The Bottineau pioneer., 1894-11-24

You won't get II, nelgheu tue snnah
est Pony In the World, who was
munching hay in a stall by himself.
I've tried 1t. He says I'm too small
to warrant Il large salary. All youH
get out Of him will be board and lodg-
ing"
On the following day n most singular
thing happened. The Snowman TOOK
me from my nice snug basket placed
me on a table, gave me bread ana
milk in Il saucer and then LETT the
room. He presently returned with a
woman evidently IL seamstress, VINO
measured me at various points In
manner which savored of low familiar
ify. She had the impudence to address
me rs Pretty Pussy"
For several days l amused mysel1
as best could in the society OF my
fpllow-prOfessionals. found life rath-
or dull, as the dog-leopards began to
display professional jealousy, and the
Smallest Pony in the World neighed
loudly, on purpose to disturb my sensi
tive nervous system. | was much
pleased when the same sewing woman
appeared, carrying box, and accom-
panied by the Snowman, who took me
I'D and told the seamstress to open the
box. Great was my pleasure at seeing
lovely set Of white tarletan dancing
skirts, evidently intended for me, and
surmounted by a blue satin bodice made
on q sort Of stiff box-like corset.
Now, what do you think happened?
The Snowman took me by the middle,
thrust me into the upright box covered
by the blue waist. and ! found myself
standing on wooden platform. He
thrust my paws into the sleeves Of the
blue satin bodice and fastened them
with strings to the white tarletan
skirt l then discovered that under
the skirt were dolls legs in pink silk
stockings and blue satin boots. My
own hind paws did not appear. They
were crowded together in the sort of
box into which I was thrust.
Isn't she daisy" said the show
man to the sewing woman, holding his
head on one side and eyeing me criti-
cally
shes Il perfect beauty" returned
the seamstress with enthusiasm.
The Snowman then took me into
room where number of stuffed black
cats were seated on a platform, play
ing on musical instruments. He pull
ed a string and the music began while
the cats moved their instruments in
time. My manager stood me UP in an
alcove above the stuffed cats, and the
concealed music began to play Tara
ra-boOm-deay!"
He pulled the string from behind and
my tarletan skirts flew up and the
stuffed legs danced away merrily and
my paws were jerked hither and thith-
er. At first, I was terribly frightened,
but the approving smiles of the show
man reassured me that I knew that I
was doing the great Lottie Collins act
as we'll as the original Britisher her.
self.
Never shall l forget the thrill of
delight which shot through me the
first time faced an audience. Tn, SEN
sation was simply enchanting. How
the children laughed! The trapeze lady
performer, the Hungarian giant, the
Royal leOpards, and the smallest pony
in the world received no such public
appreciation and applause. l was pre-
sented to the audience in little speech
hy the Snowman. He spoke Of me as
Miss LOttie Collins of London.
After my sawdust legs had danced
until they were tired, the kind show
man remarked confidentially to the au-
dience. Miss Lottie Collins was up late
last night. She requires a little re-
frcsillnent.'
He handed me a nice tidhit on
fork, which I daintily nibbled, greatly
to the delight Of all the children, who
were now convinced that I was a real
live cat quite unlike the miserable
stuffed cats who played in the orchestra
ut my feet.
My progress from town to town was
one long triumph. l Travelled in a
latticed trunk lined with pink satin
and had pretty rubber mouse to play
with in order to relax my mind after
my histrionic efforts. Children and
grown people, too, fOcked to the stage
door to see ME come out in the arms
of the Snowman, carefully wrapped up
in pink flannel blanket, with my mon
ogram, l.. G., embroidered in red upon
it. l was given warm milk and breast
Of chicken for supper, and altogether
l may say that no cat ever had a more
agreeable life.
l soon began to receive mash letters
from infatuated cats who desired to
make my acquaintance, or who wor-
shipped me from afar. One feline mil
lionaire sent me rhinestone collar,
which l wore ON the boards, making
the dog-leopards extremely jealous.
l was serenaded by bands of wander
ing cats, who endeavored to entice me
away from the show Oh the ground
that l could make great deal more
money by starring alone and giving
open-air moonlight performances.
paid but slight attention to- their mani
festations Of popular regard for, was
so sure of myself that l was above the
silly vanity Of the general run of act
resses!
At last, however missive arrived
which struck the right note. 1t came
from O prosperous ex-dealer in picked
rats tongues who had accumulated a
large fortune, which he had carefully
invested in shares in a syndicate for
the cultivation Of catnip.
There was no mash nonsense about
this letter-nO rubbish about cham
pagne and diamonds. 1t was a genuine
bona fide offer of marriage The writer
stated that he would provide me with
a br0wnstOne front, Redfern and Con-
nelly clothes, and settlement Of fifty
thousand shares in the catnip syndi-
cate. '~s-
consulted with my manager and he
recommended me to accept the ex-
dealer in picked rats tongues. lave
since learned that the gentleman who
is now my husband paid my manager
heavy sum for the privilege of call
ing me his wife. $" !:
We were married quietly, for I de-
spise ostentation. This stage proved q
stepping stone, to q high position with
me- / reside IN a most delightful villa