The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-12
SCISSORS GRINDERS rRoUBL
He Is a Victim of Misplaced Instinct and
Haunted by a Cat.

He Is a Victim of Misplaced Instinct and
Haunted by a Cat
From the New York Sun.
There is an itinerant scissors grinder
in Brooklyn who is a victim of mis-
placed instinct The misplaced instinct
is not that of the scissors grinder. but
of a large black cat. Everywhere the
man goes the cat follows. The animal
Is actually injuring his business, he
says, particularly among his women
customers, who are superstitious, but
he dares not kill ii, because, as every
body knows, II Is the worst of bad luck
to kill a black cat. This particular
feline originally belonged to the va
grant band who hang around Nevins
street, and whose object in life II Is TO
sit on back fences and sing. begin
ming lust about the time that the per-
ambulant German band leaves of, thus
furnishing the nighborhood a continu-
Gus performance in the musical line.
Having no visible means of support,
this cat has been forced to live on
charity One of his-the cat is
Thomas cat-benefactors has been
fishmonger who pushes handcart Ia
den with fish, and whose voice makes
music in the early hours, which those
who wish to sleep i'll appreciate. d
has been the habit of the tishmonger to
toss Thomas a few fish heads every
morning, and the cat soon learned TO
await his coming. One morning last
week the fisherman appeared at the
corner and Thomas sat in the gutter
and licked his chops. About block
away was a scissors grinders push
cart, also approaching. Thomas didn't
notice that cart. His whole soul was
engrossed in the prospect of meal OF
fish. Unfortunately for feline hopes a
sturdy bulldog happened that way just
fGhr annpArpd Thomas
is a good fighter, and he left marks OF
battle upon that dogs countenance,
but was soon forced to flee for life.
Under a stoop he found refuge, and
the dog, after contemplating two very
large green lights in the darkness of
that retreat-all that could be seen of
his adversary-concluded III wasn't
worth while going in after them. and
retired to lick his scars. When Thomas
tail had assumed dts normal size he
came forth. Right in front of him was
| the fish cart, as he supposed. IL Thorn
| as had possessed intellect, instead of
| instinct, he would have perceived that
the man who propelled the cart rang
a bell. whereas his benefactor depend
ed upon a resonant voice for bust
ness announcer. But the cart was
enough for Thomas. Up he trotted and
| opened with an appeal
"wur-r-r-ra-aowow!" he remarked
| suggestively.
"Ding dong, ding dong" went the
scissors mans bell. What the-din
dong ding-do you want?' inquired the
| scissors man and his bell in duet.
"Waow-rowow a-a-a-aow." returned
| Thomas persistently. and with leap
he landed on the cart.
| "Sizzgrrrr!" yelled the scissors man.
| giving that peculiar combination imi-
| tation of a locust in the dog days and
a car break in full action. characters
tic of its kind "Sizzzgrrrr! What the
ding dong-does that-ding dong,
| ding-cat want? Get-ding dong
| down."
| He pushed Thomas with his bell. and
| Thomas countered with great rapid
| ty. leaving three rips and an excava-
| ton in the scissors mans right hand.
The scissors man dropped his bell. but
the changing of its fall didn't drown
| out the fervent Saxon word which rose
| TO his lips Thomas. green-eyed and
puff tailed, glared at him.
1.-THE DEVILS in the cat!" said the
scissors man. What do you want +!
Your claws don't need any sharpen
ing"
"Sptiss. WHIST. Wrowi" warned
Thomas, and he jumped down.
| The scissors man proceeded and
Thomas followed. They left the neigh
borhood together. Next day when the
scissors grinder made his appearance
Thomas was trailing on behind. Occa-
sionally the clang of the bell and
"Sizzgerr!" Of the man would be aug
mented by the operate tones of the
cat.
Il had to feed him." said the scis-
sors man TO his customer. Il was
afraid he'd go for me II / didn't. but
what do you suppose he's taken such a
shine to me for?'
why. he thinks your cart is the fish
cart" said one of the customers.
Since then the scissors grinder has
been looking for the fishmonger with
intent TO sic Thomas on him at their
first meeting.