Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-02-26
The Cat Behind the Chest.

Mat and Biddy, an honest Irishman
and his wife, had moved on to place
near the forest which they intended
to make their home. One evening,
when both happened TO be out of
doors, some creature, big cat as
they supposed, walked into the
kitchen and was taking a survey of
the premises when Biddy came in
and in the dim light saw the animal
moving about the floor. She seized a
broom and said "Be out of this or I'll
smash yer COMPOUNDED head"
After an Intellectual effort to drive
the creature out of doors, while she
was bordering what to do, Mat re-
turned and Biddy says: There's a
black and white cat as company about
here and I've been sthriven' over the
matther for ten minits past, but she's
iist beyant my rache, behint the big
red chist in the corner. Will yeZ be
helping me to dhrive her out, Mat?"
E'To be sure I will, bad luck to the
consate she has for me house; show
her to me, Biddy, till [ tache her the
lispict that's due a man in his own
house-to be takin' possession widout
as much as by yer lave, the thafe o.
the world?"
Now Mat had a special antipathy
for cats, and never let pass an oppor-
tunity to kill one. This he resolved
TO DO in the present case, and instant
ly formed a plan for the purpose.
Perceiving but one mode of egress
for the animal, he says to Biddy:
''Have yez liver male bag in the
house, me darlint?''
"Divil a wan is there, Mat. Yez
TUX it to the mill wild yez to bring HON
chips wild, this mornin'.'
''FaiX, an did, and there it is yit,
thin. Well have yez nothin' at all in
the house that will tie up like bag,
Biddy?"
''Troth, am I have, Mat; there is
my Sunday petticoat-ye can dhraw
the strings close at the top, am sure
it will do betther, nor lettin' the cat
be LAWN yez."
"Biddy, darlint, yere jewel to be
thinkin' o. that same; be after BRING
ing it to me-"
Biddy brought the garment, and
when the strings were drawn close it
made very good substitute for the
meal bag, and Mat declared it was il
legant."
So holding it close against the edge
of the chest he took a look behind it
and saw pair of bright eyes glazing
at him.
''And is it there We are We divil? Be
out O. that now; bad luck to all yer
kin, We thavin' vagabone We. Be dad,
an We won't lave me house at all wild
perIite AKIN? Yer self-will bates a
pigs intfrely. Biddy, have yez any
hot water in the house?''
E'YIs, Pve a plinty, Mat; the tay
kittle's full of it.''
f'Be after castin' the matter of a
quart thin behind the chist till I see
how the shay divil likes it''
'tHould inn close, Mat; here goes
the Wather."
Dash went the water and out Jump
ed the animal into Mats trap.
'tArrah, be the holy poker have
'em Biddy," says Mat, drawing close
the folds of the garment, "now bad
cess to yez, We thafe, it's nine lives We
have, is it? Be afther AKIN me for
giveness for the thavin', we have been
doin' in me house, for Pm thinkin'
the nine lives We have won't be savin'
We now any way. Biddy, seize hoult
of the poker, am when I shoulder the
haythin, yell bate the daylights out
Of inn
Mat threw the bundle over his
shoulder, and told Biddy to play est.
Patrick's day in the mornin'" on it.
Biddy struck about three notes of
that Popular Irish air, and suddenly
stopped, exclaiming:
'sWhat smills SO quare, Mat? It's
takin' me BIRTH away with the power