The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-06-14
PRATT'S CATS.
BY W. L. ALDEN.


the Nantucket Gazette and wiped his
Spectacles, that has ideas. and some
that hasn't: and it's them that hasn'
that are lucky. Now, | never had any
ideas, beyond doing my duty as a sailor
man in whatever situation might hap
pen to be. The consequence was that |
got on peaeeably with everybody, and
never made more than a middling- sized
ass of myself at any one time. Then
there was Captain Hank Pratt of the
NatcheZ. Some people used to say that
he didn't know anything wha ever eX-
cept seamansliip and the Bible: and so.
in way, he didn't. But he was chock-
full with IDEAS most of which went to
show that he ought to have confined
himself to seamanship and religion He
able-boCied. \ Christian | ever heard
of: but when lie tried to bend his ideas
on to his innocence. it was like bending
a three-inch cable to the signal halyards.
and trying to anchor with the lot.
Il often think of the time we had in
the Natchez with Captain Pratt's cats
| was first mate of the ship at the time.
and We were living in Boston harbor.
filling up with New England rum and
cotton goods for Singapore and Canton.
We had taken in about all She would
hold. when Captain Pratt says TO me,
Mr. Baker We been ashore several
times at Singapore
1T wasn't my fault. SIT. | sayS-for.
next to Port said. Singapore is the meas
lest place i'll the whole East.
II wasn't asking why you went
ashore, says the Captain: II so be that
You got INTO difficulties. | m afraid that
it came from You not being a pious man.
,,.,lI -
to say. What want to know continues
the Captain, is Just this: Did you ever
see eat in Singapore
''Well. sill. says |. / don't remember
any particular cat. but then | haven
much opinion Of cats. and | might pass
half dozen without noticing them.
y ou'd better ask the carpenter: he was
ashore at Singapore last voyage, for, II
Won remember we were delayed twenty
four hours hunting him up.
II did ask him. said the old man.
and he said that while he was at Singa-
pore he'd seen the finest collection of
variegated monkeys, mostly blue. that
any sailorman ever saw, even after a
month ashore in London, but he couldn
swear as to any cats.
"'Might | ask said |. what your par
ticular interest in Singapore cats is
pointing to-
Its this way says he. L know
from what I've read that there amt a
single solitary individual cat in all Sing
apore. I've got it in print i'll a hook
down III my cabin. and you can't deny
what's III book. Now. Singapore is
Just overrun with rats and mice. and the
dogs and some other small animal, whose
name can't lay my hand to at this par
ticuiar minute. don't begin to do theil
duty toward the vermim. What Singf-
pore needs the worst way is eats that
lave been brought up to know their
duty i'll regard to rats ana mice. and will
do ii. Why, if the Singapore people
could lay III q good supply of eats, THEN
property would improve il. value at least
ten per cent Now. Eve been studying
over THIS cat question for some time.
and I've come to the conclusion that
the man who carries a cargo of cats out
to Singapore viii make a lot of money.
How So SAYS |.
~ .ook at it from business point OF
view SAYS the Old man. whats the
market value OF cat here in Boston.
Just nothing at all. says You, and right
Yuu are Now. what ought to be the
market value of a cat in Singapore.
where the mice and rats couldn't be
reckmled mp with any table of logar-
films rhat WAS ever Vet nrin+ed, My
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