The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-06-20
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THE BLACK CAT.

zz< BY EDGAR A. POE. ---
For the most wild, yet most homely
narrative which I am about to pen, [
neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad,
indeed, would | be to expect it in a case
where my very senses reject their own
evidence. Yet, mad am | not and very
surely do not dream. But tomorrow |
die, and today I would unburden my soul
Ny immediate purpose is to place before
the world, plainly, succinctly, and without
comment, series of mere household events.
In their consequences these events have
terrified, have tortured, have destroyed me.
Yet will not attempt to expound them.
To me they presented little but terror, to
many they will seem less terrible than
baroque Hereafter, perhaps, some intel
lect may be found which will reduce my
phantasm to the commonplace-some in
tellcct more calm, more logical, and far less
excitable than my own, which will perceive
in circumstances | detail with awe nothing
more than an ordinary succession Of very
natural causes and effects.
From my infancy l was noted for the
docility and humanity of my disposition.
NV tenderness of heart was even so con-
spicuous as to make me the jest Of my
companions l was especially fond Of ami
mails, and was INDUCED by my parents with
great variety of pets. With these |
spent most of my time, and never was so
happy as when feeding and caressing them.
This popularity of character grew with my
growth and in my manhood | derived from
It one of my principal sources of pleasure.
To those who have cherished an affection
for faithful, sagacious dog, need hardly
be at the trouble of explaining the nature
or the intensity of the qualification thus
derivabIe There is something in the un-
selfish and selfsacrifcing love Of brute
which goes directly to the heart Of him
who has had frequent occasion to test the
paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of
mere man.
married early, and was happy to find
in my wife disposition not uneongenial
with my own. Observing my partiahty
for domestic pets, she lost no opportunity
of procuring those of the most agreeable
kind. We had birds, goldfish, a fine dog,
rabbits, small monkey and cat.
This latter was remarkably large and
beautiful animal, entirely black, and saga
cious to an astonishing degree. In speak
ing of his intelligence my wife, who at
heart was little tinctured with supersti-
ton, made frequent allusion to the ancient
popular notion, which regarded all black
cats as witches in disguise. Not that she
was ever serious upon that point-and l
mention the matter at all for no better
reason than that it happened, just now, to
be remembered.
Pluto (this was the cats name) was my
favorite pet and playmate. | alone fed
him, and he attended me wherever l went
about the house. 1t was even with diff
Guilty that 1 could prevent him from fol-
lowing me through the streets.
Our friendship lasted in this manner for
several years, during which my general
temperament and character, through the
instrumentality of the 6end intemperance-
had Il blush to confess Inexperienced a
radical alteration for the worse / grew
day by day more moody, more irritable,
more regardless of the feelings of others.
l suffered myself to use Incorporate Ian
guage to my wife. At length l even of
fered her personal violence My pets, of
course, were made to feel the change in
my disposition. | not only neglected but
ill-used them. For Pluto, however, still
retained sufficient regard to restrain me
from maltreating him. | made no scruple
of maltreating the rabbits, the monkey, or
even the dog, when by accident or through
affection they came in my way. But my
disease grew upon me for what disease is
like alcohol p, and at length even Pluto,
who was now becoming old, and conse-
quently somewhat peevish, even Pluto be-
gan to experience the effects of my i'll