The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1889-08-17
J. W. DORRINGTON, Proprietor.
NUMBER 80.

IlIGIe song as Sne aScended.
As Cassie slipped behind the closet
door her foot trod upon something soft.
Instantly there was snarling, kissing
sound, frenzied rushing back and
forth in the closet, a scratching, wild
yowl. Cassie had shut the door, and
whatever it was rushed against her
ankles and tore at the sides of the
room. 1t seemed as if there were hall
a dozen things trying to get out. OF
trying to rend her into pieces. A cold
shiver, as if icy water had been dashed
upon her ran up and down her back.
Her heart seemed to have stopped en-
tirely. Then she 5hrieked-not once.
but over and over again. while the hor.
rible thing in the little dark room with
her kept up its dashing back an6
! forth, its desperate splitting and claw.
ing.
Cassie's screams brought her father
and mother at once to the spot. They
flung open the closet door, and out
rushed Pumpkin Pussy, with eyes glar-
ing, tail as big as a boa, and every
hair upon his back bristling straight
out. He fed out of the room and down
the stairs. Cassie continued to scream.
The gas was turned up and they drew
her into the light.
What is the matter?" cried her
mother.
At first Cassie could not utter word.
The cat has terrified her." said her
father. 'He probably had a fit There,
Cassie, don't scream So"
What is it-what is it?" she at
length burst out, wringing her hands
Nothing but pussy-pussy in fit "
''Oh, no, it was something dreadful
hiding in the closet"
''How came you in the closet?"
asked her mother. ''How did it hap
pen that you and pussy were shut in
there tOgether?"
Cassie began to sob violently. Never
in the many times she had frightened
jamie had that little sister ever so ut
terly lost her presence of mind or
made such commotion.
Hush" said her mother, with some
sternness. Quiet yourself 1t is all
over nOw."
Little jamie was standing by pale as
a ghost her chin quivering in SYM
pathy and her eyes full of tears.
Are you sure it was only pussy?"
sobbed Cassie.
"Only pussy. Tell me now how
this all happened.
Cassie felt she might as we'll out
with it. Il came up to bed first
jamie is always asking-about the
closet. thought it would be - fun
-to-to-" She sobbed anew.
''Yes, to frighten jamie little?"
..Tn-o1ll.o b4a---f- l. - -eiIls- -
"Yes?"
"And when 1 stepped in the closet
to hide, my foot -
|'Your foot and pussy's paws or
tail must have come together" said
her father, not able to repress a smile.
Il guess so," said Cassie. able now
to laugh Historically through her
tears.
''You thought to frighten jamie a
little, and-the tables were turned.
You were the frightened one?"
'.Yes."
you found it pleasant? You would
have liked jamie to do that way by
you?"
Mo-"
Poor, poor Cassier' said jamie, with
fearful pity.
Eyes, poor CASTER said their mother
-''poor Cassie, because she finds her
amusement in doing unto others ex-
actly as she would not like them to do
unto her"
II think Pll-never do it again"
I'm inclined to think this was a
direct punishment upon you, Cassie,
since your mothers wishes had so little
weight with you. Something more
seemed to be necessary to make you
remember. Perhaps this will do it.
After Cassie's nervous sObs were
hushed, and the 5OrrOwful tears from
little Janie's eyes had been dried, their
father went in search of pussy. He
was found in his favorite easy chair in
the sitting-room, his usual lazy seren-
ity much disturbed. He responded to
Janie's caress with a plaintive NEW.
On examination it was found that the
tip of his tail had been broken. He
had doubtless been watching in the
dark for mouse when Cassie made
her stealthy entrance, and the heel OF
her shoe had come down upon his tail
with force enough to separate one
of its slender joints. The pain had
made him momentarily frantic.
Il didn't know it was so dreadful to
be frightened, confessed Cassie, when
it was all over. ''And poor, innocent
pussy had his share, too"
Always after that Pumpkin Pussy
carried the point of his tail at curious
angle. That wry joint was a source
of remorse to Cassie every time she
saw it.
''Oh, do straighten it, kitty" she
would say. Il can't bear TO see it. "
OF course Cassie was not lmmedlaCe-
ly cured of her disposition to have
fun at the expense of others. But this
experience went far toward making
her more thoughtful and considerate.
1T was most natural and fitting
result" her mother said. And, much
as she disliked to admit it, Cassie
thought so too.-Mrs. Clara Doty
Bates, in Chicago Advance.