Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-02-09
Tabby Torturcs Valentine.

Little Amy had spent a very nappy
holiday season, for her favorite aunt
had been with them. Auntie had Deen
very happy. too. but one thing greatly
troubled her, that the rest were ac-
customed to and thought little OF; that
was that 'Tabby Torture" could not
have more freedom and general cat
happiness. What can city cat kno"
Of the JOY Of life?" she would ask.
Tabby's real name was "Tabitha
Tortoiseshell," but Amy's careless lit
tie tongue got sadly tangled In that
long name; and gradually every one
had adopted her variation of 1t, till
now Miss Tabby was even introduced
to strangers as 'Tabby Torture"
Auntie so pitied Tabby's sad lot that
she tried to take her to walk in the
park sometimes. She would tell Amy
to lead her" by the long ribbon
around her pretty neck, but Tabby
would either frisk about and tangle
herself in the ribbon, and end by
throwing Amy down; or else she
would sit down on it and refuse to
move. So they had to go back to the
old way of letting her out into the
courtyard, where she seemed con-
tented enough.
But auntie thought her coat grow
Ing rusty, and t. at IL she couldn't get
fresh air she must have a tonic. So
when she bade them good-by and lstt
for home, her last words were, Il will
remember and soon send Tabby's
tonic"
Auntie always sent Amy valen-
tine; so, as they all sat at breakfast
the morning of Valentines Day, Amy
was not surprised to see among many
other a handsome valentine with the
postmark of R.; but what did surprise
her was to find one from the same
place directed to Miss Tabitha Tor
toiseshell, 1S9-- St., New York" In
side was fat package tied with white
ribbon and having strong spicy odor,
and written upon 1t were the words,
"Tabby's Tonic"
Amy opened 1t and found many
home-dried leaves of soft, velvety cat
nip. Now Tabby, who was making a
big black-and-yellow ball of herself
before the fire, fast asleep. had never
seen or heard of catnip, but she sud-
denly woke up, leaped into Amy's lap.
and seizing the package. rushed off
under the sofa with it. Papa roared
with laughter, and said, "Tabby would
not have her private correspondence
meddled with" But mamma was fear
full she would eat too much Of the cat
min. so they all tried to get it away.
Tabby fought them vigorously with
her hind legs, While she hugged her
precious valentine to her white breast
with her fore paws; and before they
finally secured it she had eaten at least
half the catnip.
Mamma put the rest of the catrip
safely away, shut UP in box, and that
hidden in deep vase on the parior
mantel. Occasionally as treat, Tabby
was given q leaf. and both papa and
mamma had 3 way Of stealing in 10
take a "snid" Of the pungent mint.
which reminded them OF their dear old
courtty home.
Alas! Papa went once to often! One
day mamma was not there TO see that
he closed the door, and Tabby caught
the scent Wicked Tabby slyly crept
in, Jumped on the mantel, threw down
and broke the vase, gnawed off the
box cover, and took all her tonic at
one dose.
Auntie was written to about her ia
yorite's bad behavior, ard what do you
think she suggested as punishment?
Why, that Amy and Tabby spend next
summer with her in the country, where
Tabby can have all the catnip she
wants. and pick it for herself! So both
Amy and Tabby are looking forward