The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-09-20
How q Cat Saved a Knight,

Wnlle the conflict was going on, 1t
kept the country in q state of continual
commotion. The peace aud happiness
.of hundreds Of families all ever the land
mas destroyed, for some took side with
one party, and others with the rival side.
Murders and assassinations and impris.
onments innumerable grew out Of it.
They. were horrible times indeed.
IS Among the families which this war
broke up was. that of Sir Henry Wyatt a
brave knight Of Kent, who buckled on
his sword and went to fight for the. Red
Bose. His attachment to the house Of
Lancaster proved an unfortunate thing
for the Kentiah knight, for he was taken
prisoner and clapped into q acold, damp
dungeon where he was kept Gin irons
and stock 2 for upwards Of two years, and
where he like to have perished from cold
and starvation. s:.5!5
b Sir Henry was q fine and noble gentle:
man. Says his biographer, There was
mo man more pitiful; no man more true
to his word |; no man faster 70 his friend,
no man diligenter nor more circumspect.n .
AZ Isaid, he was kept both cold and
.hungry; and he Was so reduced that at
ona time he thought be should die.
But one day, when he was nearly per-
ished, Sir Henry had a visitor. It was
only 5 large black and white cat, that
entered the prisoners cell in very
friendly way. Sir Henry rubbed his
thin cold hands in: :pussy's warm fur and
spoke kindly TO her.
The cat fingered q long while as
though fond of the petting When at
last il went away the knight was discon-
ISOLATE, thinking probably he should
never $see sit again, and fearing that he
should perish there from want and star.
yation. The next; day, however, pussy
returned, and this time5 she brought q
plumb pigeon, which shea laid at, Sir
EHenry's feet, looking up to his
Ease as as much as to say, See, II have
brought you something to eat. IS. Z.
f;conrae pussy thought. the pigeon
was all ready for eating, but the knight
could NOT, like Q cat, eat the bird before
twas ooked. Still he was thankful,
and spoke kind words to her. After the
cat was gone and the knight vas left
alone, he began to think how he should
contrive to get Q pigeon cooked. Atlast
The. .hit.on 3 plan.
When one Of the keepers came to
bring his daily allowance Of food, he
said. |: This is NOT Christian, to starye q
{ man. Here isn't enough to- keep life in.
q cat.'' ,.l5 ss5s.l5
r dare not better it, answered the
man.
A;se' Suppose now that / could furnish
flesh, would You dress it for me-
Certes anything that you can pro-
vide We will attend to and make it nour.
ishment &c for Christians replied the
keeper. sis b
sss YonsWearsto: dress and cook any food
sImay procure, and bring the same to
me pasaid Sir Henry, determined to. have
al definite promise from the man.
a s'B the Holy Virgin, / swear it, he
answered.
robably he mas surprised at the sight
of the pigeon; but he must often after
wards have been more surprised. For
pussy seemed to labor under the convic-j
ton that her friend did not have enough
to eat, and often brought her game to his
cell. The jailor, who could not hare
been wholly heartless, was true 10 his
promise, and carefully prepared for the
table what the cat brought.
This went on for several months, and
sthe knight was saved from starvation and
q day came at last when the prison door
was. opened, and he came out free. He
lived after this many years, holding
great state at his castle of Arlington in.
Kent, and became one. of the fayorite
knights Of King Henry VII, who con-
.ferred on him many important offices.
But amid all his wealth and grandeur, he
never forgot the feur.footed creature that
fed and nourished him when he was a
starving prisoner. and he always kept q
large number Of cats around him, and
had q certain sum laid aside every year
for their support.
There are several portraits Of Sir
Henry Wyatt preserved in various places,
and they all represent him with cat
sitting beside him. And suppose it
vas on account of this adventure and in
remembrance Of his almost miraculous
preservation that the good knight had
his picture thus taken.-FIed Myron
C6lby, IN Portland Transcript.
"A London coroner has raised the