The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-01-14
A BIG STORY.
How Pussy and Her Little Family Re-
turned Home Through the storm.

HOW ussy ana Her Little Family Re-
turned Home Through the Storm.
It's pretty big story. but it's true,
and the minister will tell you so. 1t is
about Deborah. the minister's cat. She
was fine large tabby, with three white
stockings two green eyes, and a wise
old head.
Once upon a time, Deborah had six
little blind kittens, and they and their
mother lay fast asleep in round basket
behind the stove in the minister's study
Deborah was sleeping so hard that
when Mr.. Neal, the milkman, came into
the room she only pricked up her left
ear and then went on snoring. She did
not know that Mr.. Neal had come to
borrow her to kill off the rats in his
house. Indeed, she did not know that
he had any house, or any rats, either.
He lived mile away across the plain,
and she caught her rats nearer home.
But Mr.. Neal knew all about Debo-
rah He had not for years sold milk at
the parsonage without hearing what a
famous mouser she was; and he said
now to the minister:
Good evening, Mr.. Fem. I've called
this stormy night to ask if you'll be kind
enough to lend us your cat"
Certainly" answered the minister,
laying aside his pen; ''only you'll have
to take her family, too"
'Of course" said Mr. Neal; land I'm
glad that she has the kittens; they will
keep her happy"
Mr.. Neal had brought a great, strong
bag, and by the help of the minister he
put Deborah into it-basket, kittens
and all. She tried her best to get out,
but Mr. Neal tied up the bag and held
it firmly while he walked to his wagon.
there he dropped the bag into box
that stood under the seat, and fastened
down the cover Then he drove away.
"Poor Deborah can't see where she is
going any more than her blind kittens
can" thought the minister with a little
smile, as he turned from the window.
Il hope she won't be homesick, for I'm
sure she could never find her way home.
Why, why, the ground is really getting
white with SnOw!'
Presently he sat down again to his
sermon, and he wrote, and he wrote, till
every body else in the house was asleep
All at once he was startled by sound
from the porch. 1t was the mewing OF
a cat. He threw open the door, and in
ran Deborah, carrying in her mouth a
kitten.
Dear me, Deborah, can this be you?'
hoDGied, in great surprise. She dropped
the kitten on the rug at his feet and rar
out before he could close the door. He pu
the little wet, cold kitty on a warn
cushion, and went to bed; but he wa
Weakened from his first nap by another
mewing upon the porch. Deborah hat
come with her second kitten. An houl
or two later she came with the third
and by the next noon she had takel
them all home-all six of them.
Soon Mr.. Neal followed, bringing tn,
empty basket.
O"I thought must return it quickly O
Deborah would come for it," said he
laughing. "You may tell her that w
bought a rat-trap and I'll never disturb
her again. A puss that'll travel clever
miles in the snow for the sake of get
ting her family back to it's old corner
deserves to live in peace"
Now, isn't this pretty big story?
shouldn't have dared to repeat it If tn
minister hadn't told it to me himself
Penn Shirley, in Our Little Ones.