The advocate., 1895-11-13
PgfR, rHR TRAMP CAT. /.
How ne Won tho Good Oplnlon Of Grand.
ma and Hannah.

nobody but Ethelwyn loved him, be-
cause he mewed continually, aud In
such q mournful. half-starved fashion,
that he did no credit whatever to his
good care after he came to grandma's
house.
~ don't like animals around that look
and act as If they were half-starved," :"
said grandma, who was not given to
starving anyone or anything, as Pete
well knew. But he kept on yowling so
dolefully that Ethelwyn, who was Wis
iting grandma, when she saw the old
lady begin to fidget and look under the
table, would Jump down and take Pete
out to the summer kitchen and shut
him in. Although she kept his saucer
full Of milk there to comfort him, they
would still hear him family crying.
''He amt mite Of good, said Han
nah, the kitchen girl II don't believe
he's stopped yowling long enough to
catch mouse"
.Ohl l Imost saw him, said Ethelwyn.
"He ran and jumped at something,
I didn't stay to see what, cause ran,
too
''No, he isn't good for much, dare
say" said grandma, "but Ethelwyn
loves him, so / suppose wen have to
stand him."
Ethelwyn felt very happy when she
heard this, for she had been afraid
Pete's bad habit would get him into
trouble.
''Ill take him upstairs with us to-
night" said grandma, "for I'm sure
heard mouse gnawing in the closet
last night, and Wen see if Pete can do
anything besides cry"
'OhI I'm sure he'll catch IT," said
Ethelwyn, and she talked to him about
Il that afternoon, and was quite sure
be understood by the way he looked.
Pete seemed to like grandma's room,
with its bright open fire and brass
fender, and he purred contentedly
when Ethelwyn laid him gently down
on the fluffy rug in front Of the fire.
place; then she jumped into her own lit
tie bed beside grandma's big one, and
they both went off sound asleep.
In the middle Of the night, though,
Pete opened his eyes; there was a
faint scratching in the closet that inter-
ested him SO that he never thought Of
mewing, but stole quietly up, and when
little gray mouse peeped out, Pete's
black paw shot out suddenly and
knocked 1t senseless. He had great
frolic then, knocking It around like q
gray bali, but by and by something
popped In the CRATE, and out came q
i've coal over the fender and onto the
fluffy rug, and then It smoked an0
smoked. Pete knew something was
wrong, so opened his mouth and mewed
his loudest; grandma did not seem to
notice him at all, but Ethelwyn sat
straight up In bed and said: "oh, Pete,
dear, please don't cry, you'll sturb
grandma, and-oh, grandma, wake up
quick, the rugs burning"
Grandma jumped up in hurry, then,
and drenched the rug from the toilet
pitcher until the smoking stopped.
~ do declare" she said afterward,
II heard the cat crying, but 1 didn't
think It was anything uncommon, so
didn't try to wake up. It's a mercy
you did, Ethelwyn."
ssOh, grandma" said Ethelwyn, hug
ging Pete hard, ''isn't he the dearest
snartest-and, grandma, you can't say
he amt good for an earthly thing now
--oh, oh, ohl" she cried, as her bare
feet struck Pete's mouse. Hes good
for two earthly things, grandma, dar
ling, because he's caught your mouse.
.'That's fact. said grandma, laugh
ing. "Tm much obliged to Pete al