The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-07
A Cat and a Chronicle.

This cat was dainty and clean, of the
true Maltese blue-gray, with a white
spot like an old-fashioned brooch under
his throat, and very clever member
of the furry and purry family. Most
cats care for little else than their saucer
of cream and soft cushion, when they
do not have to hunt for a livelihood;
but he liked adventures. On a sunny
day he delighted in lying on a narrow
window ledge outside, where the peo-
pie walking in the street could only see
his paws hanging over one end and his
long tail over the other. His tail would
wave ominously if he heard any sound
of which he disapproved. Sometimes
he even slept on the top of a balcony
railing, where one nod might have up
set his balance, or at least it looked so.
Then, again, he would sit quietly in a
corner of the shop shelves, while his
master talked to the children who came
to buy, and who were startled by see
ing him suddenly step down on the
counter, and, after stretching himself
until he looked two yards long, walk
about among the toys as if he were
junior partner, at least.
The toy-maker once told me his own
story on Sunday afternoon when he
had finished watering the scarlet gera-
NUNS that grew in box by the win
dow, and had swept his already clean
hearth twice, and set in order his
pretty china plates and cups on his
cosey tea-table. He sat down then
with his cat by his side, and told me
how his father and his young mother
died of fever on the vessel that was
bringing them to the New World, and
left himself, JEAN Marie, and his little
dark-eyed sister, Marie-Jean, orphans.
After they landed, they were taken un-
der the pretext of charity by an old
farmer.
1t was a rough, hard life at the farm
house, however, and Jean Marie and
his little sister were not allowed to be
idle. Only he remembered with love
gray kitten that followed him to the
orchard and barn, and would climb
upon his shoulder, and purr-r con-
tentedly in his ear "When l was old
enough" said the maker, "then 1
ran away to town. l got first one job
and then another, and was generally
kindly treated. At twenty-one l had a
good living, and at once | went back for
my little Marie. She had married a
young Frenchman, and had gone away
with her husband six months before
but nobody could tell me his name or
where they went. Very sad | was for
my sister; but after while l married
too, and was so happy with my wife
and little boy for three years. Alas!
wife and child died. and now l am
alone,-I and my cat"
After he had once told his story, he
would often talk of finding his little
sister. Perhaps her husband was dead i,
he had heard once rumor of the kind,
and she might make her home with
him. " 1t would be beautiful to work
for somebody else, my friend. / think,
if it were not for my pet cat l would
not have the heart to keep my little
room clean and warm; but good cat
will not live in cold, disorderly house
1t is good sign if housekeeper has a
fine cat"
1t was a great blow to him when l
reminded him one day that Marie must
be an old woman, now, if she were
alive. He looked very sad, and then
he frightened up. "Now, do you see,
my friend, if she is old, she will need
little comforts; and think you not that
she will like my little shop and my
flowers and my cat? think So"
For long while he had no competi-
ton on his street; but one sunny morn
ing in May another toy-shop with the
sign,
MRS PAULET
Sell Toys, Bonbons, and Fresh FloUerS,
4 4. D no
kept by neat, bright-faced old woman
and the toy-maker soon had the morti-
fcation of seeing the children, who
were his best purchasers, going on the
other side of the street to Mrs. Paulet's.
But this was not the worst: he had
missed his favorite several times, and
now he actually saw his beloved and
petted cat sitting lazily washing his
paws in the sunniest window Of the ri
val shop. He hurriedly put on his hat
and prepared to invade his enemy's
dominion.
AS he knocked, little sharply, an
unexpected sound met his ear, the
sound of caressing French phrases
which the old lady was lavishing
upon his cat. He opened the door,
looked at her closely, then suddenly ex.
claimed, els not thy name Marie
Jean?"
The old woman turned her bright
eyes upon him, "Ah, yes! and thou,
thou art surely Jean Marie"
1t was not long before the two shops
were consolidated in one, and little
home realized more than the toy.mak-
er's dream; for the cat was not the
only pet. Marie's husband was dead
but she had two little boys, now at
school, who turned everything upside
down on holidays, and were as the very
light of the eyes to the two cd folks.
And the cat discovered them all.-E.
F., MoSby, IN the Waterman.
EARLIEST Greek coins bore lion or
tortoise on the diverse and punch
i L.. L..