The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-10
MINNIE, 4 NEW JERSEY CAT.
Her Prejudice Against Singing and Loud
Preaching and the Trouble It Made.

When Minnie was born no one In the house
hold could see that she gave promise OF being
unlike other cats. Her mother was n tabby
cat of graceful form and atTectionatc dispo-
sitiou. but not remarkable in any other way.
Minnie was a tabby. too. and. like her mother,
of small and narrow build. She soon developed
a strong affection for the daughter of the
family, n girl of twelve years. named Lucy.
When Lucy was at home she and Minnie were
constant companions. Minnie usually took
regular open-air exercise. but she was sure to
be by Lucy's side when Lucy was ready for
school, and to accompany her as far rs the
garden gate. Then she would leap to the top
of one OF the gate posts and watch until her
mistress got out of sight. When Lucy came
home Minnie never failed to meet her at the
street corner, and her back to the
house, Capcring about her feet. or sometimes
springing UP to her shoulders.
Lucy had to do Il great amount OF prnctis-
ing at the piano. Minnie would sit upon a
chair near BY and blink with apparent aupre-
of scales and finger exercises. When these
were over and the ttudes were begun she
would arouse herself and climb to Iucy's
shoulder, where she would remain. &C, asion-
ally rubbing her cold nose lovingly against
pieces began. she would spring over to the top
Of the piano and seat herself. At times. whom
the music esnecially Appealed to her. she would
her little fore paws strike two or three notes
Il sue guee ,SofP5 and l :?2on up > int OIL huC JG face as
cover end remain until the hours for practice
Thus the music lessons passed for many days,
but on one %cvontful day Lucy began 70 sing.
tail from side to side, and in blind fury she
chased round and round the piano ton until
Sn Mi hSHi,eG qr tic sIIndi down hpG and i'3 JUMPED sIn iSto her
lap TOR c~aresses and consolation. Presently
Lucy resumed the s~inSins: Then Minnie gave
until the whole family mother. aunt!e, grand
mother, and The ~b1ys-camc to sec what was
slnglnA ia Ninn!e's presence again..
MINI L. "as a1 good about the house as a
S M"I' a ring st at theS door hS S bell ~or Sf1' tax" x " h "H'T a;
once to the door, where she would stand and
growl and spit until she was assured that all
One Sunday evening Lucy and her mother
and aunt started for the Methodist Church
they live. After going n considerable distance,
they discovered that Minnie also was u mem
s5o& ut the lhs stl Petty near Tf So8 Stssb but ' as sHe was sn Sat
wanted that night, they took pains to see that
she was sent back. When she was out of sight
Then, to tne horror of the party. Minnie
slowly walked forth from their pew, passed ny
the aisle. and took n seat upon the altar rail
facing the congregation. She sat blinking ut
the people. The preacher arose and announced
his words of warming, and pounded his desk in
old-time Methodist style. Minnie. too. grew
excited. She began walking back and forth
along the altar rail. As tho preacher became
more and more vigorous in his language aud
gcaticulatiOns, her tail swelicd and she lashci
II back and forth. Finally she Iur~t forth
with bowls and walls which drowned the
preachers voice.
4 deacon came to the rescue OF the preacher
and the service. How he secured Minnie and
what he did with her Lucy docs not know, for
she was too frightened TO look: but Nhrn she
and her mother and aunt reached home after
the service. Minnie met them at the corner us
II nothing unusual had Happened.