Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-12
MISTRESS TABBY's RECEPTION.
The True Account OF n Nocturnal Epi.
soce on Washington Back Fence.

MiSihESS BABBN'S RECEPTION.
The True Account OF a Nocturnal Epi.
soSe on a Washington Back Fence.
There are i've OF them altogether. One IL o
taohy. and the four male cats are perched around
her at the intersection Of the fences To an un-
ooseryan; person there would be no meaning In
the situation described. notwithstanding the
TACT that u is between midnight and O'Clock In
the morning; Il requires an adept versed In the
mysteries Of feline woolng to comprehend what
Is going on. Listen,
DoNou near that plaintive CRY. more like that
OF young baby than any other sound in naturei
How wonderfully alike are the infants whine
and the pussy's miaouw at a little distance. by
the way! II is the appeal with which the YOUTH
ful Thomas, newly introd uced. addresses the
furry mistress Of his heart He saws: ..Marar~r-r.
II is true that am but a fiedgllnc and that A.
the reason why lllave not called upon Won ere
TINS; my mother. you know. has objected TO INV
going out In the evenings. because she did not
wish me 10 cultivate diss pated habits like some
kittens. Besides. the fellows are often so QUAR-
relsome that she feared lest my beautiful ears
might be torn or my glossy Maltese fur thnned
out in spots or my lovely long tail chewed on
at the END. But I have long adored YOU from
the distance of our area railing. and. now that
AN ten months old and nearly grown mp. I've
come 70 OHer my compliments ana devotion,
sweet Mari ar-r-r-r."
From which speech IL is 10 be correctly Inferred
that adolescent cats. like youths OF the human
species. are not lacking in self-appreciation. IL
You will pay attention any night when puss is
giving voice IN SOLO. You Will perceive readily
from the tone that he is talking about himself
boastingiy. No- is Mistress Tabby herself with
OUT an understanding OF her own charms.
Mec-oN-waw, she yawns. behind her little
wnte paw. Il really have so many admirers
=.
this ienee. IL must be- that am very pretty,
and. TO tell the truth. IL has frequently been re-
marked IN my hearing that my coat was a most
exquisite tortoise shell. my eyes OF real emerald
ana INV mitteEs like velvet. 0fmy own beauty,
however. 1t rarely occurs TO me 90 think though,
OF course. Why. Mr.. Grimakin. how dare you'll
SPIT SPIT"
THAT INvETERATE TABBY-KLLER,
Mr.. c., seated on the frnce-section opposite
that occupied b. young Thomas. has impudently
attempted to imprint sandrapery kiss upon
one OF the velvet mittens referred to, and has
got his ears boxed for his pains The other fel-
lows say that Grim poses as a masher; but as
likely a. not the notion arises merely from the
iaci tlat he is always so Immediately attired
and looks so particularly well In the evening
Win his black coat and becoming white vast
coat. In this instance at all events he Is suffi-
GENTLY rebuked and lapses at once into the
sulks. while the conversation IL resumed tact
fully by certain Mr. Y. Topaz. No. 8. among
the woOers, whose first nsme has ALWAYS been a
matter OF uncertainty, though the envious as
sert that IL Is ''laller"-a malicious reference to
his color But Mr.. I. himself says:
"Falrest Mariar-r-r-r. you observe OF what q
golden hue am. | heard mine host at nv
lodgings say today that would pan out -
carats at the assay Office. Bethink you of the
advantages of wealth and aristocratic surround
lngs. | have always slept on a bed OF down,
lived in that superb corner house with servants
to wait on me, and had the cream of the milk
cans since"
'>ince he was found on a snow bank in De-
cenber, rudely Interrupts the disgruntled
Grimalkin. with his eyes scarcely open and his
tai so badly froz n that he sits ON the stump OF
it now to hide the deficiency"
You r. a wow-ow-wow liarl" responds Mr..
Topaz, Indignantly.
Mr.. ALLEY-GATE HEARD FROM
''Come of the roof. old Cholera Morbus," re.
joins SIR. Grim, land be quiet while sing Q
little ballad of my own composition for Mistress
Tahby here 1t is called Over the Fence is Out
and the keynote Is a high from the chest.
Did you never hear me strike IL! Well. Just
listen n0wl"
Il shall be charmed. Mr.. Grimalkin." SAYS
Tabby. and tries to look enraptured. as an ear
piercing shrek vibrates upon the still night air
for the space of three or four seconds.
That is the key-note." remarks Mr.. c.. paus-
ing. and without noticing the appearance of
ShOstlN form IN Mhlue at the second-story WIN
dow overhead.
We'll. it's quite enough, exclaims Mr.. Topaz.
81 should say So" joins in Young Mr. Thomas
''lf he tries any more of it on US Ill t'ump him
| in the neck and bespangle his DUDE waistcoat
wild mud" adds the one-eyed cat with the torn
ears and ragged fur, who has not Joined in the
conversation since the ether three wooers ar
| rived.
''Why. Mr.. Alleygate-how can you.'
'Dats nv size. | amt no lah-de-dah, but I
can knock the stuffin' out o desc chumps an
I'm gon ter do il right now. Take dat" Biff!
Mow-wow! SPIT! SPIT! Wow-ow-ow-ow, SPIT
Cw-wow-miaouwi
the air is full of flying fur and feline cuss-
words for a minute or two. Then there Is an
appalling yell in chorus. and Mistress Tabby and
her four lovers are suddenly thrown. kicking
and biting. into the air by some tremendous In
visible force. Ii Is a STAR reporter in his night
gown at the second-story window who has
closed the circuit OF his electric cat-dsperser by
joining two wires that connect with a zinc plate
at the intersection of the fences. The concert Is
finished in that back yard for the nisht.