Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-05-16
THE END OF TOM.
! Renal ikable Feline With Wide Rcputatjor
in Maine.

nary cat, Dut one OF the brightest and
most intelligent felines that ever pulled
the hair from dogs back. ard it was
this intelligence that had won for him
such q warm place In the hearts Of his
masters. Bowditch & Webster.
Tom had his sister Nancy for a run
ming mate when he first came to town,
and the escapades of those two cats
during the IA years of their life that
they spent in this city. would fiji a
book. Tom was, without doubt. the
oldest cat in the State. and during the
last five Of his - years, has not
shown the usual kittenish spirit. This
is in part. due to the death of Nancy
whose death he mourned like human
being.
Tom and Nancy came to this city 10
years ago, from Manchester. where
they first saw the light. on what is
called Capt. Beck's Ledge They were
mere balls Of black fur when they ar
rived in town ana at once became
joint and several owners Of the store
of II. +. Bowditch. ana 50 complete
was their possession that all connected
with the store became their servants.
Their happiest faculty was in deal
ing with dogs. When one came along
that was not inclined to create trouble
the cats We're willing to make friends.
If he was looking for trouble. he
found just the right parties to make
1t. When the dog showed his teeth
and started fer the eats. Tom and
Nancy anpC lred the greatest towards
in the world anu scuttled for the back
Shtn vim th, hHf ; IA
II the dog striking against their en-
largcd tails. urging the falincs to a
place uf safety But as soon as the
gate between the front ana back shop
was passed the strategy was shown
Nancy started for the rear shop while
Tom laid in wait behind the counter
When Tower started for Nancy she
showed fight and the dog began to
wonder where the easy thing he had
picked out had gone. Toms attitude
in appearing in the rear did not sim
plify matters any, and before the qucs-
tion was settled. the cats had gener-
ally transferred considerable hair from
the dogs back To the floor
y woman went into the store. one
day, and was f'llOwed by Boston
bull pup, with an expression Of a prize
fighter. She begged that the cat b.
taken out Of the way as she did not
wantto see hrr dog kill Tom. Mr Bow
ditch said he had no desire to SEE 4
funeral ana would risk the cat H
feared the outcome Of the dogs life.
however, should a fight ensue Tom
was delighted To see the bull ana
walked out To extend greeting. The
bull was motionless and looked for a
chance tn spring. Tom simply walked
in front of the dog. made a few hyp-
motto passes with his paws. showing
the unSheathed claws. and with TRY
it, If You dare" expression deliberately
walked under the dogs head and was
soon tickling the dogs jaw with his
tail.
Toms intimate association with his
master could but give him an un-
limited stock of optimism Every
thing done was for his amusement. If
a customer opened his purse to make
change. Tom took an account If the
contents of the purse ana showed his
to play If a bottle was
knocked from the shelf during their
play. Tom and Nancy knew nothing
about it, hut We're 50 busy down stairs
they did not show up for several hours
ana then returned only To inquire by
intelligent looks who was SO stupidity
careless As {. do anything of that kind. !
The CobbOSSeeCOntee fever was the
only real disease the cats had. They
contracted that from the fishermen
who came to the shore to buy live
bait. Cobbossee was too much of
iaunt for them and- they contented
themselves with angling in the jars
where the live bait We're kept and
observed Friday by visiting
the fish jar for their dinners.
The intelligence Of Tom and Nancy
was often noted. This was shown to a
man one day who was
skeptical. The salesman had watched
the cat pick out nickels to play with
and leave the plebian coppers alone.
When told that the cat could dis
tinguish between a 81 and s. bill. the
man at once doubted the
statement. Taking two bills from the
money draw, Mr.. Bowditch dropped
them on the floor. The cat at once
sprang for them. but dropped the 81
and began to play with the 50. The
man payed his bet and LETT
the store in time to give Mr.. BoWditch
a chance to pick the catnip out Of the
folded s. bill.
OF late, Tom has shown his age. He
tottered like an old man, and had not
the strength to maintain his rights.
Much against his will, he was obliged
to submit to the indignity of having
his milk warmed and his meat minced.
During the past day or two he has
grown 50 weak that preparations were
made for his end. and now he is curlcd
for the last time in pine box under
a thick warm sod.