Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-11-30
CATS FOR COMPANY.
A WATCHMAN HAS TWENTY-THRsE
AND HE LIKES THEM.

Visiting II New York Night Waterman |
who would BE Lonely but for His De-
voted and Loving Pets.
Vince, wheetl Vince, wheel!
Il was such whistle us the Pied Piper |
of Hamlin may have given when he
called the rats from the famous old city |
10 watery grave in the river Weser
But instead Of rats there came from
little shanty in Alderman Duffy's coal
yard at the foot of East Twenty-sixth |
street the queerest colony of cats TO be
found perhaps in Christendom. They
gathered about the Waterman Of the
yard, Charles Melville, n short thick
set man with bristling brown Iaustache,
who walked with slight limp and is
Familiarity known as doc" because of
his veterinary skill, in answer TO his
whistle.
Great family, amt ity' said the
Waterman after moments pause, dur
ing which he counted them 10 GO If the
cats were all there. "Ain't another like
it in the city. The black ones Mig. He's
Q years old, and the most intelligent.
Larry, the brindle, is the same age, and
is the biggest of the lot. That black and
white small sized cat is Cinders.
Klinkers, over there, is black and white
too She's the dead spit Of her mother,
is Cinders. Most people can't tell them
apart. That staid looking old woman
over there is Minnie. She is s years
old, being the oldest Of all, and
the grandmother of most Of the
babies. The lively little lady with the
five liver colored kits is Ginger. They
think they are going TO get something TO
eat. See how disappointed they look
when they find they amt"
Nothing today" he said sharply.
"Trot back the gentleman has seen
you"
The twenty-three cats were for a mo
ment irresolute. Then they blinkeh
their eyes as if TO wipe away the tears,
and turned about and went with droop
ing tails and bent heads into the shanty
whence they came. The Waterman
followed, leading the reporter TO the
shed, which was built in the corner Of
the coal yard. 1t was not more than a
dozen feet square and as many high, and
was built Of old boards. II stood at the
entrance TO the yard. At the street end
was door, in the bottom Of which was
cut hole about three inches square.
Hanging over the little hole was ilaI
Of wood suspended from piece OF
leather. Two windows lit up the int
rior Of the shed. On one side was o
raised bunk, where the Waterman sleeps
and on the other, under the windows
was long shelf Coils Of rope, shoveis
pickaxes, tools, odds and ends Of iron
pulIeys and blocks, lanterns and empty
boxes Uttered up the rest Of the interior
Upon the bunk, shelf and floor and IL
hooks and corners the cats were max
ing themselves perfectly at home. Thu
Waterman picked up small piece o
meat from closet and began TO chop /
mp. Instantly the cats were all atten
ton and watched him intently. Whei
he threw down what he had cut eacl
|, cat picked up piece and took 1t off to
corner to eat IT, There was no scranI
; bling or fighting save among the kittens
p 81 keep the cats for company, sal
their master. Most Of them ! hav
raised from kittens which friends CAV
, me. used 10 have tribes Of them, bu
a good many died Of distemper. Their
! used to be so many Of them that when
. went through the yard at night with
/ lantern was almost afraid Of steppin
= on them. You can't teach them an
tricks except 10 jump over sticks an
through your hands and 10 come wbe
,, you call and 10 stick 10 you like broth
err. A dog has got more intelligence. !
| cat lives about twelve years. The tai
/ about their having nine lives Is roi
They are awfully delicate creatures an
7 catch the distemper very easily. 70
mustn't overfeed them. | don't beiiev
: in giving them milk; it's too heating. !
little meat once day il all they need
= They catch rats and mice enough I
keep them from being hungry. BE kin
{ TO them. Bob Ingersoll says a kind wOr
g to dumb animal is better than kick
4 "Some Of my cats are great fighter
K Minnie is a perfect John l.. Sullivan
+ She will tackle anything in the shape {
!, &. dog that comes along. A big bull te
= rier chased Cinders the other day.
r was great 20 see Minnie go 70 her an
d Those two cats got that dog down an
e clawed him until he howled. Whf
It they let him up he had hardly any ha
D: on him. He put his tail between h
a legs and ran away as If the old boy WI
- after him. When cat fights, you kno'
he lies on his back and paws with b
!, hind feet. Wherever the claws stril
e, the fur flies
n IF strange cat comes around tn
will chase him away If they don't Ill
er him. II they think he is pretty go'
II fellow they will bring him in here VIII
=, / call them 10 feed. Cinders has almc
- turned Protestant through kindne'
She runs off 10 the female traini'
ID school mp the street and the nurses ma
a great time over her and feed her.
er have forbid her going there, but 2
won't pay any attention TO my ORDER
Then Melville went on 10 tell what