The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-09-26

II unhappy that II began seriously tc
be considered whether it would not be
q mercy to kill him and end his mis-
cry.
All at once 4 change camc over him.
He appeared to have felt that his sight
had gone forever. and that its other
senses would have to make up for its
loss. When he started to 20 down
stairs. instead Of paving the air help
lessly. rs he had hitherto done. he
proceeded to the side. and, guided by
the touch OF his whislScrs on the rail-
ings. went down safely at full speed.
Then he studied all the different paths.
noted the position OF doors. visited his
old haunts. and in a short while be-
came quite confident OF his ability TO
20 about with nearly the same free
dom as before. In fact. we thought
his sight had been restored, but that
this was not the case was easily proved
when he ran full tilt against an obstacle
that had been placed in his way on
purpose TO test this very point.
What was curious was that he soon
resumed his fighting habits. and his
blindness seldom prevented him from
coming off victor. He even carried
war into the cnemy's quarters. and
always returned home in safety. lie
had been a capital mouser, and. though
sightlcss, he proved himself almost as
keen a hunter rs ever. The gnawing
Of a rat was heard one night in cup
board where some newspapers lay.
Tom was to be left there to attack the
foe. While arranging the papers my
hand was suddenly fierccly clutched by
his teeth and claws. The poor fellow
had heard the rustling OF the paper.
and had seized what he supposed was
a mouse. But he seemed to feel real
shame ut the mistake he had made.
However. there was no blunder later
on that same night, for on opening the
cupboard next morning he was sitting
by the side OF a big dead rat.
No matter how far he straycd from
home. Tom always took the shortest
cut back. 1t was q mystery to mo
how he managed il. One day there
was heavy fall Of snow that COM
pletely covered all familiar objects.
filed up the pathways, and deadened
every sound and smell. Carrying Tom
TO a considerable distance. and follow
ing serpentine track OF many turns
to bewilder him, then put him down
on snow-hcap, and watched his be-
haviOr.
He lost presence of mind for a min
ute or two, and commenced to NEW
somewhat pitifully. Finding, how
ever, that he would have to do the
best he could for himself. he stopped
crying. paused for few moments. and
then went in straight line over the
untrodden snow TO the house. OF
course the door was opened to him ut
once. and he was RECALLED with a bowl
OF milk.
1t quickly became clear to me that.
in Toms case at least, a blind cat leads
much the same life as cat that can
see. His adventures were in no way
different from what they had been be-
fore, but his later career had grown
more interesting. because it was
curious to watch tho various methods
he adopted for getting out Of diff
ficultics. You will. ! am sure. deal
gently with animals afflicted with
blindness. or any other ailment that
makes them helpless.
/ have only TO add that Tom was a
real cat. though ] have changed his
name, and that this is q true account
Of his history after he had lost his
sight. Little Folks.