Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-22

come out of the hollow tree in the
corner Of our yard. His impudence
frightened me little and amused mo
also. lie cane out, ate his breakfast, or
u part of it, and then made several
trips back to the tree, taking something
in his mouth each time. Most of the
day watched to see what he was shar-
ing his meals with, but did not see or
hear anything. That night, however,
after we had gone to our room, Sam
looked out through the window and
saw the old cat and two young ones
playing in the moonlight.
"She had liked the place SO well she
had moved her family there. Sam
laughed, and said VIC had three boarders.
He felt toward the old cat as did, and
we concluded to let them stay q while it
they behaved. This they did. Not once
did they do anything to cause us the
least alarm. They became more gentle
every day, and played over the yard
like house cats. In year the young
ones were as large rs their mother, and
the three were glossy and fat. They
would run up and down the gallery for
an hour at time, amt never pay the
least attention to the baby, who was
then toddling around,
mot long after this my husband died,
and in less than six months later our
boy Joined his papa. l was almost in
despair us to what | ehonld do. On ac-
count of his i'll health we had managed
to put by onlya little for rainy day.
had no relatives to go To; besides, |
| couldn't leave our home. came here as
a bride, our baby was born here, u good
many years OF happiness were spent
under the roof of this little cabin. In
| spite of the dark shadow, | felt drawn
to the place. They are both buried out
there under those trees, and can't ever
leave them.
81 had been very successful with rails
| ing chickens and turkeys, for which
there's always a ready market. That
| field was open to me as means of live
lihood, and | concluded to try it, my
only fear being thieves, both kinds, the
two and four legged. But do you know
that now never coon, 'possum, mink,
stray cat, or anything, man or beast
enters this yard at any time.
"rhe wildcats, this old one I've had
SO long and her two children, keep them
all away. They are better by far than
the best watchdugs to be found. Before
they took up their residence here and
became our pets, something could be
heard prowling around every night
And not only that, but making off will
a duck or chicken in his mouth. Now
nothing of the kind ever happens. They
may come around, but are met or fright
ened away before they ever get in thu
yard. And Christmas week every yea
bring home from market small for
tune from the sale of my turkeys
chickens and ducks, number of which
besides eggs. | dispose OF readily al
during the year.
"Once in while a chicken hawk
swoop down upon some unsuspectinl
fowl, but that isn't often, and is the onl,
thing that ever gets ahead of tho cats.
was surprised week ago by seeing my
old pet had an addition TO her family.
had been so long since her babies wer
born | did not think she'd have an
more. But there they are, two fine littl
fellows, as you see. Well, three wer
enough, but | shall not complain or in
terfere with her keeping the other two
, don't know what should do withou
them. There's one thing sure, couldn'
live here alone nor meet with any sue
cess with fowl raising. They are un
equalled as guard.
When l left was escorted to the ga,
by Mrs. Benson and two of the cat
! who walked along slowly at her fee
| their tails under them and as meek an
docile as any dog Lever saw. The OF
cat stayed on the gallery, still eying m
= uneasily, as she had done all aloni
: But the moment was out Of the yal
,, she was relieved, and gave expressio
a thereto by leaping off the gallery an
3 tearing like mad over the yard, her tW
I babies after her. A wilder romp new
- saw than these five cats-for the othe
!. Joined them moment later-enjoye
r As pushed the skiff out and picked u
= the oars | glanced back at the sma
cabin and smiled with admiration at IL
), little widow who has lived for near
: five years miles from living perso
q supported herself nicely, and her pr
/. tectors wildcats.