The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-12-16
1he aahita nai1y Eagle Sunday 1aor,ue Damber

next morning ne came back for an
other bone. which | gave him. with
scraps from the kitchen
"le came without fail every morn
ing about the same time, ate the small
pieces of bread and meat. aud carried
the bone away with him He came so
regularly tha. / prepared his break
fast early. put IL in a plate and set II
nesr the fence where he came in. and
then I'd watch for him. His morning
calls lasted for about two weeks, when
one morning, to my surprise. saw
him come out OF the hollow tree in the
corner of our yard His impudence
frightened me little and amused me
also. He came out, ate his breakfast,
or part of il, and then made sever2,
trips back to the tree. taking some
thing in his mouth each time Most
OF the day / watched TO see what be
was sharing his meals with, bat 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 we had three board
crs. He felt toward the old cat as
did, and we concluded to let her stay
awhile IL they behaved. This they
did. Not once did they do anything
to cause US the least alarm. They be-
came more gentle every day, and
played over the yard like house catS
In q year the young ones were as
large as their mother. and the three
were glossy and fat They would run
up and down tie gallery for an hour
at q time, and never pay the least at
tention to the baby, who was then
toddling around
Not long after this nv husband
died, and in less than six months later
our boy joined his papa was almost
in despair as to what should do. On
accoun, of his iIl-health we had man
aged to put by only little for rainy
day. had no relatives 10 20 to; be-
sides / couldn't leave our home
came here as bride. our baby was
born here, q good many years Of hap
piness 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 j can't ever leave
them
II had been very successful with
raising chickens aud turkeys. for
which there's always a ready market
That field was open to me as "A means
of livelihood, and concluded TO try II.
my only fear being thieves, both
kinds. the two and four legged. But
do you know tina. now never \ coon.
'possun, mink, stray cat or anything.
man c. last. enters this yard ut any
time
THE WI is. this old one I've had
so long and her two children, keep
them all away. They are better by
far than the best watch dogs 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. bat making off with duck or
chicken in his mouth. Now nothing
of the kind ever happens. They may
come around, but arc met or frightened
away before they ever get in the
yard. And Christmas week every year
l bring home from market a small for
tune from the sale of my turkeys,
chickens and ducks, a number of which,
besides eggs, | dispose of readily all
during the year.
''Once in awhile chicken-havk
swoops down upon some unsuspecting
fowl, but that isn't often.sn is the only
thing that ever gets ahead of the cats
was surprised a week ago By seeing
my old pet cat had an addition 20 her
family. 1t had been SO long since her
ba bies were born did not think she'd
have any more. But there they are,
two fine little fellows. as you see.
Well, three were enough, but / shall not
complain or interfere with her keep
ing the other two. don't know what
I should do without them. There's
one thing sure, l couldn't live here
alone nor meet with any success with
fowl-raising. They are unequaled As
a guard"
When / left was escorted 70 the
gate by Mrs. Benson and two of the
cats, who walked along slowly at her
feet, their tails under them and a.
meek and docile as any dog ever saw.
The old cat stayed on the gallery, still
eying me uneaSily, as she had done
all along. But the moment ! was ont
of the yard she was relieved. and gave
expression thereto by leaping of the
gallery and tearing like mad over the
yard, her two babies after her. A
wilder romp / never saw than these
Ave cats-tor tho Others joined them a
moment later-enjoyed As pushed
the skif ont and picked mp the oars /
glanced back at the small cabin and
smiled with admiration at the Ettlo
widow who has lived for nearly Eve
years miles from living person. sup
ported herself nicely, and her protect
oTs wildcats. - Peterson La Corre-
spondence St Louis Republic