Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-16
A CAT WITH A BROOD.

Four Eggs Were Put In Her Favorits
Chair aud hhe Hatched Them
Out.
John Dugdsie, . retired scotsman Of Dali
ston Green, Cumberland, England, is the pos
sesor OF IA cat that hatched out four chickens
and carefully cared for them, says the New
York Sun The eat 10 fat and In the neigh
borhood of 5 years old and has brought uE
many families. Mr.. Dugdae, as he Is fond OF
open air sports, has choice collection oil
dogs. The cat never received much attention
from him, for she was Of a somnolent dlspos-
ition and spent the greater part Of the day In
the old-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 srnelled OF them,
touched them dslntily with her tongue. and
then, with her sleepy old eyes half closed,
purred roughly and fell into q meditative
doze. She had associated some with the
chickens the place aud had doubtless
watched with a feeling OF envy the hens W til
their big broods Of chickens, which far out
numbered any litter OF kittens she could
raise.
Tabby slowly raised herself and, after
stretching her limbs, rolled the eggs In the
center of the cushion and calmly lay down
upon them. Mr. Dugdsle laughed and walk.
ed away, fully believing that the cat would
get tired Of the eggs in short time and de-
sert them. But the next day she was still
ouddled over them aud it was clear that un-
less they were speedily removed they would
be unfit for even very early breakfast MIR.
Dugdale decided TO let tie eggs remain. and
when three DAYS had passed and Iabby was
still intent on keeping them warm she be-
came the most interesting OF his pets IL was
a picnic 10 the cat in one sense, for 1t gave
her an excuse for not stirring about much,
and insured her plenty Of good yictuas and
drink without the trouble Of mieouwing. At
the end of the first week the work OF setting"
on the eggs had become easy, Tor they had
worn little holows IN the furry sides Of Tab
by. Mr. Dugdale forgot all about his dogs
and horses, and even his love OF hunting, Tor
the pleasure OF watching has old cat IN her
unique ork absorbed him.
During the rare moments, when Tabby
found IL necessary to desert the eggs for tue
purpose OF stretching herself aud getting
sonnet thing TO eat she never lost sight of
them. No matter how hungry che VAS or
what she was eating she would desert II i'm
medately to prevent any one from disturbing
her nest. In the mornings, when the proud
cackiDg Of the hens and the defiant crow OF
the rooster were beard Tauby looked a little
sorrowful, as though she realized that she
could never cack or crow.
The third week OF TabbI's work drew TO a
close With speculation rife as 10 whether she
would hatch out ch ckens or kittens, or q COM
blnation Of both, or neither One morning
the old cat suddenly awoke from a sound
sleep. There We're marks of disturbance on
her brow. She moved restlessly about and
after a bit she SLOWLY rose To her ieet Be-
meath her on the cushion In the cd armchair
were four little yellow mites that were strug-
Cling 10 stand upon their very frail legs.
Tabby pufred loudly in her pr de and began
licking them tenderly. Her rough tongue
rol ed them over aud over and they plaintlve-
~ peeped forth the n dislike OF this proceed
ing. Then the old cat stopped aud with her
paws pushed the SHELLS from the clajr. The
chickens were placed In box in one corner of
the kitchen and 1abby went over ana lay
down by them. The chickens tErove, and
when they were strong enough they got into
the habit of running out of doors. Tho 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 tenderlv
that the chickens showed their disapproval OF
indoor life by merely ~rggllng their little
yellow legs during the journey. 4
The persistency Of tue CHI ckens In going
out of doors finally induced THbby To accom-
psny them There were other little chickens
about but Tabby never made a mistake in
sorting out the four that belonged TO her
low 1abby would move of slowly In the d.
rection Of the kitchen with the title chickens
hopping alter her. IL she CHANGED TO come TO
any impeachment In the way that seemed too
formidable for her little ones to Chamber over,
she would calmly walk around II, purring her
loudest all the time. IL thew were too far
away for them to hear she would new softly
and the little chicks would scramble to her
side peepng like very happy chickens indeed.
Upon reaching the kitchen Tabby would jump
into the old arm chair and when the Gu ickens
were too small to jump after her she would lift
them up herself or call piaintively for the
servant 10 help her The chickens grew fast.
aud when they became gawky and had lost all
the charm of bah, hood, the difference did not
change Tabby's affection. She still tendery
watched them aud showed her superiority
to the hen by always being patient with
them.
The chickens were more than balf-grown
when last heard Of aud they were still the
constant companions OF the Old cat. Tabby
would allow No CHI cken to int eriere with her
pets and would permit no cat to Interfere with
her.