The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-06-19
THE STORY OF A CAT.
Queer Title. and How 1t Was Ac-
quired.

qured.
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: "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 Il 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
nap, as much as to say: Things will go
on all right now"
Snooks was very playful cat. We
had a soft ball of knitted worsted, fas-
tened to a 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 a 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 a 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 Snooks 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 could 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. y"
When the children went out to play
Snooks went with them. After stray
leaf blown by the wind he wouk rush
madly-his ears pointing forward, his
tail erect; or, if no better play thing
was at hand, he would toss up a pebble
and run after it. Snooks added much
to the children's sports. Dandeiions
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 90 as he chose. One
night new servant-girl was in the
kitchen. Shocks had been put up gar
ret to catch mice. The girl was quietly
reading, her back to the stairway, wher
click, up went the latch of the door anC
down sprang kitty! The book wen
one way and the girl went the other
screaming loudly. The next DAY sh,
gave notice that she must leave; 1"
couldn't stay; couldn't ma am, will
cat that unlatches doors!
There was also dog at the parson
age. Scoot was his name. He was
very mischievous puppy; fond of goinl
to church, too, only in different way
He used to steal into the vestibule dur
ing service and carry away any stra
rubbers he could spy, to the dismay O
those who had before them the pros
pect of a long, muddy walk; for wha
was most pulling, like the wome
grinding at the mill, one rubber wa
taken and one was left. ScDot was nc
/ thought the culprit until one morning
when the kitchen door was opened 8
, daybreak, a motley array of rubber
ranged on the top step met our aston
ished gaze. The rubbers were returne
=. to their owners, and Scoot for the flu
ure was tied up on Sunday. The do
and cat were excellent playmates, an
, their frolics were very smusin,
Snooks would not permit too muC