The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-09-04
SHOCKS.
A Queer Title, and How 1t Was Ac-
Quired.

quired.
Shocks did not live in the church,
but in the big, old-fashioned parson-
age, just beside it, and, from his regu-
lar attendance at church, gained the
title: 1.-The Church Cat" When only
a kitten, he once followed the minister
to church, and thereafter was always
on hand, both for morning and evening
service. At such times pussy knew
better than to frisk and gambol; as grave
and sedate as the minister, he would
walk solemnly in, jump into a corner
seat near the pulpit, where he would
sit bolt upright during the invocation
and first hymn, his eyes fixed on the
minister. Then he would curl up for a
nap, as much as to say: Things will 60
on all right now"
SnooKs was a very playful cat. We
had soft ball of knitted worsted, fas-
tened to string half yard long,
which we tied to his tail. The cat
would wait quietly until he was sure
the string was secure, then off he
would spring in circle, faster and
faster, until the ball fairly whizzed as
it struck the air. He had another game
with the ball which greatly amused the
little folks. Springing on to the seat
of straightforward chair, he would
let the ball dangle from his tail to the
floor; then he would leap over the high
back, the ball careering wildly after
him. This would brighten most cats.
but Shocks would do it over and over
again to a delighted audience. Pussy
was always rewarded for his perform
ance by bit of cake. of which he was
very fond.
Shocks was never cross with the
children. Little Robin conld pull his
tail, make him walk on his hind legs,
roll him over and over on the floor,
and the cat would submit quietly.
When tired of this he would bite
Robins hand softly, as much as to say:
''There, that will do for this time. !"
When the children went out to play
Shocks went with them. After stray
leaf blown by the wind he would rush
madly-his ears pointing forward, his
tail erect; or, if no better plaything
was at hand, he would toss up pebble
and run after it. Shocks added much
to the children's sports. Dandelions
and violets were thrust in his collar;
he was pulled this way and that; he
was half-buried in dirt. All this he
bore good-humoredly. He would not,
however, allow himself to be harnessed
to the little red cart. This was great
sorrow to Robin, for little neighbor
had dog that drew his cart, and
Robin did not see why cat would not
do as well Pussy evidently thought
| otherwise, for he would lie down, OBJ
stinately refusing to bulge an inch,
and the hope of training him into a
beast of burden was given up.
On the doors of the house were great
old-fashioned latches. Shocks learned
to open the doors by jumping up and
striking the latch with his paw, SO that
he could come and go as he chose. One
night new servant-girl was in the
kitchen. Shocks had been put up gar
ret to \ II mice. The girl was quietly
reading, her back to the stairway, when
click, up went the latch Of the door and
down sprang kitty! The book went
one way and the girl went the other,
screaming loudly. The next day she
gave notice that she must leave: II
couldn't stay;sI couldn't, ma'am, with
| cat that unlatches doors!'
There was also . dog at the parson-
age. Scoot was his name. He was q
very mischievous puppy; fond of going
to church, too, only in different way.
He used to steal into the vestibule dur
ing service and carry away any stray
rubbers he could spy, to the dismay Of
those who had before them the pros
|'pect of long. muddy walk; for what
was most puzzlipg, like the women
grinding at the mill, one rubber was
taken and one was left Scoot was not
thought the culprit until one morning,
when the kitchen door was opened al
daybreak, q motley array of rubbers
ranged on the top step met our aston
ished gaze. The rtibbers were returned
to their owners, and Scoot for the fut-
ure was lied up on Sunday. The dog
and cat were excellent playmates. and
their frolics were very amusing.
Shocks would not permit too much
familiarity, and when the occasion de
manded could assert his own righta
with dignity A few lessons ON be.
havior taught Scoot not to presume on
Shocks never allowed the dog to "a,
from the same dish with him. ecoo,
would sometimes thrust out his nose
and snuff at the cats dinner. No no
tice would ba taken until the dog'l
head was conveniently near, when
quick a. fash, Snooks would lift hil
paw. its sharp ivory points unsheathed
and box SCOTS ear 80 emphatically
that it would send the dog away, yeip
ing and rubbing his ear In . rueful
human fnsh308