The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-08
A FASCINATING OLD MoUSER.


Among the inmates of my house is an
exceptionally fine mouser, who with
several of his brethren in kittenhood,
was dropped out of bag at my door
eight years ago, since when he has shared
our fortunes, and become marked IA
vorite in the family. In appearance he is
a handsome cat, of dark poouse.color;
his coat long and as thick as mat. Re
markably eagacioue, he is also actively
greedy, and at the same time discrimi-
mating and nice.'in his tastes; in fact ,quite
a"gourmet." While plump. he is not or
dir arily over weighty; but have noticed
during the months of May and June, at
the time the birds are engaged in their
nest-building, brooding, and bringing
out their young once, that Mouf er, as a
rule, amasses flesh; for cat, he reaches
ponderous avoirdupois. Heretofore, at
this season Of the year, have been too
much occupied to pay much attention to
the fact; but a sudden illness during the
past spring confined me to my bed for
many weeks, and it was while ccnvalef-
cling that discovered Mouser's mode of
putting on flesh. When sufficiently re-
covered to sit by the open window, ives
agree ably surprised to see an unusual
number of robins hopping about; I had
not seen them so numerous in twenty
years. To my great satisfaction, found
they had colonizsd largely in the elms
that surrounded the house, and, what
struck me as curious, were often in a
state of angry excitement, emitting short,
terrified siaccato notes as they flew Wild
ly about or massed themselves upon a
tree, with feathers ruffied as if an enc
my were in sight; all the time keeping
up a vociferous racket of bird oratory
both frightened and denunciatory. Ny
affectiopats regard for my generally
peaceful, melodious pets led me to seek
out the cause of this distress; but with all
my interested, observation, failed to dis-
cover anything because of my limited
view. About the fret week OF June,
however, was strong CROUCH to be
moved out upon the rear versnda, which,
from its eastern lookout, gave me the
warmth of the early sunlight and clesr
view of the birds-nes ting domain, as well
as of the domestic arrangement of the
household. Very naturally l took up my
old habits OF observation, but with more
than usual keennese, having an object in
view. The morning of my discovery
of Old Mousei g fattening process was
remarkably brilliant enc, and was rem
dered softly musical by the robbins who
were out in full force, singing sweetly as
they fitted hither and yon, on provident,
paternal errands. 1t was very peaceful
time during the early hours of the day.
Mouser came out from the kitchen dc or,
and, stretching himself ltzily out on the
stepe, lay there summing himself in fat
complacency. his plump sides heaving
with heavy and long drawn purrs. AS
it DIRE " toward ten o'clock he reused up,
treated himself to several luxurious
stretchings, and, with look OF shrewd
purpose in his sleepy yellow eyes, moved
cautiously away, and soon lost sight Of
him. Presently saw a slow wave in the
unknown grass beyond the well-sweep,
and suddenly Mouser's head popped up,
then as quickly disappeared, as he crept
steslthily along under cover of the tell
grass to the well.curh, where, sinking
noiselessly down, and hattening his body
under the projecting spout, he ley warily
motionless, with his sly eyes raised and
steadily fixed upon some object; just as
tiger would watch for his prey. While
l had been deserving Mousel g suspicious
movements. the robins bad become pe-
culiarly active and noisy; nest Of fledge-
linfs we're just essayIng their first flight,
and with feeble, awkward attempts, were
tumbling head over-heels, to the dismsy
of the Hurried, anxious bird mother. 1t
seemed to me that every robin on the
place was on the wing, and all were in
the greatest commotion, giving forth lit
tie sbrill cries, and whIrring and swirl
AAS IL ACOniOo uAkhoSS Duo a. "oJ . iOeuAh-
ing 20 light on maple tree near the
house, where they chartered in angry dis
cords. A few female birds among them
made bold concerted charges, with all
the courage Of Amezonian warriors,
shrieking out their wrath like true virs-
goeP, in tones that were anything but
melodious. 1 could see nothing to alarm
them, yet they kept up their frightened
clamor, as if they we're in the extremity
OF danger.
Suddenly 1 remem bered Mouser-I
had forgotten him in the confusion; and
turning my gaze on him, 1 found his poe-
ton unchanged; his evil, greedy eyes
we're still appraised, and not four feet
above his head, struggling helpleesly in
short Autters up and down, was half
grown robin. The poor bird was appar-
emily so under the magnetic power of |
Mouser's fascinating orbs that it was I'M
able to tear itself away; in point OF fact
Il was charmed, and a moment later sue
cumbed, and fell into the claws of the
vicious old cat. No sooner had Mouser |