Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-22
BaSecrn'S
Eats

1t is melancholy fact, but true, that
the more tender-hearted the man. the
more sure he is to be saddled with the
task Of "disposing'' Of the pet cat
when the family goes away for the
summer.
Bascom's particular destiny evident
ly believed in providing a good sized
job while she was about it, for the
felines We're three In number, and to
add greviousness to the situation they
all loved Bascom like brother.
do it with chloroform," whispered
Mrs. Bascom, just as she was about to
step into the carriage where the
young Bascoms were already slowed.
i've bought bottle Of it and put it
on the shelf in the bathroom" She
whispered for two reasons; one was
that by her faintness of tone she estab-
lished for herself Il corresponding
faintness of completely; the other rea-
son was that she wished to keep from
the children's ears any words which
might suggest that their father was of
"disposing' nature where pet cats
were concerned. "Chloroform is so
humane"
4 Eyes, all right" said Bascom. WING
ing.
/ "And the washboiler is in the cellar,
near the furnace"
'"rhe washboiler?" inquired Bascom.
and his tone conveyed the information
that he had no intention of rincing off
the victims either before or after the
immolation.
Yes. The washboiler. To put them
under, you know"
"Oh, yes-yes," said Bascom with
deepening gloom.
Then, dropping her whisper several
degrees lower, she added, "And be
sure to put some stones on top"
"Oh, dear-I mean, all right" This
Zola-esque touch of the stones on top
gave a CHASTITY realism and deflniteness
to the impending tragedy.
Leave them there Ohe poor thingsD
for an hour or so, and then dig hole
and bury Them
After / dig big hole. and after
bury them. am I not to put the dirt
back over them?' he cut in fiercely. He
! had had about all he could stand.
| Mrs. Bascom flashed him u tender
tD'fh VI ~ IlEJttlHS anu Sollu IlO IilOIGy oQl
with final farewells stepped into the
carriage and was gone.
| Bascom looked at the house where
| his task awaited him. and his courage
temporarily oozed.
Great Scott, l can't do it now" he
muttered. "I'll go to the Office first and
finch out the day" Which he did, thus
gaining respite, but no nepenthe, for
he was eternally conscious of the hor-
ror that hung over him. 1t kept him
down town until nearly midnight.
when he could go home with the COM
! forting assurance that the hour was too
late for the deed. Moreover the cats
| would be reveling at distance and
deaf to calls. His sleep that night
was fitful and he woke very, very early
in the morning; but with desperation
he looked fate in the face. Arising and
going downstairs he opened the back
door to find his three charges awaiting
him affectionately and hungrily upon
the back stoop. Never had they looked
more amiable, more confding, sleeker
or more worthy of life.
'"rhey might as well die full as
empty" he muttered. dumping half a
Pint of cream into their dish. They
licked 1t UP with a rapture of gratifica-
ton and, not unnaturally constituting
the treat into an expression of Bas-
CONS social goodwill. they repaid him
with much purring and arching of
fluffy backs and rubbing against Bas-
CONS traitorous legs. He hurried into
the cellar for the boiler. They fol-
lowed him devotedly, and sat down
with ease and pleasure to watch him.
With neat tails, coiled around neat
paws. they eyed his every movement
with noticeable satisfaction. Feeling
like Judas, he jerked up the tin
abonination and strobe off to the barn.
The cats trotted along also. He was
too good a fellow that morning to lose
sight Of While he was arranging their
tomb upon the barn floor they sat
down again and contemplated him
some more with blinking alteration.
Next he had to search the garden for
large stones, and they ambled alongside
of him. stirred to mild but happy
curiosity. While he was struggling at
any stone which was rather deeply i'm
bedded, they offered assistance by Civ
ing II little soft ping-pong pats.
bdSCOlll WlSleu very heartily Lndt they
had never been named-cats in the
abstract are more or less vermin and
unworthy of any mans regard-but
Hamlet, Cordelia and Coco Kola were
personages with attributes and tenn
peraments which seemed to bespeak
respectful recognition. Hamlet, so cal
led for his. "inky coat" was the per-
son:fication Of dignity blended with
archness-a fascinating combination.
1t was really q she. In fact, she was
the mother of Cordelia, Cordelia, of
course, had a voice that was ever
gentle, sweet and low" She general
ly had a strained glance as if looking
for sights. One had to be very care
full of COrdelia's feelings, she was that
tOuchy Let "a person step upon Cor
delia's tail even by most palpabIe ac-
cident, and Cordelia would spit at the
person for weeks after such an occur
renee. Coco ola, the sauciest looking
and the healthiest looking of the bunch.
was nevertheless addicted to fits, which
she would have without a moments
notice. and on n large scale, but when
lucid she was lovabe in the extreme.