New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-01

the bath tub-pulchased especially for her by the
magnan!mous Toooo-and emits the most coarse
and ill-bred howls Then Tootoo, flushed and out
of temper with her sleeves rolled UP. ari her hair
rlmped sezcs her in a soft, Turkish towel and tries
to rub her dry when Pussy, slippery as an ocl after
hor wetting, squlrms and twists, ;hrusts out OF
the towels soft folds stiff. uncompromsing musou-
lar leg all claws spread, her tall ashlng In frenzy
and srrinhiing shower OF watcr drops over Ioooos
now wrapper. There is more washing after THIS
Fussy riots in comfortable dngIness.
But Tootoo SIN bent refining this child OF mo
gutter tries a new form of attack, buys an orange
ribbon and silver bell and tics them round Fussys
neck Poor Pussy detected steals tinklng through
the fiat, her head hung I'm shame. Even when she
tries to harmlcssy wash down her sleek hide. that
rghtful noise continues and her only comfort is 10
lie culed the edcrdown quilt on the foot OF the
bed. Mousing-thcrc mice in the fst, so Pussy
substitutes blacli-bccng-a most exciting SPORTS
ont OF the question. There is not black beetle IN
the fat who doesn't know the warning note Of Fussys
bell. she. her yellow eyes cleaning. her pads soft
falling as autumn leaves crccps down upon them
All sport is for Pussy; her life is speut in
splendid misery
When she finally succeeds in tearing of the badge
OF her shame. gentle Tootoo is hurt picks 1t up and
approaches her with musical. cooling sounds, intended
TO soothc and ingratiate. But the vulgar Pussy
fees before her through the fat into the kitchen, on
the table and then with long bound 10 tho
gutter and away.
When Fussy reaches maturity and full growth,
which she docs with surprising rapdty. her vasrant
instincts marked than ever. She constantly
promcnades. slowly and with sweeping tall, up and
down the gutter outside the window. 10 Tootoo's
shame and disgust She disappears and only returns
at odd hours in the day Her sleek fur Tootoos
JOY. upon which she wont to operate with pair
Of Georges old flesh brushes, has gr0wn NANCY and
rough. Indeed, this cherished pet sits in the
kitchen window. languidly performing the matutina
bath Tootoo Acknowledges that she is sadly common
looking cat No longer IS she allowed to sleep on
the elder-down quilt even the sofa IS denied
her And yct-a lasting wound in Tootoos tender
hcart-the ingrato seems quito content Tootoo
feels that she has nurured serpent In her bosom
AMI schools herself to feel surprise at whatever
the serpent may do
One morning Tootoo sitting in the kitchen talk
ing to Maria and pretending to make cake, receives
tho expected surprise. Tootoo when she gets lonely
often goes into the kitchen and talks 10 Maria
and Maria. being earrulous tells her Of her aunt in
Jersey City. and her cousin in Hoboken and, with
much clcphantne coyness, of her sweetheart, Dick
Dick has expectations from aunt.
"Whn she Dies says Maria, dlscursively she's
goin' to lave Dick forty thousand dollars"
"Forty thousand dollars! That's great deal" saws
ToOOo staggered Has she any children Of her own ~
mine, and the twins dead" says Maria thought
fully.
And do you think that she will leave Dick as
much forty thousand?" asks Toooo, insinuatingy.
fearing that TO state her doubts positively would
be rude
"Ah, Mrs. Tomtit"-Tootoos husband IS scion OF
the iustrlous house of Tomtlt" she's that generus,'
and Maria looks at her mstress's charming face with
plying SMILE
Tootoo feeling abashed before the lofty generosity Of
the working classes is about to retire, when, 10 leap
ing lightly from the gutter TO the window ledge,
dragglcd. rusty, dirty. appears Pussy and companion.
Pussy enters first, she has the air of ushering,
almost OF Introducing, her friend. Size turns
round and looks encouragingly at him, though
Tootoos reproachf glance, she turns away ner head
and embarrassed cks her chops This is her only
sign of sefconscioGsness.
In silence, watched by mistress and maid, Fussy
shows her friend all the choice spots that snug,
by the range. where you lean against the
broom and stretch deliciouSly the part of the floor
where tho sunlight crecps warmly. the rug
under the table, which is soft and cosey, and of
which Maria has ugly trick Of kicking you espc
cally the evening, when she sits by the table writing
Dick. and in the agonies Of composition rubbing
ncrvously with her feet
"why, isn't that cunning of her." says Tootoo,
breaking into vivaclous admiration. see she's show
Ing him all round. Doesn't that other cat look like
herr perhaps It's her brother Anyway they'll be nice
companions.
The cat remains and is christened MISSY He