The Van Buren press., 1895-01-05
WILD BEASTS GUARD HER
The Strange Protectors Of q
Southern Woman's Home.
4 wildcat Once Saved Her Baby from =
Strange Animal, and Then the Cat
Brought Her Family to Reside
with Her


Yesterday I rowed up to the mouth
Of Little river, tied my skiff 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 l reached the gate
and saw there as fine specimens
OF wildcat as ever saw in the
Zoo sitting in row on tho steps,
and eying me with q a''ceme-in-if-you-
dare" expression, my bump of brav-
cry became almost fiat, but my deter
mlnation bump pnffed up to my rescue,
and, steadying my voice, called loud
ly. Mrs. Benson Immediately ap-
peared at the door, and seeing my
anxious face peering through the
fence, she fixed her gaze on the ami
mails End 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
rs kittens when speak to them. Now
take this chair. It's the easiest in the
house. Here's fan, not very pretty,
but gives q 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
q stranger, and, being suspicious, is
too much concerned about the safety
Of her jealousIy-guarded children
to take part, as she usually does, in
their sport. See how she watches you.
Don't let 1t make you nervous. She is
only afraid, that's all. am the only
one they know well, and they don't
care 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
1t came about, how 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 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 1t unwise 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. didn't dare take him out at
that time Of day, and was afraid to
leave him In n close room without any
fresh air. Iopened one window half
way, and tied 1t SO, kissed my sleeping
boy. locked the door, and hastened on
my way with Sans dinner. My hus-
band was in very poor health. but that
day was in such spirits that it cheered
me greatly, and came home singing
at the top of my voice.
"As entered our gate such scream
as few hear during lifetime rent the
air, followed in quick succession by
three others equally terrible. In one
second / located the direction from
which the sound came, and then 1t was
my turn to scream, but couldn't.
had no voice to scream with. had no
breath, hardly. Twas cold and par
alyzed from head to foot. In one cor
ner Of the yard was the sight that
nearly froze my blood. There was
strange, ferocious-looking animal with
my baby; the skirt of his dress was in
his mouth, while the little fellow
dangled in the air. In front OF the
animal was wildcat. l had seen
many OF them since living so near the
woods, but this one was unusually
large. Every time the animal would
take = step forward as though he In
tended going off with the baby the cat
would glide ap against him, lash his
tail, crook his neck--a certain attitude
of theirs-and look as II he intended
killing him that second. And each
time the animal screamed fearfully.
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 20 other way. l was
ceytain they were going to fight over
the baby.
Something had to be done, and done
quickly, or would Sc my child torn
In two and eaten. The thought made
me as wild as were the animals, almost.
rushed in the house, grabbed the
shotg un, and, trembling like leaf and
praying with every breath, fred
through the window at the animal
that had my baby. My aim was un-
steady, and only MANNED him. 1t had
the desired effect. though, for he
limped off as rapidly as he could, the
wildcat at full tilt after him, pouncing
on him every second, biting and
scratching him, and the baby was
dropped on the ground. In moment
the baby was safe in my arms and in
At Of Mysteries. The two animals
were just outside the yard and fight
ing in way TO make ones flesh creep
Their cries became faint, and then l
did not hear them again. hugged
our boy and trembled the rest of the
day. My nerves were completely shat
tered over the excitement. Every mo-
ment would draw my baby closer
and promise never to leave him again.
And never did.
when Sam came home he examined