The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-04-05
EBENSBURG. PA, FRIDAY. APRlL 0. 1880
WILD BEASTS GUARD HER
The Strange Protectors OF a
Southern Woman's Home
. wildcat Once Saved Her Baby from
Strange Animal, and Then the CA'
brought Her Family 10 Reside
with Her.

I
oot Of a tree and walked slowly
toward a grove of oaks, in which there
* a 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 l ever saw III the
Zoo sitting in row on the steps,
and ewing me with a 'come-ln-l1-Sou-
dare" expression, my bump OF oraH-
erv became almos flat, but my deter
mination bump puffed up to my rescue,
and. steadying nv voice, | called loud
w. Mrs Benson Immediately ap-
neared at the door, and seeing my
anxious face peering through the
fence, she fixed her gaze on the am
mails and pointing to the end OF the
gallery said firmly:
March, boys; down quiet Then
turning to me she said with smlle;
Lift the gate wee blt: IL hahSs
heavy in wet weather, and come rlghC |
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 yor hat and cool your head
while you're resting? All, there are
the babies. How like young kittens
they are. only more shy 1hey play
SO all day, but the mother knows you re
a stranger, and, being suspicious, Is
too much concerned about the safety
of her jealously-guarded children
to take part, as she usually uoes' 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
| care TO see anyone else here / like To
| watch them playing, and you have no
| idea how much company they are 10
| me- Queer taste? Well, don't Know
MANY people think so, but 1t doesn't
s,.aIn oueer to me. You see this Is how
il came about. how | came to be Jok-
| inglv called: The Wildcat Farmer
..One day during the summer of s.
went down to Cypress Grove, a hau
been doing for several weeks, TO take
nv husbands dinner. When the
weather was favorable l carried our
b,bv. and then I'd stay and have a
! long chat with Sam, and take my time
about getting home. But when
| thought il unwise to take Oaby out
why I'd lock up the house, hurry 10
the grove and back again, being a1ralu
To- leave him alone too long On the
dav of which | speak the sun was ter
ribly hot with not particle OF
breeze i didn't dare take hlm out a'
that time of day, and l was AFRAID 10
Leave him in a close room without any
fresh air i opened one window half
way, and tied IL SO, kissed my sleeping
= how locked the door, and hastened ON
INV wav with Sans dinner. My nus
hand was in very poor health, but thal
} day was in such spirits that 1t cheereo
me greatly. and | came home sihSlh
= at the top of my voice
I "As entered our gate such scream
as few hear during lifetime rent th'
II air, followed in quick succession o.
Il three others equally terrible In on
u second | located the direction iron
. which the sound came, and then II Wa
II nv turn to scream, but couldh L
o had no voice to scream with had II
- breath. hardly. | was cold and pal
d :Ivzed from head to foot In one col
ir ner of the yard was the sight tina
naarlv froze my blood. There was
TO strange. Notwithstanding animal wit
su INV habv: the skirt of his dress was
3 his mouth, while the little feilo
III dangled i'll the air. In front OF u
< animal was wildcat. hau se'
lc many of them since living SO near u
woods, but this one was unusual
III large. Every time the animal Won
he tax. a step forward as though he
7E tended going off with the BABY tile
would glide up against hllh' ia9i
tail crook his neck-a certain attItu
er- of theirs-and look as If he lntehu
MS killing him that second Anu ed
,;na the animal screamed feal ful
he rha cat invariably barred his Wa
my Why he did so don't know, unless
was Jealous of his prize ana uet
in mined to- share it. could account
his actions in 10 other way
ne, certain they were going to hsht o
ON the baby.
will something had to be done, ana dc
quickly, or / would Sc my emu" u
the in two and eaten lhe thouShl in'
me as wild as were the ahlmals' aiii''
rushed in the house, graopeu
SHOTGUN, and. trembling like lear !
pravinr with every breath,
cen throurb the window at the anil
hat that had my baby. My aim was
steady, and only manned HIM IL
was III. desired effect, though, for
as limped off as rapidly as he Could
Wildcat at full tilt after him, pounC
,een on him every second, oithS
mast scratching him, and the paoy
dropped on the ground. In mon
,.oin the baby was safe in my arms anu
dis hit OF Mysteries - g
mrs were Just outside the yari anu n
since ing IN way 70 iian 80 and tn
h,a | Their cries DcCdIhc
e. did not hear them again mug
our boy and trembled the rest OF
d.v NV nerves were completely :
early oay' NY ny a.itament. Ever
ment / would draw my oaoy q
and promise never TO leave MN Dc
And / never did
Proo "When Sam came home he exam
- VI the trails He knew those OF the
seven cat at once, but the others ne
- never seen before The teet We
lonqr arain as the cats, but ne OH
nonu- know lust what animal II was
IN llluhi ever had an opportunity OF III
heh ont for the animal did not call a
L uol- ..The next morning, about
o'clock. what should l see wa
around but the same wildcat as
saved the baby the day before
nted was very bloody and, besides loo
ed did as if he had been in terrific ng =
lna -psSSsI InoI pue oM1 Sql
n Per- uloa 'ssAsIql 5u!sq IHsJ Alu
t than n an oa pspuIouoo pus 'pooq!le
supsm q So sm ol usdo s1M pIsg
district -asyIem EpesI g sGsMIe $. s.eI9ql
ng by IoI 'sAsFInl pue su'flDto
ualM IuJsseoons EIsA ueeq pet
= aIac- aApsI IsAs l.ueo / pu1 sseIl
o.ndle- Ispun sIsgl luo ps!Iuq qloq eie
sorId sqa oa uAHIp 9IeI L ~