Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-11-22
-HTT77=--
a CAT WITH a BROOD.
Four Eggs Were Put In Her Favorite
Chair and she IIntched Them
Ont.

Four Eggs Were Put In Her Favorite
Chair aud she Hntohed Them
out.
John Dugdale, a retired scotsman OF Dali
ston Green, Cumberland England, is the pos.
sesor Of a cat that Matched out four chickens
and carefully cared for them, says the New
York Sun. The cat is fat and In the neigh.
borhood Of years old aud has brought up
many families. Mr.. Dugdale, as he is fond OF
open air sports, has a choice collection OF
dogs. The cat never received much attention
from him, for she was of somnolent dispos-
ition and spent the greater part Of the day in
the od-fashioned armchair in the kitchen.
Mr.. Dugdale saw her there one day in the
early part of last May. She looked too hap
py for this world, and IN hopes Of making
her bed less comfortable he placed four eggs
between her legs. Old Tabby smeled OF them,
touched them daintlly with her tongue, and
then, with her sleepy old eyes half closed,
| purred roughly and fell into medtative
doZc. She had associated some with the
chickens on the place and had doubtless
watched with feeling OF envy the hens W tn
their big broods of chickens, which far out
numbered any litter of kittens she could
raise.
| lODDy klONIY Iulscu herself anu, hlLer
stretching her limbs, rolled the eggs in the
center of the cushion and calmly lay down
upon them. Mr.. Dugdale laughed and walk
ed away. fully believing that the cat would
! get tired OF the eggs in short time and de-
I sert them. But the next day she was still
! tuddled over them and 1t was clear that un-
less they were speedily removed they would
! be unfit for even a very early breakfast Mr..
! Dugdale decided to let the eggs remain, and
when three DAYS had passed and Tabby was
! still intent on keeping them warm she be-
came the most interesting OF his pets. Ii was
! picnic TO the cat in one sense. for IL gave
her excuse for not stirring about much,
| and insured her plenty OF good yctuals and
drink without the trouble OF mieouwing. At
! the end of the first week the work OF setting"
on the eggs bad become easy, for they had
| worn little hOllows IN the furry sides OF Tab
/ by. Mr.. Dugdale forgot all about his dogs
and horses, and even his love OF hunting for
| the pleasure OF watching his old cat IN her
unique work absorbed him.
During the rare moments, when Tabby
! found IL Necessary to desert the eggs for the
| purpose OF stretching herself and getting
! something 10 eat, she never lost sight of
/ them, No matter how hungry she was or
! what she was eating she would desert it i'm
med lately to prevent any one from disturbing
! her nest. In the mornings, when the proud
csckling Of The hens aud the defiant crow OF
/ the rooster we're heard, TaUby looked a little
! sorrowful, as though she realized that she
/ could never cacl1 e or crow.
! The third week Of Tabby's work drew to q
close with speculation rife as TO whether she
| would hatch out chickens or kittens, or a COM
/ bnation of both, or neither. One morning
the old cat suddenly awoke from sound
! sleep There were marks of disturbance on
! her brow. She moved restlessly about and
after bit she SLOWLY rose to her feet. Be-
meath her on the cushion In the Old armchair
we're four little, yellow mites that were strug-
! Cling to stand upon their very frail legs.
Tabby purred loudly In her pride and began
| licking them tenderly. Her rough tongue
rolled them over aud over and they plantive-
ly peeped forth Their dislike OF this proceed
! ing. Then the old cat stopped and with her
chickens were placed In box 10 one corner Of
the kitchen and TaDby went over aud lay
down by them The chickens throve, and
when they were strong enough they got into
the habit of running out OF doors. The old
cat resented this, and, lifting them in her
mouth, would bring them back aud place them
! in the box again. She did this so tenderlY
that the chickens showed their dlsapproval Of
| indoor life by merely Wrigglng their little
I yellow legs during the journey.
The persstency Of the chickens IN going
out Of doors finally induced abby To accom-
pany them. There were other little chickens
about, but Tabby never made n mistake In
sorting out the four that belonged to her.
u
low Tabby would move off slowly IN the di.
rection of the kitchen with the little chickens
hopping alter her. IL she Glanced TO come to
any impeachment In the way that seemed 100
! formidable for her lttlc ones to Chamber over,
sue would calmly walk around H., pairing her
loudest all the time. II they were too far
away for them to hear she would NEW softly
and the little chicks would scramble TO her
side peeping like very happy chickens indeed.
Upon reaching the kitchen TabbJ would jump
! into the old arm chair. and when the clipkeus
were too small to jump after her she would lit
them up herself or call plantively for the
servant 10 help her. The chickens grew fast,
and when theY became gawliy aud had lost all
the charm of bah, hood the difference did not
change TabbY's affection. She still tenderiy
watched them aud showed her superiority
to the hen by always being patient with
them.
The chickens were more than lalf-grown
when last heard of and they were still the
constant companions OF the old cat. Tabb;
would allow no chicken TO interfere with her
pets and would permit no cat TO interfere with
| L.