Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-04-12
TRANSFORMED TO A CAT.
The Terrible Experience That Befeli
Young Man.

The Terrible Experience That Befell n
Young Man.
/ have been a cat. 1t does not matter,
for the purpose Of this story, how ]
h be thus changed, for | was born
human, whether it was by drinking an
unknown elixir or by some mysterious
physical change, but the change did
happen, and i propose to tell of my ex-
perience as one Of the abused feline
family.
On the 2sth Of February, 1879, says a
writer in the Phil delphia Times, an
advertisement might have been seen in
some local paper calling for informa-
ton of the whereabouts OF a young man
but so worded as TO be unintelligible TO
none but himself. That young a
was myself, and all the time / was
shivering on the kitchen doorstep, try
ing with piteous mewings 70 attract the
kind notice OF our cook. How l got
there, as l have said is no
matter, but at last the door
opened and | walked in. All my feel
ings were human, and / disdainfully re-
memember hoping that the saucer of
milk / saw that ~kind-hearted Irish
woman preparing would be clean.
Eagerly | Tapped up the liquid, and
then could feel my lips trying TO form
the word thanks. Then the bitterness
of my situation for the first time burst
upon me. / could not speak. / was in
deed a beast. The house servants now
began TO stir about. The little page
who waited on the door came in, and all
began inquiring Of the cook where l
came from. The story was soon told,
and / felt that l could remain with
safety.
Suddenly the door opened and two Of
my fathers terriers rushed in. They
sprang at me and | felt the hair Saise on
my back. / had time 70 give one a rake
with my paw across the nose that sent
him bowling into the corner, and never
shall / forget the satisfaction / had atsee-
ing the blood flow. Then the cook drove
the other away and | made my escape
upstairs. ! wanted 70 see a mirror. !
wanted to see If I was a handsome ami
NAL, and eagerly did / spring on the
ledge Of the hall mirror and take a good
look at myself. Yes, | was a beauty,
and the pleasure Of such knowledge
went a long way TO reconcile me with
my unhappy lot, Presently down came
the family to breakfast, and l car still
hear my mothers exclamation of
Where did that cat come from, | hate
cats?" All, dearest mother, you will
never know the pain that unconscious
exclamation gave me-. The waterman
told them how / came and my father
said in his kind way: Let the poor
thing stay, it will keep the house clear
Of mice" That settled it, and ] rub
bed my back against his leg, the only
way l could show my gratitude.
For several days / was a favored in
mate. At night l retired to the laun-
dry, and, perched upon a high table,
slept secure from the terriers attacks.
All this time, though mice were plenty,
| felt no desire to catch ne. l was toe
human. At last, one day the cook dis
covered that a dress Of hers had been
eaten full of holes by mice, and as she
was commenting on my laziness a mouse
ran directly in front OF me. / made nc
attempt whatever TO secure what ought
to be my natural prey, and ii proved toe
much for the cooks good temper. Seiz'
ing a broom. ] was ANONYMOUSLY driver
from the premises. All that night
wandered trying 70 find shelter; the
cold March wind whistled and howled.
The morning broke, and still | could
find nc resting place. Cold ard weary
| skulked up the dark alleys and s1lalle,
streets, here scaling a fence to escape
the cruel small boy, there dartin.
through a water hole to evade the still
crueler dog. Days passed, and still lit
tie food and no shelter. ! could fee,
myself growing weaker. | had wan
dered to the wharyes, and, sneaking be
hind a pile of boxes, prepared to sur
render the last of my proverbial nine
lives. Colder and colder grew the
weather; sitter and sitter could | fee
my legs become.
Now my headquarters are numb anC
s~enseless, and | could feel the deathly
chill creeping slowly up. At last some
thing has gripped me at the head, wheI
l heard a rough voice exclaim, Hello
here's a cat - and with d long swing. IL
spite of a feeble effort on my part TO as
sert hat was still alive, / was pitchet
into the ice-cold water. The suddeI
shock revived me for a moment but to,
late. / was utterly exhausted, and witt
a feeling Of unutterable peace SAM
beneath the water. The next day
clothed and in my right mind wakes
up our front steps, rang the bell AM
walked in. The delight of the famil.
was of course gratifying, but / begge'
that no questions might be asked con
corning my absence, and though / knew
it seemed strange no comments hay'
been made. This is the first time
have found courage to tell of the strang
est experience that any man in this cen
fury has passed through and lived Il
tell il.