The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-04-05

cat and while his intentions might !
have been the same as the other ami
NAL, | elt grateful to him for saving
NV child. But for his repeatedly
barring the others way. which pre-
vented his getting out of the yard be
fore l came, both would have gong,
and we'd never have known the fate
of our babe. The thing looked so bad
/ felt sorry for him and tossed bone
out of the window He went for 1t
and was gone in a minute, and the
next morning he came back for an
other bone, which / gave him, with
scraps from the kitchen.
''He came without fail every morn
ing about the same time, ate the small
pieces of bread and meat, and carried
the bone away with him. He came 50 |
regularly that l prepared his break
fast early, put il in plate and set IL
near the fence where he came in, ana
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 a part of il, and then made several
trips back to the tree, taking some
thing in his mouth each time. Most
of the day / watched to see what he
was sharing his meals with, but 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 well she
had moved her family there. Sam
laughed, and said we had three board
ers He felt toward the old cat as l
did, nd we concluded to let her stay
awhile if 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 a 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 a time, and never pay the least at
| tention to the baby, who was then
toddling around.
Not long after this my husband
died, and in less than six months later
our boy joined his papa l was almost
! in despair as to what | should do On
account of his ill-health we had man
aged to put by only little for rainy
day. had no relatives to go to; be
L
came here as a bride, our baby was
born here. a good many years of hap
piness were spent under the roof OF
this little cabin. In spite of the dark
do YOU know that now never COON
, ,noSsum. mink, stray cat or anything,
man or beast, enters this yard at any
time
: THE wildcats. this old one I've had
ca long and her two children, keeI
them all away. They are better by
} far than the best watch dogs to be
found. Before they took up theH
t residence here and became our pets
: something could be heard prowling
IL around every night. And not only
) that. but making off with a duck o
I chicken in his mouth. Now nothln;
d of the kind ever happens 1hey ma.
z come around, but are met or frightene
away before they ever get IN IN
m ward. And Christmas week every yea
,e bring home from market small fol
" time from the sale of my turkey
le chickens and ducks. a number of whlci
In besides eggs. l dispose of readily a
As during the year
| sOnce in awhile a chicken-haw
10 swoops down upon some unsuspectlh
r. fowl, but that isn't often,and Is the on
'r- thing that ever gets ahead OF the ca =
at was surprised week ago by seen
NV old pet cat had an addition TO N
tn family 1t had been so long since IL
in babies were born / did not think she
NV have any more. But there they al
he two fine little fellows, as you Sc
en- Well. three were enough, but l shall N
he complain or interfere with her kee
lIy inq the other two. l don't know VIII
lld | should do without them 1her
iu- one thing sure, l couldn't live he
eat alone nor meet with any success WI
his fowl-raising. They are unequaled
Ide a guard"
led When | left ! was escorted to I
ich gate by Mrs. Benson and two OF
lily. cats, who walked along slowly at
ay. feet. their tails under them and
he meek and docile as any dog ever 81
ter The old cat stayed on the gallery 5
for ewing me uneasily, as she had d'
was all along. But the moment was
'ver of the ward she was relieved, and e
exDression thereto by leaping OF
one gallery and tearing like mad over
.orn ward. her two babies after her
ade wilder romp l never saw thah I'll
ost. i've cats-for the others Joined the
the moment later-enj"yed. As pus
and the skiff out and picked up the GA
ired Glanced back at the small CABIN
NAL smiled with admiration at the II
un- widow who has lived for nearly
had wears miles from n living person.
he ported herself nicely, and her prot
the ors wildcats. - Peterson (La-J Co
cling spondence St Louis Repuollc-