. Another commenced on 'sI've
no Mother now, I'm Weeping" then
the rest of the feline congregation
began crying so bitterly that they
drowned the tune. A little gray cat
that had no tail ,twittered I'm tired
Now and Sleepy too, Come put me
in My little Bed, "-the brick which
threw put him soundly asleep.
Then another one commenced "Over
the Garden Wall''-a well-directed
bottle from me laid him at the bot
tom of the wall. The entire assem-
bly, next twilled forth, IA Starry
Night for Ramble." Itook the
hint. 1 rambled down stairs, RAM
bled out into the yard, and turned
several dogs loose on that brilliant
crowd of cats. 1t was sufficient. In
| a short time not "a cat was visible.
| Returning to my room once more
commenced 1.-THE Ages" and was
Just congratulating myself on the
lasting quiet, when again a smother
ed moan drifted to my ears. 1t was
another cat. was not mad. Oh,
no, would not let such little things
worry me. I remembered "that he
who ruleth his temper is greater
than he who taketh CITY," l grit
ted my teeth and read on. Again
came that cry, this time with such
anguish that my blood almost ran
cold. Iquietly walked to the win
dow. On the fence, about ten yards
away, was cat--I could see its
arched lack. A lull again; but of
short duration. Howls and screams,
spits and news came in rapid sue
cession, until at last mortal feelings
could bear no more. / threw shoes,
bottles, the pitcher, and parcel Of
stones 1 had laid by for just such an
emergency: still the bowling went
on. The din was dreadful! What
was to be donep / could stand it
no longer. A double barreled shot
gun came down from its rack, and
one barrel was discharged at the cat.
1 must have missed it, for it moved
not The second barrel followed,
and the monster disappeared. A
peaceful contentment settled on my
tired brain. l put up the book and
! was soon fast asleep. Ma
Morning broke sunshiny, and the
birds twittered in the trees. AS
soon as I could collect my thoughts
| the nights experience came back to
me. Was it dream No, there
Il A.