The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-07-15

behind the panes, or they fold thei
paws on the ledge outside in the sun
shine. Cats walk Amanda's ridgepol
and her fence, they perch on her post
and fly to her cherry trees with brist
ling fur at the sight of dog. Armand:
has as deadly hatred of dogs as have
her cats. Everyone which comes with
in stone throw of her she sends off yelp
ing, for she is good shot. kittens
tumble about Ainanda's yard an,
crawl out between her fence pickett
under peoples feet. Amanda viii
never give away kitten except to /
responsible person, and is as particular
as if the kitten were a human orphan
and she the manager OF an asylum.
She will never, for any considera
ton, bestow one of her kittens upon ,
family that keeps dog, or where ther,
are many small children. Once sh'
made condition that the dog SHOULD
be killed, and she may be at times in
wardly disposed to Danish the children
Amanda Todd is extremely persist
ent when she has selected home which
is perfectly satisfactory to her for kit
ten. Once one was found tied into ;
little basket like baby on the door
step of childless and humane coupl,
who kept no dog, and there is story
that Deacon Nehemiah StOckwell founC
one in his overcoat pocket and nevel
knew how it cIme there. 1t is proba
ble that Amanda resorts to these eX.
treme measures to save herself from
either destroying her kittens or being
driven out of house and home by them
However, once, when the case wa:
reversed, Amanda heRblf 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 com
Portable little income, and would have
been able to provide good living for q
child, as far as that goes.
But the managers of the institution
TO whom Amanda applied made in
quiries, and the result did not satisfy
them. Amanda stated frankly hel
reason for wishing To take the child,
and her intentions with regard to her.
She wished the little girl to tend heI
cats and assist her in caring for them,
She was willing that she should attend
school four hours per day, going after
the cats had their breakfast, and re-
turning an hour earlier to give them
their supper. She was willing hat she
should go TO meeting in the afternoon
only, and she could have no other chill.
dren come to visit her for fear they
would maltreat the kittens. She furth-
ermore announced her intention to
make her will, giving to the girl, whom
she should adopt, her entire property
in trust for her eats, to include her own
on condition that she de-
vote her life TO them as she had done.
The trustees declared that they could
not conscientiously commit a child to
her keeping for such purposes, and the
poor little girl orphan, who had the
chance of devoting her life to the care
of pussy eats and kittens, to the exclu-
sion of all childish followers remained
in her asylum.
So Amanda TO this day lives alone,
and manages as best she can. Nobody
in the Village can be induced to live
with her one forlorn old soul prefer
red the almshouse.
"rd 'nough sight ruther go on the
town than live with all them cats, she
said.
1t is rather unfortunate that Aman-
da's shingled cottage is next the meet
ing house, for that, somehow, seems to
render her non-church-going more glar-
ingly conspicuous, and then, too, there
is liability of indecorous proceedings
ON the part of the cats.
They evidently do not share their
mistress dislike of the sanctuary, and
find its soft pew cushions very inviting.
They watch their chances to stink in
when the sexton opens the meeting
house: he is an old man and dim-eyed,
and they are often successful. 1t is wise
for anybody before taking seat in a
pew to make sure that one of Amau-
da's cats has not forestalled him and
often cat fees down one flight of the
pulpit stairs as the minister ascends the
other.
We all wonder what will become OF
cats when she dies. There
is a report that she has made her will
and left her property in trust for the
cats to somebody, but to whom? No
body in this village is anxious for such
a bequest, aud whoever it may be will
probably strive to repudiate it. Some
day the cats will undoubtedly go by
the board young Henry Wilson, who
has gun, will shoot some, the rest
will become aliens and wanderers, but
we all hope Amanda Todd will nevei
know it.
In the meantime she is undoubtedly
carrying on among us an eccentric, bul
none the less genuine mission. a home
missionary is Amanda Todd, and We
should recognize heras such in spite o
her non-churchgo going proclivities.
Weak i'm faith though she may be, she
is, perchance, rs strong i'll love as Tho
best of u. At least do not doubt thai
her poor little four-footed dependents
would so give evidence If they could
snaak i aiipsi Home Journal