The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-18
Lunched ON q Fish Hook.

Mason & Friedel, merchants of Ham
mondsport, N. Y, rejoice in the ownership
of an immense tom cat, known as the Major
He is fond of many things; but fish is, and,
except for few weeks, always was his
stronghold. Mason & Frieders store
house is built ON the shore of Lake Kenka,
and extends several feet over the water.
From the rear door of the store a person
may net bait fish with one hand while he
holds his rod and hauls in pickerel and
blackfish with the other. Some one is al
ways fishing from that back door during
the fishing season, aud the Major is always
an interested spectator. One day some in
laid his rod and line down in the store,
neglecting to remove the plump and tempt
ing sinner from the big pickerel hook.
The Major discovered the sinner, and, not
knowing that it was loaded, he lost no time
in appropriating it to his own use. No one
knew anything about this until the unwonted
ground and lofty tumbling and unusual
caterwauling of the Major led John Freidel
to investigate. He found the big cat at the
end of twenty or thirty feet Of line, his
eyes very big and bullying, dancing and
yelling around in most alarming manner,
The trouble was plain at once. As soon as
what he believed was relief arrived the
Major became quiet. and submitted without
a kick to the fullest examination. The big
hook was embedded deep in the cats throat
and its removal was impossible. The line
was cut off, and everybody thought the
several days. The cat wheezed and yooped
like an asthmatic in the last stages, and
grew thin as rail. He would eat very
! little. By and by he began to flesh up. His
appetite got better. The asthma gradually
left him, but the hook was still in his wind
pipe. In the course of month the Major
was fat, and ate anything but fish. He
looked on fish with the eye of suspicion.
Gradually confidence returned, however.
The Major seems now to have forgiven that
impaled sinner, and eats fish with his old
relish and great capacity. But the fish
hook still keeps its hold in his throat.
Strange Friendship and Fierce Jealousy.
Some weeks ago strange cat came to
James Wells's house, at Campbelfs. Pa,
and while it showed no disposition to leave,
it would not make friends with any of the
family. Wells has young Jersey COW, and
week or SO after the arrival of the cat on
the premises he found that a great friend
ship had arisen between it and the COW. He
first discovered the singular intimacy by
finding the cat cuddled up close to the COW
as the latter was lying in sunny place in
the barnyard. After that wherever the COW
was the cat would be, and it was no uIicom-
mon thing to see the cat either perched on
the cows back or lying snugly between her
shoulders. The COW seemed to enjoy the
cats regard, and the two became insepara-
BILE companions. A week ago the COW gave
birth to a calf. The affection she lavished
on the little newcomer produced a great
change in the cats feelings. Puss no
longer perchsd On bossy's back, but skulked
and skulked around the BARNARD, eyeinp
the calf with feeling bsr blazing yellow
eyes Enthusiastically expressed. The COW did
not seem to notice her Late friends discom-