The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-02
IHE BLACK CAT


feet their own evidence. Yet, mad am 1 not
and very surely do not dream. But tomor-
row die, and today I would unburden my
soul. My immediate purpose is to place before
the world, plainly, succinctly, and without
comment, a series of mere household events.
In their consequences these events have terriss
6ed-have tortured-have destroyed me. Yet
will not attempt to e7pound them. To me
they have presented little but horror to many
they will seem less terrible than barroques.
Hereafter, perhaps. some intellect may DO
found which willrcdace my phantasm to the
-place-some intellect more calm, more
logical, and far less excitable than MY own,
which viii perceive in circumstances detail
with awe, nothing more than an ordinary sue
cession of very natural causes and effects.
From my infancy 1 was noted for the docili-
ty and humanity of my disposition. My ten
derness of heart was even so conspicuous as to
make me the jest OF my companions. was
especially fond Of animals, and was INDUCED
by my parents with great variety of pets
With these spent most OF my time, and never
was so happy as when feeding and caressng
them. This popularity Of character grew with
my growth, and in my manhood, I derived from
it one of my principal sources of pleasure. To
those who have cherished an affection for
faithful sagacious dog 1 need hardly be at the
trouble of expla ming the nature or the inten-
sity of the qualification thus derivabe. There
Is something in the unselhsh and self-sacritic-
ing love of brute, which goes directly to the
heart of him who has had frequent occasion to
test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity
of mere man.
married early, and was happy to find in my
wife disposition not uncongenial with my
own. Observing my Partially for domestic
pets, she lost no opportunity Of procuring those
of the most agreeable kind. We had birds.
goldfish, fine dog, rabbits, small monkey,
and cat.
This latter was a remarkably large and beau
tiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to
an astonishing degree. In speaking of his in
telligence, my wife, who at heart was little
tincture with superstition, made frequent allu-
sion to the ancient popular notion, which re-
garded all black cats as witches in disguise.
Not that she was ever serious upon this point
and / mention the matter at all for no better
reason than that it happened, just now, to be
remembered
Pluto-this was the cats name--was my IA
vorite pet and playmate. | alone fed him. and
he attended me wherever | went about the
house. 1t was even with difficulty that could
prevent him from following me through the
streets,
Our friendship lasted in this manner, for
several years, during which my general tenn
permanent and character, through the InStru-
mentality of the Eiend ntemperance-had Il
blush to confess it) experienced radical alter
moody, more irritable, more regardless OF the
feelings of Others l suffered myself to use
intemperate language to my wife. AT length,
even offered her personal violence My pets,
of course, were made TO feel the change in my
disposition. | not only neglected, but ill-used
them. For Pluto, however, l still retained
sufficient regard to restrain me from maitreat-
ing him, l made no scruple of maltreating the
rabbits the monkey, or even the dog, when by
accident or through affection they came in my
way. But my disease grew upon me for what
disease is like alcohol ?-and at length even
Pluto who was now becoming old, and conSe-
qGently somewhat peevish-even Pluto began
to experience the effects of my i'll temper.
One night returning home much intoxicated,
from one OF my haunts about town, fancied
that the cat avoided my presence. / seized
him when, in his fright at my violence, he in
fiiced slight wound upon my hand with his
teeth. The fury OF demon instantly possessed
me. knew myself no longer. My original
soul seemed at once, to take Its tight from my
body; and more than tendish maevolence
gin-nutured, thrilled every fibre OF my Frame
took from my waistcoat pocket penknife,
opened it. grasped the poor beast by the throat.
and deliberately cut one OF its eyes from the
socket! l blush, burn, shudder, while l
pen the damnable atrocity.
When reason returned with the morning
when 1 had slept off the fumes of the nights
debauch-I experienced sentiment half of
horror half OF rcmorse, for the crime of hich
had been guilty; but it was, at best, feeble
and equivocal feeling and the soul remained
untouched. l again plunged into excess, and
soon drowned in wine all memory OF the deed.
In the meantime the cat slowly recovered.
The socket of the lost eye presented, it is true
flightful appearance, but he no longer APP
peared to suffer any pain. lie went about the
house as usual as might be expected, lied IN
extreme terror at my approach. had so much
of my old heart LETT, as to be at first grieved by
his evident dislike the part OF creature
VIII ch had once loved me. But this feeling
soon gave place to irritation. And then came,
as ii to my final and irrevocable overthrow,
the spirit of the peryeseness Of this philoso-
ply takes no account. Yet | am not more sure
that my soul lives, than / am that perverse-
ness is one of the primitive impulses Of the
human heart--one of the invisible primary
faculties, or sentiments, which gives direction
to the character OF man. Who he's not, a hum
dred times found himself committing vile
or a silly action, for no other reason than be-
cause he knows he shoHld not? Have not
perpetual inclination, in teeth Of our best
Judgment, to violate that which is law merely
because we understand it to be such? This
spirit of perverseness, say, came to my final
overthrow. 1t was this unfathOnable longing
of the soul to veX itsef-to offer violence to its
own nature-to do wrong for the wrongs sake
ouly--that urged me to continue and finally to
consummate the injury | had inflicted upon
the unoffending brate. One morning, in coo
blood, slipped moose about its neck and
hung it to the limb OF tree-hung II with the
tears streaming from my eyes, and with the
blttereSt remorse ut my heart-huug it because
knew that it had loved me, and because
felt it had given Inc no reason OF offence
hung it because l knew that in so doing was
committing n sin-a deadly sin that would 80
ieopardze my immortal soul IS 10 place tiff
such a thing were possbe-even beyond the
reach of the infinite mercy Of the Nest Merci-
Gul and Most Terrible God.
On the night Of the day on which this cruel
deed was done, was aroused from sleep by
the cry Of fire. The curtains Of my bed were
In flames. The whole house was blazing. 1t
was with great difficulty that my wife, SER
aud f.s al Ia iron "a
conhagTatOn. The destruction was complete.
Ny entire worldly wealth was swallowed up,
and l resigned myself thenceforward 10 de-
SPAR.
am above the weakness OF seeking 20 estab-
lish a sequence Of cause and effect, between
the disaster and the atrocity. But | am de-
failing chain OF facts, and wish not 70 leave
even a possible link imperfect. On the day
succeeding the FIRE, / visited the ruins. The
walls, with one exception, had fallen in. I'll