Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-11

enlargement, he would climb up to my
shoulder, and, seated there, would ram
BILE with me all about the grounds, COM
Ing down now and then 10 pick up some
stray bit of food, but climbing back again
as soon as l called, 'Dick! Come here,
Dickl" 1 verify believe he thought me
merely q walking tree, yielding peren-
rial harvest OF almonds, hickory nuts
and raisins.
From the very first he was on excellent
terms with Spotty and his mother, and
as they became better acquainted it was
no uncommon thing to see the three
playing ''rag" up tree, or gam boiling
together on the lawn, in blissful ignor-
ance of the traditional hostility between
the cat and squirrel species. When
Spotty was little kitten just old enough
to venture out of doors Dick took great
liking to him, aud after few days ac-
quaintance he followed him one morning
into my library, where Spotly had his
domioile in the alcove which now held
the younger members of the family.
Being unaccustomed to indoor life he
was somewhat timid at first, but l soon
treasured him by sending for plate of
nuts and raisins, and setting 1t on the
floor near him. He munohed away at
approached me cautiously, as if to sat-
isfy himself whether or not L was that
nut-bearing tree he was accustomed to
walk with in the garden. Seeing this l
said TO him: "Dick! Come here,
Dick, - and with one bound he was upon
my knee, and with another upon my
shoulder, chattering away with all speed,
and doubtless telling me that he had
fOuD6 mo ont hv Dufa and raisjDs
After that if did not appear upon the
grounds in the early hours of the morn
ing he was sure to make me visit in my
room, where often he would remain for
an hour, playing with Spotty, Chamber
ing upon the book cases, or perched
upon my shoulder and chattering away in
a language which may have some re-
semblauce to the original speech of the
human species. These were the rela-
lions between me and Dick and Spotty
when the kittens were taken down to my
library.
AS to how Dick would receive the kit
tens l was uncertain, so, to make sure
that he would do them no harm, | took
them upon my knee when L sat down to
my writing table soon after breakfast.
Spotty had gone out TO his daily conflict
with our rodent enemies, and the kittens
and l were alone together, when Master
Dick, with his tail aloft, hoped in al
the doorway. l had taught him to come
directly to me, and give me shake of
his paw as morning greeting, and this
he always did, holding out one and then
the other paw for his walnut, which was
the reward for his good manners. This
he was proceeding to do on this occasion,
but he came to d sudden stsndstill when
he turned the corner of my table and
caught sight of the kittens. For
moment he stood silent, gazing at them
curiously; then he began to chatter, and
suppose his words correctly translated
would be, "Mr. Walnut and Raisins!
Who are these cats that are not much
buggy than l am? Do you mean they
shall usurp Spotty's place and mine, and
eat up all my wainutsE
To this relpied in my gentlest tone,
merely saying, "Dick! come here,
DickI' and the angry look went away
from his face, and he bounded upon my
knee and began to fondle the kittens.
In another FIVE minutes they were play
ing about the floor as if they had been
members OF the same species. From
that time forward my library contained
o happy family.
they became more friendly with Dick,
who every day, rain or shine, paid them
a visit directly after breakfast. He
would enter the room whisking his tail.
and chattering "good morning. TO the
kittens, and coming directly to me he
would give his usual salute, receive his
expected reward, and go for while to
corner to devour his walnut. This done,
he would spring upon some chair near the
center Of the room, utter tempestuous
chatter, and swing his tail defiantly at
the kittens. This was the signal for
them TO catch him, If they could, in
race around the apartment. 1t took at
first the united efforts of my wife and
Spotty to get them into the race, but the
latter had been thoroughly drilled to that
and other gymnastic exercises, and be-
fore long he made them understand what
was wanted, and as soon as they did they
entered upon the races with great enjoy
ment. Dick needed no training. l had
only to attempt to catch him myself
few times to convince him of the fun of
the thing, when with loud chatter he
started off brandIshing his tail defiantly
at the kittens.
The feat being mastered others were
taught the kittens, such as turning
somersaults upon the floor, racing with
Dick over piles of books ranged around
the room and chasing him to the tops of
the bookcases, and in flying leaps from
the top of one bookcase to another,
where, over some wide spaces, Dick
would actually fly through the air and it
was impossible for the kittens to follow.
Every day, indoors or out, had some
such performance, and how the little
creatures enjoyed 1t! Dick would scream
with delight, and Spotty and the kittens,
after l had given them an approving
cares, would squat near me on the floor
and purr their little song, the happiest
cats in creation.
1 know it may seem to persons who
take serious view of life that man
and woman of mature age might be more
profitably employed than in conducting
cat circus for the entertainment of
four footed animals. Something higher
than this, they think, was the object of
our creation. [ grant that. 1t was
that We should attain to high and
rounded manhood, but now better can
we do this than by contributing to the
happiness of our fellow creatures, and
that these little folks are our fellows,
humber children of the all-loVing