Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-07-10
A PRAIRIE TALE.
. Contributor Tells of the Intellfsenoe -
Sad Fate of q Cat.

A PRAIRIE TALE.
contributor Tells of the IntelliSenoe -
Sad Fate of . Cat.
knowing ~ I do so well your inter.
es IN dumb animals and your constant
efforts to prove that they have a de-
gree OF intelligence not usually con-
oeee4 to them; and mindful of your
request while in college that if 1 should
observe any unusual manifestations of
intellectual activity, I should note
them and forward to you, l beg that
you will receive this, my first contri-
outlon' and be good enough to furnish
me your conclusions. In the early
part of March, 1883, not being salts
ned with the prospect of early grass in
our own locality, we determined to
break camp and drive our herds into
a more forward grass country. Among
the many important questions which
arose was what was to be done with
our yellow Mexican cat. Jack. W.
had become attached to the animal, as
be had preserved us for two months
from the depredations of innumerable
rats and mice, and gratitude alone re-
CURED that some disposition compatible
with mercy and your early teachings,
should be made Of him. We thought
of the neighbors-that would not do
ths whites had more than enough Of
thsir own, and the Mexicans had too
many dogs and no use for CATS, What
ware we to do? We had distinct
recollections of the days of youth when
WI had to put the pet cat into a bag
in order to move her home, even then
had to go back several times for her
before w could finally compass her.
That would never do, as we could only
advance about eight miles per day and
we could neither afford to go back
after him every day, after a few days it
would lose its charm, did we feel
| that he would thrive we'll in a bag.
Our solicitations were, however, all
in vain. No sooner had we commenced
to break camp and load our effects
than our own Jack, our house pre-.
server and defender, loaded himself.
He selected a soft spot upon the load
and laid down, evidently to await de-
velopments. We harnessed, hitched
on and started upon our journey one
hundred and sixty miles away. Our
friend moved down and took his seat
beside us. That night we went into
camp paying no attention to Jack. In
the morning when he noticed that the
horses were attached to the wagon and
that we wore ready to start, without
an invitation to ride or the ''all.
aboard'' signal of the East he took his
former place. All through that drive
of nearly two hundred miles in eight
mile stages he always appeared in time
to start with the wagon. During the
day, too, whenever we halted for any
purpose he would dismount from his
perch and mouse around, but be as
sharp as we would we could never
catch him mapping, could never leave
him behind. He stayed with us in
camp all summer and in the autumn
removed with us in the same way.
Upon this journey, however, he had
an accident. Stopping one forenoon
in the shade of q grove we rested for
time and then supposing our passenger
aboard we drove on. After going two
or three miles across a prairie trail WI
missed him. Saddling up we rod,
back in search of him and when abou
half way met him upon a full run ant
crying at the top of his voic
and as though his heart would
break. He ran to us, jumped
upon our stirruphood and quicker
than we can write it he ran up our les
into our lap. [ shall never forget thu
expression of his conference.-the hae
been in danger-he was safe, he hai
been lost, he was found. We took hin
back and suffice to say it taught him
lesson, for he never got left again. HI
remained with us many weeks, when
it grieves my heart to tell you, one da,
a terrific tornado blew ros the prai
RE and leveled the tents, and all tina
we have ever seen since of Jack is hi
tracks upon al adjoining ravine. Did
possess a fraction of your information
upon this most interesting study of ma
ture, I might venture an opinion. Cal
it be possible that in this animals ma
terial composition there was mingled
some of the dust of some unfortunate
Nomad, impelling him to his certain
course? or was there some power, SOM
McuIdl 1OACC oCPdAd1O !" LILO Inv
terial being which was at work with,
him and which controlled his actions
While the former is by no means i'm
possible, I am constrained to the latte
belief, and as I have witnessed so man,
separate evidences of mental. %activit,
in the horse and dog, I mforced to tn
conclusion that dumb animals, SO
called, do reason. and that they ar
dumb only as we in II conceit and in
difference are pleased to call them SO
What master who knows his horse 0
dog a not understand his every look
motion, sound! Yes, my dear doctor
your position is correct, and the lowe
animals do possess sound reasonin'
power, call it instinct if you will. ]
differs only in name and degree fror
the same operation in vain, egotistica]
conceited man.-Cor. Albany argus.
Self Possession Of the Bride.
A bride-even the plainest-is ir
terostinp for the nonce. IT. is aston