The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14

""' '''V W NHo rNttTtRf.
cial liking for cats. but Watson was favorabl,
impressed with this waif aud decided that h,
would ndopt him.. So the cat was called Tom
and his brilliant career began within n week.
Watson keeps q small store and the cat wa,
taken to IL to clean out the rats ana mice with
which the building vas infested. The expert.
ment worked satisfactorily, but somehow the
cats appetite kept pace with the growth Of III,
animal. Feed him and stun him as Watson
might. Tom was ever hungry, and put In all hi.
spare time nosing around for something to eat
One night Watson carelessly left the cover OF a
box OF Labrador herring aud locked the stor,
with the cat on the inside. In the morning ,he
box was empty and the cat was fun. The her.
ring were as snlty rs the ocean. and In
the forenoon Tom developed n thirst that was
fearful. Watson gave him all the water he
could drink and Tom soon began to swell up.
Toward noon he had a ft that drove eyerybody
out ~ the store. and when he finally rolled on
his back and became quiet Watson picked him
M With n pair OF tonVs and laid him back OF a
pile OF barrels under the shed to come TO or die,
Just as he saw Of. lie didn't die. When, n few
hours later, Watson went out to soc how he was
getting along, lao was missing. and he didn't
come back for three days. Then lac walked into
the store as thin as u rail.
Toms n Roner.' said Watson. but he took
good care of him and the cat began 10 get fat.
within n month he was as round as n pug dog.
lie hhd nlled out tho loose skin and his expert
ehce with the herring evidently had done him
good. lie was more careful OF mis- diet.
In two months Tom had grown TO mons,rous
proportions, and he was the pet ana admiration
OF those who spent their evenings dangling
their legs over the edge OF the counter or ham.
"a la. q Ialn l--f.
OF the sugar barrels. lie enjoyed having his
sleek coat rubbed the right way. but woe to tho
man who pulled his tail. Orrin Tucker tried IL
once and he carries the mark OF Toms teeth on
his hand to this day.
The cats fighting proDensltIcs came into
notice one day about six months after he had
become q fixture in watson's mercantile estab-
iishment. 1t was In summer and the door was
open. Watson was Mt tho back of the room
putting goods on the shelves. when n shabby
and dusty wAnderer OF tho highway drIned in.
He ask cd Watson for crackers and cheese 10
stay his stomach, and While the storekeeper
was diving into u barrel for the crackers the
tramp picked up a pair OF shoes and slowed
them away under his coat. Tom lay on n pile Of
calico on the counter apparently enjoying a mid
dsy snoozo. but the tramp lad no sooner stuck
the shoes under his rags than the cat iumped
pp. and. with n sound rs II he was trying 10
DOW his teeth through the side OF the house,
shot through the afr and landed on the mans
shouIder-. The tramp dropped the shoes and
ran, with the, cat on his neck. Watson VAS
after tho man In \ twinkiing. and soon had him
In his clutches. Then Tom ieaped to the vround,
sauntetei into, the store aud resumed his place
on the pile OF cloths.
cap, and Mrs. Watson showed her appreciation
OF II by, tying a piece OF broad blue ribbon
decoration kindly. lie acted ns II he WAS a.
ashamed OF ". and left his place In the store
Tor a lonesome corner IN the barn. II suddenly
Jaw ned ON Watson chat perhaps the cat Thought
the ribbon was not just the thing for a fighter
OF hi. caitbre to wear, and he took 1t M. After
that Tom was as sociab.e and as happy A. ever.
The strong affection that the cat has for Wat.
son Is remarkable. When the man goes away
IRON homs the cat goes. too. u he isn't shut MP.
anu no io!lows him around tho place like a dog.
Watson,s HE. and he took advantage OF IT With
small chicken, farm. and he deals n good deal in
live stock. About two years ago q bull came
animal vas mild TEN p-rrd. One day he went
out TO the pasture where tho bull was kept.
Tom was following at his heels asususl. When
snddeniy raised its head aud without warning
started for Watson. who promptly turned and
ner, and wnsauick'iy at Watson heels s and rs rSh,
10 PICK him up on IT.. horns, Just as II wns low
ering ". head To- give Watson q jab ths cat
pose. With teeth and claws he hung on like a
bnrnaclo. Watson got over the fence safely,
W INV thO VI uTUtu III attention tD lhR cat
l. reared and plunged and tried It's best TO shake
Tom on, but The cat was there to stay, and stay
he did. The bull hnaily conceived the idea OF
ruoblng us nose ON tho ground. but the cat was
too quick, and when the bulls nose struck tho
ground Tom was away. and before the hull had
recovered the cat was on its back reaching Tor
the flesh through tho tough hide.
atson PERMITTED the thing to go on until he
feit satisfied that the bulls splrit WAS con-
siderably ~suodued then lie called to Tom, and
the cat left tho bulls back. After that, when.
nvor watson went into the lot where tho hull
himself protection. I sight uf Tho cat tho bull
would seek the corner OF the field.
The hardest tussl. that Tom ever had WAS
WITH q male parrot. That was last summer. In
a trade Watson gIt hold OF tho bird and brought
II nome II was smut mp In y big sage that stood
on u table In tho kitchen. Tom did not take
kindly to the idea OF having a rival in the fam.
ily's directions, and he hung around the kitchen
evidently awaiting u chance to get At the bird.
cats ma ne, and would tantal!ze him by yelling
Tom" To make matters worse 1t began TO
would utter a sound tho bird would mock him.
The trouble came to n head one day when Tom
p %a, 'n' saaS by ri. The t!iEhsn s,oye, Tho
tho Parrot had fooled .sSSi G n%a hFs +" irsSea mat at
The door flew open, tho parrot fell out, and In
two shakes Of u lambs tail the hira ard Tom
Were mixed un in " rough and tumble ngh,, Tho
all tho time digging It's claws Into the
did his best to break away from the parrot.
hold, but no couldn't do u. The air was full OF
feathers and fur. Up and down the room the
battle RACED, netthero fthccontestA ants getting nm
advantage. When at last Mrs. Watson's atten.
ton was attracted hy, the noise shu found Tom
lying on his side, with the parrot still hanging
70 his leg. Tom't body was badly laceratrd.
he hhd lost considerable hair and blood. while
tho parro, looked MS II II had been run througn
= threshinY machine. The birds Jaws had 10
be pried omen with \ file before TOMS leg could
DO aot free. Strange To say, after the fight thu
cat and the bird became great friends. They
understood each others mottle and
II,
IN hummer Tom goes down To the cnnnl every