The Portland daily press., 1894-11-24
BETTER THAN BULLDOGS.
Mrs. Benson's Domesticated Cata-
mounts.
How the Wildcats Came to Make Ihelr
Home There-The Services They Rem
in Return for Their Board and Lodg-

in Return for Their Board and Lodg-
Patterson, La, Letter to Philadelphia
Times) -
| Yesterday l rowed up to the mouth OF
Little River, tied my skiff to the root OF a
tee and walked slowly towards grove OF
| oaks. in which there is small whlte-
washed cabin, where lives the Quickest
little woman in Louisiana. When l reached
| the gate and saw there as fine specimens
| of wildcat as ever saw in the Zoo sitting
| in row on the steps, and cycling me With
a 'come-in-if- you-dare' expression. my
bump of bravery became almost fiat, but
| my determination bump puffed up to my
rescue, and steadyi ing my voice l called
| loudly. Mrs. Benson Immediately appeared
| at the door, and seeing my anxious lace
| peering through the fence, she fixed hef
| gaze on the animals and pointing to the
end of the gallery, said firmly:
| "March. boys. down quiet" Then turn
| ing to me, she said. with smile lift the
| gate wee bit, it hangs heavy in Wet
| weather, and come right in. Don't De
| afraid. They are harmless as kittens when
l speak to them. Now take this chair, it's
| the esaiest in the house. Here's fan, not
very pretty. but gives 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, put
| the mother knows you're stranger, ana
| being suspicious, is too much concerned
about the safety of her jealousy guarded
| children to take part as she usually does
| in their sport. Sec how she watches you.
Don't let it make you nervous. She is only
| afraid, that's all. l am the only one they
know we'll. and they don't care to see any
one else here. ! like to watch them play
| ing, and you have no idea how much com
| pany they are to me. Queer taste. Well,
don't know. Many people think so, but II
| doesn't seem queer to me. GU see, this Is
| how it came about, how came to be Jok-
| ingly called The Wildcat Farmer.
| Zone day during the summer of 'SS l
went down to Cypress Grove. as had been
| doing for several weeks, to take my hus-
bands dinner. When the weather was IA
vorable l carried our baby, and then I'd
stay and have long chat with Sam. and
| take my time about getting home. But
when thought it unwise TO take baby out,
why, I'd lock up the house, hurry to the
grove and back again, being afraid to leave
|
speak the sun was terribly hot, with not
particle of breeze. didn't dare take him
out at that time of day, and / was afraid to
leave him in a close room without any
fresh air. opened one window half way,
| and tied it so. kissed my sleeping boy,
| locked the door and fastened on my way
with Sans dinner. Ny husband was in
very poor health, but that day was in such
| excellent spirits that it cheered me greatly.
and came home singing at the top of my
| voice. 'sAs entered our gate such a
scream as few hear during lifetime rent
the air, followed in quick succession by
three others equally terrible. In one sec
ond located he direction from which the
sound came, and then it was my turn to
SCI cam, but couldn't. ] had no voice to
scream with. had no breath hardly.
was cold and paralyzed from head to foot.
| In one corner of the yard WAS the sight
that nearly froZe my blood. There was
strange ferocious- looking animal with my
baby; the SIX irt of his dress was in his
mouth, while the little fellow dangled in
the air. had seen many of them since
wing so near the woods, but this one was
unusually large. Every time the animal
would take a step forward as though he
intended going off with the baby, the cat
would glide up against him, lash his tail.
crook his neck a certain fighting attitude
of theirs and look as if he intended killing
him that second. And each time the ami
NAL screamed fearfully. The cat invariably
barred his way. Why he did SO l don't
know, unless he was jealous of his prize
and determined to share it. | could &C
count for his actions in no other way.
was certain they were going to fight over
the baby. 20
Something had to be done, and done
quick or would see my child torn in
two and eaten. The thought made me was
wild as were the animals, almost. l rushed
into the house, grabbed the shotgun and
trembling like leaf and praying with
every breath, fired through the window at
the animal that had my babe. My aim was
unste ady and only MANNED him. 1t had
the desired effect, though, for he lfmped off
as rapidly as he could, the wildcat at full
tilt after him, bouncing on him every Sec
ond, biting and scratching him, and the
babe was dropped on the ground. In
moment the abe was safe in my arms and
l in fit of Mysteries. The two animals
were just outside the yard and fighting in
way to make ones flesh creep. Their
cries became faint and then did not hear
them again. 1 Rugged my boy and trembled
the rest of the day. My nerves were COM
pletely shattered over the excitement.
Every moment l would draw my baby
closer in my arms and promised never to
leave him aagin. And never did.
ssWhen Sam came home he examined the
trails he knew those of the wildcat at
once, but the others he had never seen be-
fore. The feet were long again as cats,
but he did not know just what animal it
was nor ever had an opportunity of finding
ont for the animal did not call again.
1.-The next morning, about o'clock.
what should 1 see walking around but the
same wild cat that had saved the baby the
day before. He was very bloody. and be-
sides looking as if he had been in a terri |
BILE fight, appeared to be- half-starved. l
was not mistaken. knew it was the same
cat and while his intentions might have
been the same as those of the other animal. |
felt grateful to him for saving my child. |
But for his repeatedly barring the others |
way, which prevented his getting out of the |
ward before came, both would have been |