The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-07-29

last asleep in the cornsr OF the aeet.
I got in and sat down beside it, and
we drove of. Suddenly it occurred to
me that this was the cat ! was looking
for, and l instantly resolved that
Aunt Mehitabel should keep it, wheth.
er or no. My only fear now was, lest
II should Jump out of the buggy, so l
put the robe over it and tucked it
we'll in.
When we got home 1 Embarrassed
the horse and then went for my cat
1t was all safe but found, on exam
ination, that one of its front legs ap-
peafed to be broken, which doubtless
accounted for its not jumping out Of
the buggy on the way home. 'I'm
glad Of it," thought; "for now Aunt
Mehitabel, with her kind heart, can't
turn ii away"
Still, / must confess, it was with
fear and trembling that approached
the kitchen, particularly as my boots
we're muddyand my clothes wet; and
even without the cat l should prob
ably get gentle scolding from Aunt.
However, ! put on a brave front and,
after noisily wiping my feet; walked
in. Aunt Mehitabel was sitting by
the table; looking as neat and prim as
ever a mortal woman looked.
''Well, Aunty"-I called her
''Aunty" when j felt conciliatory-
'T've brought You d cat !" and held
out the poor, bedraggled, broken
legged animal.
''For the lands sake ! George Mars.
den, what bev you got, a cat2" in hor-
rifed tones, and speaking faster than
usual. "You just Put that dirtY-look.
ing thing out o. my kitchen this min
ute. won't hev it here, not a min
ute"
"But, Aunty," 1 said, ''it rains guns
outside, and the poor cats got d
broken leg and can't walk.
''Never you mind if she has," she
rejoined; "she ken get along now's
wells she's got along b'fore, an 1
won't hev her minute. You jest
take her up an put her out this min
ute, tell you"
''Now, Aunty, you won't be cruel, /
know. tell you it rains outside and
the poor cat can't walk" And / put
the beast down OF the floor to show
her how lame it was. AS it stood be-
fore us in the middle of the floor it
was not beautiful object it was very
lame and it looked moth-eaten.
"George Marsden," my aunt almost
snapped; "you take that dirty cat off
my clean floor. l ain't never had O
cat on my floor before, and I guess l
won't begin now."
"But you will give her some milk,
won't your" I said.
"No, l WON'T" she answered. al
can't have cat drinkin' out o. my
dishes. I amt been used to eatin'
after animals" But for all that, sho
did go and get some milk in a little
tin hand basin. The cat was evidently
very hungry and eagerly Tapped the
milk.
While it was drinking, / saw the
irritation begin to leave my aunt's
face, and 1 determined to make the
best of my opportunity. 1 finally
persuaded her to let the cat stay over
night, at least and promised to take
it away in the morning. We made a
bed in a corner behind the stove, and
put the cat in 1t for tho night.
In the morning Aunt Mehitabel and
| examined the wretched beast. Its
leg was really broken but set it and
bound it up while my aunt watched
me. She was very proud of me. 1
was just beginning to study medicine
then, and this practical example of my
skill delighted her. Later in the day
l offered to take the cat away. but my
aunt would not let me ! she would keep
it till 1t was little stronger. The
nursing instinct, that sweet instinct
in all women, was aroused in Aunt
Mehitabel, and l knew the cat was safe
in its quarters till 1t got well, at least.
And 80 it proved, for my aunt tended
the cat most faithfully for two weeks.
When it began to limp about the
kitchen, offered to take it away but
she would not let me, acknowledging,
half sham efacedly, that she had grown
fond of it and wanted to keep it. /
saw it was safe to laugh at her, and
did SO. She took it all good naturedly
and laughed while she gently stroked
the cat.
/ stayed with Aunt Mehitabel three
weeks after the cat recovered, and she
became fonder of it all the time.
When l left, she said, as she kissed
me:
"Well, George, guess twas Provi-
dence or-somethin' that put that cat
in the buggy that night; for I'm
mighty fond of Georgy (she had named
him after me) already, an Pm sure 1
won't be near so lonesome after you're
gone"
She wrote me that all the people in
the village called on her after 1 left.
''It was not to see me though, l
know" she wrote, "but to see cat
in my kitchen, making tracks on my
floor" Aunt Mehitabel was shrewd,
and she knew just what the people
thought OF her.
had several letters during the win
ter, each one recounting some new
and wonderful trick of Georgy's. None
OF them seemed to me at all remarlla-
BILE; but my dear aunt never knew
how wise cats were before, and
thought this very ordinary one a
marvel Of beauty and intelligence.
When summer came again 1 went to
make my aunt another visit, hoping
this time to destroy her presentiment
and get her out of the house. After l
had been there a week and admired
Georgy to Aunt Mehitabels full salts
/ + = 4. III