The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-05-15

stamped on II, most likely, she al
ways had considerable temper-anyway
l never see her wear it afterwards"
Thus old Mrs. Nathan Morse tells the
story, and somehow TO a reflective mind
the picture of Amanda Todd in her
youth decl<ed in her pink-wreathed
bonnet, selfishly bat innocently attend
ing in the sanctuary of divine love in
order to lay hands on her own little
share of earthly affection, is insepara-
bic from her, as she goes now, old and
bare-headed, defiantly past the meet
ing house, when the Sabbath bells are
ringing.
However, if Amanda Todd had elected
to go bareheaded through the village
street from feminine vanity, rather
than eccentricity, it would have been
no wonder. Not young girl in the vii,
lage has such a head of hair as Amanda.
1t is of a beautiful chestnut color, ana
there is not gray thread in it, 1t is
full of wonderful natural ripples, too
not one of the village girls can equal
them with her papers and crimpinc
pins-and Amanda arranges it in two
head. Seen from behind, Amanda's
head is that of a young beauty; when
it turns little, and her harsh old pro-
file becomes visible, there is shock to
the stranger.
Amanda's father had great shock
of chestnut hair, which was seldom cut,
and she inherits this adornment from
him. He lived to be an old man, but
that ruddy crown of his never turned
gray.
Amanda's mother died long age:
then her father. Ever since she has
lived alone in her shingled cottage with
her cats. There were not so many cats
at first; they say she started with one
fine tabby, who became the mother
grandmother and great-grandmother
to armies of kittens.
Amanda must destroy some when she
can find no homes for them, otherwise
she herself would be driven afield, but
still the impression is of legion.
A cat is so covert, it sinks so secretly
from one abiding place to another and
seems to duplicate itself with it's sud-
den appearances, that it may account in
a measure for this impression. Still
there are great many. Nobody knows
just the number-the estimate runs
anywhere from Is to so. Counting, or
trying to count, Amanda Todd's cats
is favorite amusement of the village
children. Here's another" they shout,
when a pair of green eyes CLEANS at
them from post. But is it another, or
only the same cat who has moved? Cats
sit in Amanda's windows; they stare
out wisely at the passers-by, from be-
hind the panes, or they fold their paws
on the ledge outside in the sunshine.
Cats walk Amanda's ridgepole and her
fence, they perch on her posts and fly
to her cherry trees with bristling fur
at the sight of dog. Amanda has as
deadly hatred of dogs as have her
cats. Everyone which comes within
stone throw of her she sends off yelp-
ing, for she is good shot. Kittens
tumble about Amanda's yard and crawl
out between her fence pickets under
peoples feet. Amanda will never give
away a kitten except to responsible
person, and is as particular as if the
kitten were human orphan, and she
the manager of an asylum.
She will never, for any consideration,
bestow one of her kittens upon family
that keeps a dog. or where there are
condition that the dog should be killed,
and she may be at times inwardly dis
posed to Danish the children.
Amanda Todd is extremely persistent
when she has selected a home which is
perfectly satisfactory to her fer kit
ten. Once one was found tied into a
little basket like baby on the doorstep
Of childless and humane couple who
kept no dog, and there is story that
Deacon Nehemiah Stockwell found one
in his overcoat pocket and never knew
how it came there. Ii is probable that
Amanda resorts to these extreme meas
ures to save herself from either destroy
ing her kittens or being driven out of
house and home by them.
However, once, when the case was re-
versed, Amanda herself was found
wanting. When she began TO grow old,
and the care of her pets told upon her.
it occurred to her that she might adopt
little girl. Amanda has comfortable
little income, and would have been able
to provide good living for child, as
far as that goes
But the managers of the institution
to whom Amanda applied made in
ouiries, and the result did no; satisfy
them. Amanda stated frankly her
reason for wishing to take the child,
and her intentions with regard TO
her. She wished the little girl to tend
her cats and assist her in caring for
them. She was willing that she should