Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-18

''But. your exceliency." the sacristan
would demonstrate with great humility,
II hdd no milk left after supplying the
sick babe of the squaw who died last
week. Surely the kittens can wait.
'WaitF' stornled the padre. Are they
not wailing from hunger even nows Their
cries pierce my hearti How can leave
them to your charge and 90 away for
eight long days-and 20 musti-know
ing that they viii not be fedy'
At these words hope sprang up anew
In Gaudaloupe's perfidious heart
Art thou going away, reverend pa
drey' he asked. meekly. "Am |, indeed,
TO be left alone for eight long days2"
1T is true" replied the priest. sadly.
ii must 20 am summoned TO report
to my superior at San Luis Rey: and the
journey will require eight days. But
how can go? The Indians can get along
well enough. 10 be sure, but what, ask
you. heart of wood. what will become Of
my catsT
So Gaudalo,2e promised earnestly TO
attend to all r,ieir wants, to call them
regularly to their meals, to administer to
the ailing ones their allotted spoonsful of
herb tea, and TO endeavor to solace and
cheer them during the absence of the
priest Next day. as Padre Mateo trudg-
ed slowly down the road, sardonic
smile came upon the countenance of the
wicked sacristan. AS the padres portly
figure diminished in the distance, Gauda-
loupe, forgetting the stitcn in his back
and the ache in his bones. skipped nim-
bly, into the house and began prepare
tions To carry out his evil designs
II was nearing midday Already Ig-
natiiis. the oldest and leanest and hun
griest Of the cats. had appeared, shifting,
as he entered the kitchen. to learn If din
ner was being cooked.
81 will teach thee, villainr muttered
the sacristan. fiercely, as he busted him
self building fire. IL will teach thee
to sit and glover at me while work till
my body shakes with wearinessl"
When the meal was ready Gaudaloupe
went to the door. Come, Carlotta,
dearest, Come. my Pedrol Come, Car
| LOST he called. tenderly. "Hasten within,
for thy dinner waitsl Be quick, then:
all of you'll"
| When the cats were seated. and wait
ing, as usual. for Padre Mateo to take
his place and pronounce the benediction.
Gaudaloupe. after tightly closing the
doors. hurried 10 the chapel From the
altar he selected the largest crucifix,
and, bearing this in the left hand, and a
great whip behind him in his right hand.
he returned to the padres house.
Holding the crucifix before him, the
sacristan entered the room where the
cats were assembled "Now wretchesl
brutesi villains!" he shouted-and at
each word came cut from the whip
"fiendsl monsters! ungrateful beastsl
Receive your punishment
! The astonished creatures leaped from
their seats and tore madly about the lit
tic room, but they could not get beyond
the reach Of Gaudaloupe's whip He
lashed right and left, still holding the
crucitix before him. till at last he could
no longer WELD the heavy whip.
Enough for this timer he painted
throwing open the door. Now, crea
lures of evil. depart!" and as the last cal
disappeared the sacristan dropped hi,
whip in a corner. assumed a devout ex
preston and carried the crucifix back tc
its place on the altar.
Thrice each day similar scene wa
enacted. The cats were called tenderl,
by name. arranged in their RESPECTIVE,
places and generously served To a SAVIOR,
repast. only to see the sacristan appear
bearing the cruciiix aloft in the lef
/ 81. Ill A.. IL. al.
right-tiil at the sight of the crucifix thu
creatures would spring wildly from theil
seats and seek TO escape.
Padre Mateo returned at night anc
was welcomed cordially by the perfidi
Gus sacristan In the morning. wheI
the breakfast was ready, Gaudaloup
called the padre To the meal.
"But-where are the catsg" askeC
Padre Mateo. upon seeing their seat
unoccupied.
Gaudaloupe shrugged his shoulder
with look of sadness as he replied
"Speak not of them. reverend padre!"
But ! want my catsr'
Your EXCELLENCE fear you hav,
been befooled."
"Where are my catsy'
"Well. then, will call them, venera
BILE padre; but first let me speak. fea
the creatures are not mere common cats
else why did they conduct themselves 5
strangely in your absenceT'
NONSENSE roared the padre. 20
what do you speak, Call my cats."
but wait. your reverence. As you
reverence knows. it is my duty AWAY,
OF Thursday, to clean the candlestick
and tho sacred crucihxes on the altar
Your reverence well remembers that it
my custom always to bring them outsid
into the air that the dust may not so
the altar cloth. What will your revel
ence think when reveal the wickednes
of your reverence's cats? They are a
devils. surely, else why should they ru
from the crucifix. as the evil one woul
fee from the presence of the Virgin."
"Nonsenser' roared the padre. Ca
my catsi'
So the sacristan did as he was bid.
Now" said Padre Mateo, Triumphant
ly, when all the cats were seated abou
the table, 1--WE will test this thingl Brin
, in the cruciiixr
Without a word the wicked sacrista
, few 10 the chapel. and, returning. er
tered the priests room holding the sacre
, emblem aloft before him. At its NJ
pcarance the unhappy cats gave a di
cordant howl Of rage and despair. an
? fed. as spirits Of evil fee from the pre-