The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-28
JACK AND JILL.
How the Animosity EDdcd--A Tale of
Two Intelligent Pets.

How the Animosity Eudcd-A Tale of
Two Intelligent Pets.
Jack is a dog and Jill is a cat and, while
they both belong to me and both are very
doar-dcar only as intelligent pets can be
to one who knows what It Ia to be alone in
the world there have been many times
when the two made my life n misery. We
all, alas. more or less know that IL Ia an
exploded theory that Birds in their little
nests agree" and are callous enough not 10
De surprised at contention now aud then
even IN the best regulated of families; bu,
suoh persistent, determined. ill-natured ami
mostly never saw on ''on bush or tree"
nor yet upon the earth beneath as existed
between Jack and Jill. am glad to he
able to use the verb in It's past tense. for
the animosity is now no more. aud 1 am
going to tell what brought about It's end.
Ing.
FIRST, you must know that jack In a
poodle, the prettiest. whitest, fluffiost little
uog imaginable but at tho same ,lme the
shhipest-tempererd little scamp going. He
seems 10 be forever on the alert for stray
cats or dogs, and woe betide the unfortunate
ihat comes under his displcasure. ON The
otnei mana, Jill Is the gonilest, sweetest lit
lie Maltese. with kindly disposition to-
"srd al the world. Jack alone excepted OF
N'N'H' u ~ uut nor TO say TINT this
ehtir.ly the poodle's fault
nut be that as 1t may, the nnimositv ex-
lsted and on tho slightest pretext waxed
"hrm' II ] did not keep constant and
sVlct watch upon them they Were I'm a
continual state OF nDtagonism. fighting ana
scratching numerically. Poor Jack SUI.
'ered from chronic lop- earednoss as n re-
suit Of Jill's blows, while she, poor thing
chose all seasons but her own for shedding
Little piles OF gray fur and white fleece an
over the house betokenet scenes Of dire
conillct between my unhappy pets. II Jill
elected to spread herself out lazily and nurr
| on Inc learth rug, Jack wanted that par
ticular spot and no other II Jack curlod
himself up for an aiter-dinner snn,ze on
the lounge Jill wanted OF all places In the
world that Identical spot to do her snoozing
Jack always wanted JilI's milk. ana she In
turn always wanted his bone. and have Il
she would or he or she would die In the at
tempt. 1T was not very pleasant living with
these two teliigoronts, but what TO do |
knew not. They are both fond of me.
am happy TO say, and sufficiently Jealous of
my affection to maize any effort on my part
TO harmonizo them but fresh cause for
hatred OF each other.
What would have become OF me In the
midst OF this eternal turmoil | can not
conceive, IS 7 could not bring myself 10
part with either Of my beloved pets. had
difficulty and ended the strife forever. 1t
would apnear, about six months ago poor
Jill became the happy mother of the dear
est, sweetest little white kitten In the
world.
I verify believe she was the proudest
thing ever saw the day she came. bringing
the Kitten in her mouth for me TO see, ana
her affection for It was beautiful What
Infinite care she took Of it, and with what
tenderness she provided for It's every want.
Even the beligercnt Jack seemed awed by
ouch warmth OF affection and left jill 10
the enjoyment OF her little one. How sud
denly this enjoyment ended. however. for
poor Jill. One morning as she and the Kit
ten were enjoying Il sun bath on the back
area steps. 4 big brindle dog belonging 10
a man from whom the cook was buying
vegetables ran In the yard, grabbed the
kitten In Its mouth and shook 1t to death
before Jills very eyes. The poor little
mothers grief was excessive. really
thought she would destroy herself. so fran
tic was she in her sorrow. Nothing could
do seemed In any way to console or soothe
her. In the midst Of her frenzy, for II was
nothing else. Jack came out. barking fu-
riously as usual. In moment, however,
he seemed to take In the situation. Real
izing Jill's grief at glance, intuitively he
set about pacifying It. Taking the poor
dead kitten between his paws he bent down
over It, whining pitifuly. until actual tears
fell down his cheeks. AT first Jill did not
know what to make OF II, seeming TO think
Jack, too. was hurting the little kitten. But
the dogs grief and sympathy were so gen.
uine that gradually they touched oven her
sorrowing. hardened heart, and, going up TO
him. she Joined her paws TO his around the
kittens dead body. and the two heads
bowed together in mutual sorrow.
There was not dry eye that witnessed
the touching scene, ! can assure you, ana
| by and by. as n oblivlous to all else In the
world. Jack and jill went together. taking
| their dead between them, scratched hcle
under the grapevine in the corner Of the
| back yard and laid the kitten away as ten
| Derby as II they were putting II to sleep.
That was the end OF the animosity for
over After all. there Is nothing 80 har-
monizing as sorrow.