The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-04
WILD BEASTS GUARD HER.
THE STRANGE PROTECTORS OF A
SOUTHERN WoMAN's HOME.
4 wildcat Once Saved Her Baby rrom =
strange Animal, and Then The Cas-
Rrought Her Family 60 Reside with He's.

up to the mouth of Little River. tied my skin
to the root Of a tree and walked slowly toward
q grove of oaks, in which there Is a small white-
washed cabin, where lives the p~luckicst littls
woman in Louisiana. When / reached tho gate
and saw three rs fine specimens Of wildcat AS
ever saw In tho Zoo sitting in n row ON the
steps, and cycling me with a "comc-In-if-you
dare" expression, my bump Of bravery became
almost fiat, but my determination bump pulled
up to my rescue, and. stead wing ms voice. I
called loudly. Mrs. Benson Immediately ap-
peared at the door, and seeing my anxious face
peering through the fence. she fixed her gaze on
the animals, and pointing to the end Of the gal-
lery, said firmly:
March. boys; down, quiet" Then turnlngto
me She said. with a smile: Lift the gate u wee
bit. IL hangs heavy in wet weather. and CONS
right in. Don't he afraid. They are harmless as
kittens when | speak 20 them. Now take this
chair. it's the easiest In tho house. Here's n fan,
not very pretty. but gives n good wind. Wont
sou take Of your hat and cool your head while
you're rCstihRl All, there nre the babies. How
like young kittens they arc, only more shy. They
plny 50 ali day. hut the mother knows you're .
stranger. aud being suspicious, IL too much cons
ccrncd about the safety of her jealously
guarded children to take part as she usually
does in their sport. See how she watches you.
Don't let u make YOU nervous. She Is only
afraid. that's all. ON the only one they know
well. ana they don't care TO see any one else
here. like to wat CHI them playing, and YOU
have no tcca how IN nch company they are 20
pcopl, think so. but II hocsn't seem que or to me.
n"n rec ihi. Is hGw !! , THm yy a42nt' Bow ! came
One day during the summer Of ''sS | went
down to cypress Grove. as had been doing
ncr. When he weather was favorable ! ear
Rcd our baby. and then IA stay and have
about getting home. But when | thought 1t un-
wise TO take baby out, why I'd lock up the
afraid to leave him alone too long, On the Day
OF which speak the sun wns terribly hot, with
9Gt u, that time of day, and | was afraid to
lsare him In II close room without any fresh air.
kissed my sleeping boy, locked the door, and
FASTENED on my way with sans dinner: Ny
was in such spirits that it cheercd me greatly.
and | came home singing ut the top OF my voice.
hear during a lifetime. rent the air, followed in
quick, succession by. three others equally terri
which the sound came. and then il was my
turn TO scream, but couldn't, ! had, no voice
cold 60 sir end EsIai ! "a" from n1 O head Il, nd root. In / S S"s
corner Of the yard was the sight that nearly
trek inn my a Gl2%ai w ThsrH m was Sa E s!r ths ss fsfo OF II.
dress, was in, his mouth. while the little fellow
danEled in the air: In front Of the animal ws vas
so near the woods. but this one was unusually
! s,sD Ef HrwSrd ,i% as , the Snt Rs ,n woSds ts SS,
up against hin, lash his tail, crook his
look as il he intended killing him that second.
And each, time the animal screamed fearfuliy.
did so | don't know unless he was jealous OF his
prize and determined TO share 1t. ! could ac-
certain they we're going to tight over the baby;
",something had TO be done, and done quickly.
The Thought made me as wild as were the ami:
mals; almost; rushed, in The house, grabbed
ing with every breath, fired through the window
at the animal that had my baby; Ny qim was
idly as he could, The wildcat At full ~ after
seratthins him. and the baby was dropped on
the GROUND. In q moment the baby was safe In
animals were Just outside the yard and lighting
IN n way 70 make ones flesh creep. Their cries
ngain. hugged our boy and trembled the rest
OF the day. My nerves were completely shat;
would draw my baby closer and promise never
to leaye him again. and | never did.
trails, He knew those OF the wild cat at once.
but the Others he had never seen before. The
know inst :" 1E i%nT a afaia Il Il was wa. : nor Su ev ep had n a%
opportunity OF finding out. for the animal did
The. next morning, about 0 o'clock. what
should sec waikinS around but the same wild.
%as S Very y1 SIo sdyea an .he b SspS shf io aIy Ssl Ss il re he
had been in II terrific fight, appeared to be half
sams cat, aM %l' w HHi m his inisntio Es'm might i Maf Sa aHs
been the same as those OF the other animal,
felt fSr grateful i. sd. & lin h for SAYING r. my G, child But
which prevented his getting out OF the yard be;
fore ! came both would have gone, and we'd
The thing looked so bad l felt sorry for him
and tossed II bone out OF the window. He went
TOR IL and was gone in a minute, and the next
morning he came hack for another bone, which
! gave him, with scraps from the kitchen.
" He came without fail every morning about
the same time, ate The small pieces Of bread and
meat, and carried the bone away with him; He
emma IA t4HIl plN lint 1 FAp FaI ali A. fast
early, put il in a plate and set IL near the fence
Where he came il, and then I'd watch for him.
him come out of the hollow tree in
dencc 'f friEltenSd me a little and mi' amused r%pSi
me also: lie came out, ate his breakfast, ora
the tree, taking something in his mouth each
time. Most OF the day watched to see what
or hear, anything. That night, however, after
we had gone TO our room, sam looked out
two young ones playing in the moonlight,
She had liked the place SO wen she had
said we had three boarders. He felt toward
the @ old rai as Gid, and, and we SoGclu Sed. e let
us The east tai alarm M fTSs b bocanss more e sentis
cats ins y s%G he / young sU 2ssr ones mes S ssr1 as aN large rSu ss
Their mother, and the three were glossy and fat.
hour at time, and never pay, tGs least attention
10 TIE baby, who was then t6ddling around.
Nol lolS aIttr TINS my husband uleu. ana In
less than six months later our boy joined his
papa was almost in despair as e what
managed To put by only a little for a rainy day.
! had no relatives to go to; besides, | eouldn't
leave our home, | came here as a bride, our
baby was born here, a good many years OF hap
piness were spent under the roof of this little
cabin. In spite uf the dark shadow, | felt drawn
To the place, They are both buried out there
under those trees, and | can't ever leave them.
chickens aud turkeys, for which there's always
u ready market. That field was open 10 me as .
means of livelihood, and 1 concluded to try H.
my only fear Icing thieves, both kinds, the two
and four legged. But do you know that now
never a coon, 'IOssum, mink, stray cat, or any
thing, man or beast, enters this yard at any time.
The wildcats, this old one I've had so long
and her two children, keep them all away
They are letter by far than the best watchdOgs
TO be foUnd. before they took mp their rcai-
dence here and became our pets, something
could be heard pruwling around every night.
And not only thai, but making on with "a duck
or chicken ia his mouth. Now, nothing uf the