Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-03-21
The Old Maids Cat.
BY Ii. A.

another volley."
A large tortoise shell cat fed in ter
ror OF her life up one street and down
another, pursued by three or four
boys, whose love for sport had steeled
their hearts to compassion. Otherwise,
the evident terror of the poor hunted
animal would restrain them. But boys
are thoughtless, and they were led by
one who was more than thoughtlcss.
John Hodges, the oldest OF the pur-
suing party, had bad reputation in
the village as u frequent truant and
reckless idler.
A volley of stones was thrown. One
OF the missiles hit the poor animal
and famed her somewhat. Still
she ran on, in wild terror, limping as
she ran.
isn't that enough" said one of
the younger boys, holding back. I'VE
don't want to kill the cat"
Pooh, Tom" sneered John Hodges
''Yop havn't turned sentimental? No
danger of killing the cat. Didn't you
ever hear they have nine lives?"
Tom was silent.
$50 | say here's for another vol
ley"
The cat had by this time clambered
up Il tree, and was crouching on one Of
the upper branches, fancying, perhaps,
that she was safe. But in this she was
mistaken. The boys, led on by John
Hodges, prepared to fire another vol
ley, when neatly-dresscl boy, of per-
haps fourteen, came up the street,
What are you doing, boys?"
asked Sidney Waite, for that was his
name.
Were only hunting a cat" said
John Hodges, carelessly. Wont you
Join us? Look, there she is, perched
up on the highest left-hand limb. Looks
about frightened to death. Come, Sid
ney, just pick up a stone and then well
all fire together. Whoever hits her is
the best follow"
Stop a minute" said Sidney, 81
want to usb you question"
"Well, heave ahead"
"What harm has the cat done youP"
"What harm? That's queer ques-
ton. She hasn't done any that | know
Of"
"Then what are you hunting her for?"
inquired Sidney.
''What should we hunt her for? For
fun, of course"
do you suppose it is any fun TO
herr"
"Well, guess she'd find it fun if we
Hit her"
"Do you think you shall feel any bet
ter if you succeed in hitting herY"
''Oh, you're preaching. If that's all
you can do, just go along and leave us
alone. We amt responsible TO you, as
know OF"
Al won't have anything to do with it,
anyway" said Tom, who had spoken
before, throwing down his stone.
"Oh, WE'LL" sneerel John Hodges,
''if you've been converted under the
preaching of the Rev. Sidney Waite,
We'll excuse you. We can get along
guess"
The other boys were half-ashamed OF
the business they were engaged in, and
would have thrown down their stones,
but that they stood in some dread OF
the sarcastic tongue of John Hodges.
There is nothing so much dreaded by
the young as ridicule.
"You may call me what you please, '
said Sidney, composedly, for he had toe
much self-respect to be moved from a
good purpose by the rudeness OF an
other. II hope one needn't be q clergy
man to have some particle OF humanity
about him."
''Do you mean to insinuate that
have nonep" asked Hodges, fercely.
Judging from appearances, should
say you had but very little"
John Hodges was a bully, and IL Sid
ney had spoken less firmly woeld have
attempted to bully him. AS it was, he
contented himself with saying:
i've got an account to settle with
you, Sidney Waite, and I'll do it some
time, you may be sure OF that. I'm GO
ing to stone that cat, and you may stand
preaching there all day, and that'll be
all the good it'll do. l say, boys, get
your stones ready. What, have you
thrown them downP All been convert
ed9 Well, thank goodness, l amt such
coward
He &c preparing to throw stone
when Sidney Waite stepped up to him
Throw that stone ct your peril
John Hodges"
WHAT" shrieked John, in surprise
and fury.
81 say you shan't throw that stone.
whats TO prevent me, I'd like u
know" SAID John, holding his arm:
akimbo and looking defiant.
al will try"
''You will, oh! And what'll be the
consequence if throw it, young jacka
napep"
"Ill throw you II can"
eff You can. That's we'll put in
Well, I'll give you q chance to try"
And he threw the stone, though such
was his anger that his aim was spoiled
and the stone did not come within rod
81 hitting the terrified mark.
A moment afterwards and he stag