The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-11
WHY DID NorLETIN THE CAT

WHY DID NOrLETIN THE CAT.
What l am going to tell happened
very long time ago, and happened to me,
then little girl only six years old. Some
Indians, about whom I will tell another
time, had called me "a brave papoose,"
and perhaps I was, for when I was
child living in little cottage under
the beautiful pines, there were many In
dams, and wild animals which no longer
exist in that part of the country. I was
not afraid of these animals, though l
often saw them as L went through the
woods of my grandfather's farm. They
never molested me as loitered under the
overhanging branches-the fearless birds
singing above, the humble bee humming
in the clover, and the honey bees con-
tentedly droring in the hollow pine trees,
where no one was allowed to NEEDLE with
them, though the honey would sometimes
run trickling down the trunk of the tree.
was on visit to an uncle, with whom
and his smart wife, was much of a fav-
orite. There was pretty little cousin
named Cordelia, three years old, with
whom slept. There was to be some
company at the old homestead, and as
we were too young to go, and / not afraid
to be left, uncle and aunt put us children
into bed, fastened the door, and left us
in what seemed perfect safety.
The room was on the ground floor;
there was window on the front and rear,
with white curtains looped up on each
side, through which the clear moonlight
shone brightly. 1t was early in autumn,
and the trees were in their gorgeous dra-
perry of purple and crimson and gold;
now and then light wind scattered the
leaves upon the ground with soft rustic
which fell pleasantly on my dreamy ear.
AS matter of course, taught Cordelia
her little prayer:
Nov lay me down to 81 eep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Ii / should die before / wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take"
For myself, after say ing the Lords
prayer, and extemporizing petitions for
all my friends, and begging my dead IA
Their not to forget me now he was in
heaven, was sinking into a dreamy
slumber, thinking how beautiful every
! body and everything in the world was.
when I was reused by spring and a
heavy scratching upon the glass of the
window followed by low whine and the
mewing of cat.
"Oh, poor kitty has been left out, /"
/ said, half asleep. just then she jump
ed down and rushing around the house
appeared at the other window with loud
news and whines to get in. This was too
much for me, and / scrambled out of bed
and fastened to lift the sash. My little
hands we're on the frame of the window,
and, was about to lift it when all at
once thought it looked too large for our
kitty-the eyes were too big, and the
yowling not like that of Tabby, when she
wanted her basin of milk.
/ drew back and the creature rushed
to the other window, fairly screaming
with impatience. 1 felt sure all was not
right, but saying another prayer to God
to take care OF us two children L jumped
into bed, and covering my head with the
quilts and blankets soon fell asleep. ]
had an indistinct idea that 1 heard the
firing of gun, but soon was lost in the
be 4utiful oblivion of sleeping child.
In the morning while we we're at break.
fast 1 told my little story OF the big cat
that was just going to take her in when
I thought she was too large for our Tab
by, and l jumped into bed again and
covered up my head. Aunt and Uucle
looked at each other and turned pale, and
Uncle William said:
"You are wise little girl, Elizabeth,
at which was pleased.
Then we all went out to see where the
cat had been. Sure enough, the ground
was trampled upon, the pinks and Sweet
Williams torn to pieces, and the tall holly
hooks and love-hes bleeding and London
prides all broken down.
Uncle William and Aunt Rebecca hug
ged and kissed little Cordelia, as was nat
ural, with tears running down theil
cheeks, and then they kissed me.
sand now we we will go and see the
big kitty" Uncle said. Accordingly wher
Aunt had fed the chickens, and placed &
pan OF milk for Tabby, we all started tc
go over to the old farm house.
1t is we'll known that people who live
far from the sea consider a mess of clans
at the proper season, great treat, and
men come round and bring them to the
inland farms in large carts, where they
find ready sale. 1t so happened that
there had been some brought round the
day before this happened to me and the