Evening star., 1903-12-19
Charcoal.

One morning on my doorstep found her
poor. bony. little kitten-mewing and
whining at her lot In life, which, I can as
sure you, was a hard one, very hard one.
indeed. picked her up, stroked her, and
she Immediately began to purr. Then
took her to the kitchen and put bowl OF
nice, warm milk before her. After she had
Tapped and Tapped she looked up at me
and mewed the sweetest little NEW of
thanks imaginable. took her up In my
arms again. She was my kitten now. No
one would think for moment Of claiming
such a pftiful object. I claimed her, there
fore. and to make that claim more sure I
put myself to the task of naming her. She
was as black as coal, as charcoal. and
then thought seized me- Why not call
her Charcoal? The very thing!" I ex-
claimed, and fairly clapped myself on the
back. Everybody l knew would laugh at
me. but what would that matter? It was
no more absurd than naming dog Nofr,
the French for black. and SO Charcoal she
was named, and Charcoal she has remained
to this day.
People smiled at first at the thin little
creature. Charcoal? Why. Boney would
be betterl" I said nothing. Sometimes 1
actually smiled at their short-sightedness.
for j saw Charcoal as she would be in the
future, cat upon which they would cast
the most envious eyes. Charcoal read my
thoughts, for she did her best to improve
to fill up all the little hoIIows. and she
worked at her toilet until her tongue must
have been tired and her neck worn out
from straining. But how happy 1t made
me to see her becoming fatter and more
glossy black.
The kitten was fast growing into a cat,
and cat to be proud of, too. Charcoal
was obed1ent Like all of her kind, though,
she mad a fondness for things in the kitch-
en-, meat especially, and especially when the
COOKS back was turned Then In dire dis
tress Bridget would come to me: "Indade
mum. an yer catH be the dith iv me Wit.
! would accompany Bridget to the scene Of
aisaster, and there would be Charcoal lick
ing her chops. No wonder she grew fatter
and Slossier every day!
But l said Charcoal was obedfeut. 80
she was. l called her. she came directly
TO me; and when 1 scolded her she looked
SO crestfallen that forgave her on cou6i-
tloh that 1t should never happen again. I
am sorry to say 1t did. and the very next
aay. too. I called, Charcoal" She came
clever little creature that she was looking
80 detected in order to work on my feelings
90 INTO the corner, Charcoaft' + conn
manded. l treated her like a naughty child
anu She felt the disgrace keenIy, for she
now saw 1 understood her schemes TO
escape punishment. very contrite bundle
OF black she looked curIed up In the corner
After good half hour I returned and
round her in the same attitude of contri-
ton. and could stand it no longer ss6vhsr-
coal!' L called Charcoal. looking verv "a
pentant. climbed into my lap and I talked
TO her very seriously of the terrible sin
she si hao committed, not once, but MANY
times. Tine sure she understood for shs
meWed as II to say: I'm ashamed of nv
sell after the kindness I've had shown me
TO nave rewarded it all by playing the thief
l m gong to be good. I'll never do #
asaini I But she did, and 1 said Char
co eeaa, now could you? Go into your corner
But she soon overcame her naugbtiness
af Gnu i,ow charcoal and l never once dream
ea 81. PUNISHMENT. nn She thinks me perfection
Tor her purrs say SO, and I'm certain Char
coai t ls the fnest, incest, cleverest, piumn-
est. giossiest. blackest cat in the whole
ponIo mof1' Do you blame me for loving Char
MARGARET KIRBY TAYLOR