The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-03-01
WILD BEASTS GUARD HER
The Strange Prote ctors of a
Southern WOman's Home.
4 wildcat Once Saved Her Baby from .
Strange Animal, and Then the Cat
Brought Her Family to Reside
with Her.

OF Little river, tied my Skill to the
root of 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 / reached the gate
and saw there as fine specimens
of wildcat as / ever saw i'll the
Zoo sitting in a row on the steps,
and eying me with "come-in.if-you-
dare" expression, my bump OF brav-
cry became almost fiat, but my deter
mination bump pulled mp to my rescue,
and steadying my voice, called loud
ly. Mrs Benson Immediately APP
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 smile:
Lift the gate a wee bit: it hangs
heavy in wet weather. and come right
in. Don't be afraid. They are harmless
as kittens when | speak to them. Now
take this chair. it's the easiest in the
house. Here's fan, not very pretty,
but gives a 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
stranger, and, being suspicious, is
too much concerned about the safety
of her jealously-guarded children
IN fgly nrf h.A 11yy in
their sport. See 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
cure to 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 it doesn't
seem queer to me. You see this is how
it came about, how l came to be jok-
ingly called: The Wildcat Farmer
Zone day during the summer of 'Ss
went down to Cypress Grove, as had
been doing for several weeks, to take
my husbands dinner. When the
weather was favorable carried our
baby, and then I'd stay and have a
Ion. chat with Sam, and take my time
about getting home. But when l
thought il unwisc to take baby out.
why I'd lock up the house, hurry to
the grove and back again, being afraid
to leave him alone too long. On the
day of which speak the sun was ter
ribly hot, with not a particle of
breeze. i didn't dare take him out at
90 4 \ al
leave him in IL close room without any
fresh air. | opened one window half
way, and tied it SO, kissed my sleeping
boy, locked the uoOr, and FASTENED on
my way with Sans dinner. My hus-
band was in very poor health. but that
day was in such spirits that it cheered
m greatly, and came home singing
~ the top of my voice.
"A. entered our gate such a scream
IS Few hear during lifetime rent the
ar. followed in quick succession by
three others equally terrible. In one
second | located the direction from
winch the sound came, and then it was
my turn to scream, but / couldn't. /
had no voice to scream with. | had no
breath, hardly. | was cold and par
alyzed from head TO foot. In one cor
her of the yard was the sight that
nearly froze my blood. There was
strange, Notwithstanding animal with
Any baby; The skirt of his dress was in
=: mouth, while the little fellow
tangled in the air. In front of the
animal was wildcat | had seen
'nany OF them since living so near the
woods, but this one was unusually
urge. Every time the animal would
take a 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 if he intended
killing him that second. And each
time the animal screamed feal fully.
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. could account for
his actions in 10 other way. l was
certain they were going to fight over
the baby.
Some thin. had to be done, and done
quickly, or would Sc my child torn
ia two and eaten. The thought made
inc as wild 40 were tie animai~ almost.
l rushed III the house. grabbed the
:,hot, un, and. trembling like IL leaf and
praying with every breath, fired
through the window at the animal
hat had my baby. My aim was un-
steady. and only MANNED him. 1t had
.ar desired effect. though, for he
lmped off as rapidly as he could. the
LII f,,ll l..
Oh him every second, biting and
scratching him, and the baby was
popped on the ground In a moment
lile baby was safe in my arms and in
lit of Mysteries. The two animals
were just outside the var and fight
~ in way to make ones flesh creep.
s.'.r cries became faint, AMI then
I'll not hear them again. | husged
;'ur boy and trelnblcd the rest OF the
day. My nerves were completely shat
tered over the excitement. LIVER mo-
:il-nt | would draw my baby closer
ard promise never To leave him again.
And never dill.
when Sam came home he examined
the trails. lie knew those of the wild
n at once. but the others he had
ever seen be Gre. The feet were as
'ang again as the cats, but he did not
snow just what animal it was, nor
vcr had an opportunity of finding
out. for the animal did not call again
THE next morning, about nine
o'clock, what should l see walking
around but the same wildcat as had.
saved the baby the day before He
was very bloody and. besides looking
~ If he had been in . terrific fight. q D.
peared to be half starved. was not
mistaken. I knew it was the same