The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-12-16
BEASTS GUARD HER
The Strange Prote ctors Of q
Southern Woman's Home.
4 Wildcat Once Saved Her Baby from .
Strange Animal, and Then the Cat
Brought Her Family TO Reside
with Her.


Yesterday 1 rowed up to the mouth
of Little river, tied my skih to the
root OF a tree and walked slowly
toward grove of oaks, in which there
is small, white-washed cabin, where
lives the pluckiest little woman in
louisiana When i reached the gate
and saw there as fine specimens
of wildcat as ever saw in the
Zoo sitting in a row on the steps,
end eyiug me with ''come-in-if-you-
dare" expression, my bump OF brav-
cry became almost fat, but my deter
mination bump puffed up to my rescue,
and. steadying my voice, called loud
ly. Mrs Benson Immediately ap-
peared at the door. and seeing my
anxious face peering through the
fence, she fixed her gaze on the ami
mails and pointing to the end of the
gallery. said firmly:
March, boys; down quiet Then
turning to me she said with q smile:
heavy in wet weather. and come right
in. Don't be afraid. They are harmless
as kittens when l speak to them. Now
take this chair, it's the easiest in the
house. Here's fan, not very pretty,
but gives q good wind. Won't you
take off your hat and cool your head
while you're resting? All, there are
the babies How like young kittens
they are, only more shy. They play
SO all day, but the mother knows you're
a stranger, and, being suspicious, is
too much concerned 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 it make you nervous She is
only afraid, that's all am the only.
one they know well, and they don't
care 10 see anyone else here. like to
watch them playing, and you have no
idea how much company they are TO
me. Queer taste? Well, don't know.
Many people think SO, but il doesn't,
seem queer to me You see this is how
IL came about, how ! came to be jols-
ingly called: The Wildcat Farmer
''One day during the summer of IS
went down to Cypress Grove, as had
been doing for several weeks, 10 take
my husbands dinner. When the
weather was favora ole ] carried our
baby, and then I'd stay and have
long chat with sam, and take my time
about getting home. But when l
thought IL unwise to take baby out.
why I'd lock up the house, hurry to
IL L.. .I- haiyrr Of III
to leave him alone too long. On the
day of which speak the sun was ter
ribly hot, with not particle OF
breeze / didn't dare take him out at
that time of day, and ! was afraid To
leave him in u close room without any
fresh air. / opened one window half
way, and tied it SO, kissed my sleeping
bov, locked the door, and has.ened on
my way with Sans dinner. My hus-
band was in very poor health. but that
day was in such spirits that it cheered
me greatly, and came home singing
at the top of my voice.
LAS entered our gate such a scream
as few hear during lifetime rent tho
air, followed in quick succession by
tuIcc - CA-O
second | located the direction from
which the sound came, and then it was
my turn to scream, but couldn't. l
had no voice to scream with. / had no
breath. hardly. ! was cold and par
elyzed from head to foot. In one cor
ner of the yard was the sight that
nearly froze my blood There was 9
strange, Notwithstanding animal with
nv baby; the skirt of his dress was in
his mouth, while the little fellow
dangled in the air. In front of the
animal was q wildcat. | had seen
many of them since living so near the
woods, but this one was unusually
large. Every time the animal would
take step forward as though he in
tended going off with the baby the cat
would glide up against him, lash his
tail. crook his neck-a certain attitude
Of theirs-and look as IL he intended
killing him that second. And each
time the animal screamed fearfully.
The cat invariably barred his way.
Why he did so don't know, unless he
was jealous of his prize and deter
mined TO share it j could account for
his actions in no other way. / WAS
certain they were going to fight over
the baby.
Something had to be done, and done
quickly, or l would Sc e my child torn
in two and eaten. The thought made
ne as wild as were the animals, almost
/ rushed in the house, grabbed the
shotz un, and. trembling like leaf and
PRAYING with every breath, fred
through the window a. the animal
tha. had my baby. My aim was un-
steady. and ! only manned him II had
the desired effect, though, for he
limped of as rapidly as ne could, the
wildcat at full tilt after him. pouncing
on him every second. biting and
scratching him, and the baby was
dropped on the ground In a moment
the baby wa. safe in my arms and in
ct CT Mysteries. The two animals
were just outside the yard and fight
ing in a way TO make ones flesh creep.
Their cries became faint, and then
did not hear them again l hugged
our boy aud trembled the rest Of the
day. Ny nerves were completely shat
tered over the excitement livery no
uent / would draw my baby closer
and promise never TO leave him again
And / never did
when Sam came home Re examined
he trails He knew those Of the Wild
cat al once, but the others he had
never seen before. The feet were as
long again as the cats, but be did not
know just what animal il was. nor
ever had an opportunity Of finding
out. for the animal did not call again