Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-10-02

green-yellow eyes, and an aspect that
made stranger think of the regulation
cat that was the familiar of witches in
all history. He came from Hanover
to Meriden by rail, nailed up in a
strawberry crate, Kissing, splitting. yowl-
ing, and sharpening his claws on his
frail prison all the way, to the
terror of every passenger in the
car. Indeed, Joe was forced to carry
crate and all into a baggage-car at the
third station, and ride with it the rest of
the way, for the brakemcn refused to
look after 1t, so daunted were they by
the wild animal within. Tiger was sent
into solitary confinement in the cellar as
soon as Mrs. Parker reached her house,
and was subdued by hunger and dark
ness before they dared let him range
abroad in the new neighborhood.
Now Joe Parker had not been in Meri-
den long enough to make much acquaint-
ance there. and was very hard at work
the first few weeks of his stay, so that he
always went to sleep in church on Sun
day, and missed any sight thereby of the
blooming damsels in the choir or in the
pews; he was ashamed of it, to be sure,
but there was the change of air from Yer
mont mountains to the fat meadow
land and low-lying pastures about the
river, and then he was really overworked
for time in helping to place the new
machinery, move the old, and settle his
mother in this strange place. where he
knew no one to whom he could apply for
help or suggestion. 1t was not Sunday
to-day when he peeped through the fence
at Nanny, and suddenly, as if by q stroke
lost his honest young heart; for, beloved
reader, this is only love-story. Only
love-story; only record OF the great
world-song, the event of so many lives,
the finalitY of ALL
'tLove will find out the way" says an
ancient song, and Joe was no exception
to the rule of the Pathfinder. He per-
suaded his mother to send him over to
the neighbor's the very next night for
pitcher of milk. and also to negotiate
for their daily supply. This being sue.
cessfully effected, he went daily for the
milk before mill hours, and h s pail was
filed by Mary Ann, blooming with the
sweet morning air, neat, trim, and lovely
at six O'Clock a. N. as a city girl at. heI
late dinner. Joe grew worse and worse.
He thought of Nanny in mill and
ma ket; her fsce shone above the ma
chinerv, her laugh tinkled with the mill
bell He made friends with Peter also
tor cats know lovers-when they are
lovers s-just as well as children know
their friends. Tiger was still kept in
the high-fenced chicken-yard on the
Parker premises now devoid of chick
d ens-as measure of precaution against
hIs straying; he was too dear to his mis-
tiess TO be ventured at large yet. 1t is
not to be denied that Nanny looked
with favorable eyes upon Joe Parker: 6
persunable young fellow with a good
position does not fall at the feet OF
every farmers daughter, even if she is
beauty. The anxious and aimless
have in Their ranks many lovely face
and capable character. NANNY had been
no farther than the district school for her
education, and her home training was to
hard, practical. thorough work, She
read no novels or ''s.ory papers, the
Wesfly CourdHt and the Puritan Recorder
helped her through Sundays, but on
week days she had work to do, and at
night was tired enough to 20 to bed
carly. She was simple as we'll as sens:.
bic, in the best sense of simplicity, and
did not coquette with Joe any more than
was natural to any girl. She dimpled
ard blushed when he came in, pretended
to be vexed when Peter preferred his
knee to her lap, called him an lawful
thing, if he caught her hand in his with
the milk-pail handle, and was always
ready 10 go to singing-school and even
ing meeting with him, so that his true
love ran ominously smooth.
But, alas, there was trouble coming.
Tige. the Parker cat, hurt himself
seriou-ly in an attempt to climb the
palings Of his lail-yard, for they were
old and riekety, and could not bear his
weight. His mistress nursed him in the
house for six week with great care, and
when he was quite well again, and
stronger than ever with much feeding.
he was turned out of doors, and allowed
to roam and ravage as he would, and at
once he lit upon Peter.
Dire was the conflict, but Mrs. Parker
fastened to the rescue with a pail Of
water, and the astonished Peter, quite
drenched to the skin, fed while Mrs.
Parker picked up Tiger and carried him
into the Kitchen, lamenting over him as
if he were hurt child. Now Mrs. Parker
was shy and silent woman, but very
resolute; she at once made up her mind
that the Mays cat should not intrude on
her premises to disturb Tiger She had
the garden fence REINFORCED. and even c
strip of wire netting added to its height
on the Mays side; but she could no,
cabin, crib, or confiue Tiger himself-s
circumstance that vexed her much. And
when Peter came home to Mary Ann
after that first duel, dripping like
drowned rat, she too was indignant; but
what could she do, Battles set in, howls
by night, skirmishes by day; piece was
soon bitten out Of Peters lovely waving
tail. and Tiger lost half an car. Nanny
made invidious remarks about Mrs. Par.
ker's cat every day of her life, and Mrs.
Parker made Joe's meals bitter to his
soul with evil-speaking Of Peter AMI
Peters family-mesning the MAYS. Yet
they were friendly enough except on the
cat question. Mrs. MAY taught Mrs.
Parker how to knit new heels into Jos's
yarn Stockings, and Mrs. Parker showed