The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-07-28

( fie was not 40 cs'cpla sous CAT, tu' ape
dfAtblea aud bleasy-eyed .hrcd cfgray iha
sAt euafdisg cur milk lcitle cne mornif !
when ] epentd the back DOR Iadeed
1 have seldom seen mere foflorn specimen
ihts was DOR stately Psssumn a. thb ~
me ncnt ot our intr daeiien,
Perhaps be was prcdgsi that hst
Travelled far, wastltg bis IutstsEee 10 riot
ous iiglug. Al least be- was very FOOT sot'
snd tad no substsieg left that seemed oi
sny yal1e to respectable people. A vagt
bond and a tramp, dfpepdirg on eAatii,
aud odd i5hs TO telp him on HE Nay, u
was doubtless austding cur milk supply
with the hope Of some sli.ht reward. W.
didn't need his proite ior, but fftm tts
depths OF our heart aid ore tf the bottles
a mod, 81 salvage wss granted. ! put some
milk In 4 pan, aud be drank |; greedy
without thanks, old rot iLsie I'm To-
We hsd no cat As yet, bot We had one plan
ned, and II was not of this design. hep
ed that when fillgd be would fare onwsid d
TO lay protection srd tribute on other mi,R
bottles than ours.
forgot him presently, and was rather
surprised when somewhat later heard the
"little woman announce that there was a
kitten clinging to the screen door and cry
ing TO come In. | went out to investigate,
and found him hall way up the screen
Not being able to get through the wire, be
had climbed i.
II is unut cessary TO como II, ! said, You
can thank me from where you stand, or liz,
or what ever you call 1t. Ispprce!ate your
desire, now that the pangs OF hunger are
allayed, to make due acknowledgement ,
but time Ia precious, a. d you should be on
your way. There are other milk bottles to
be faved. The future Ia full OF them. Be-
sidea, It Ia pleasanter without, and we have
no servant within. We are ba ely settled,
We could not entertain you propgrly, even
II we would. Go your way. Get Il our
sorean door, and hence Rapidly
lie refused to herpe. With food be had
acquired ylgor, and voice ttrorg for his
slzs.
Perhaps, said, he wishes more food.
pushed open the fc:eer, and begged
him to descerd. This was impossible-he
had not planned for retreat. His tendency
was to climb higher. | was not eager to
touch him, but there seemed no alternative
detached him from the wire, and placed
him before the pan. Again he ate. Again
6Iled with the milk Of human kirdress, he
climbed up to vociierate his thanks snd
bis intention Of abiding with US always.
tried to shake him Gift WAS no use.
/ unlocked him repeatedly, and replaced
him In remote corners Of the property. He
could beat me back to the fcreen door even
allowing me as much as ten yards start.
We repeated this race, until firally beat
him. lie was fully five steps behind when
got my hand or tho knob, ana ne was
coming with headway. Twas rather warm
now, and slightly annoyed by his oyerween-
Ing desire to be our guest. With my hand
still on the knob, ] Ia1aited him grimly. |
did not kick him, would scorn to kick
cat. simply lifted him with my foot,
and planted him In our experiment garden.
He described an arc, and disappeared
among the tomato vines. Fiuging wide
the door, rushed ir, unwilling to investi-
gate the result Of my violence, A sound
from be hind caused me to start and turn.
He was half way up The screen and going
higher.
opened the portal gently. Come In,
little stranger, | said. And thus 1t was the
prodlgal became part Of our household.
As the days passed, the stranger grew
strong and BEAUTIFUL. Not being pure
Maltese, named him at first "Maltine",
but this title somehow seemed frivolous and
ssvoring Of advertisement, where as "Puf-
sum" came triTp'ngly from the tongue, ard
expressed more ahecionately the deep re-
gard aud admiration which he presently
awakened In US all. Whatever may have
been bis past, 1: was left behind with his
bleary eyes and his emsciated tall. Both
were H ae ard expressive within month.
and daily he grew In grace and noble self
respect. None knew him but to love him,
ard the occasional mouse, which caught
Tor him In trap, was slight token award
ID Ia appreciation q bis sterling qualities
and unfailing appetite.
have never seen cat display more
eagernsss foi mice. For as much as half a
day, sometimes, he would watch the empty
trap, doubtless recalling i,ys already tast-
ed and those still to come. Fur me to te-
gin Getting /; was The signal for violent
enthusiatm oa the part Of our faithful
mouser, and at morning be invariably rush.
ed fesrlessly to the fpot where the trap
sas known to do ils most Efficient work.
There Is even arumor among "our precious
ones" thst "Pussumn once captured a
mouse on bis own account.
But the testimony In the case is conius.
,ng aud contradictory. ] am forced TO be-
iieye that The reports OF this mouse's
death htvs been grea.ly exaggerated.
However this may be, the advent OF 'Pos.
sum- has been much to US all, ard II we
kue. hls birthday, we would add 1t to cur
anniversaries.
"Puaumn Ii reliable In other ways.
Even from ihe beginning be was inclined to
be sober ard dignfi d, and did not destroy
ftsIl OF j.cts In the wild gsmbols Of kitten
hood. / have wondered semetimfs vha.
bis earliest days were like--ihose weeks
that mus, have passsd before tha. memora-
bic morning when ! found him protecting
our milk supply. Perhaps be never had
really known eblldhocd's happy hour, bu,
oul, brief period q bitterness which be
was anxious to forget. II Ia tue be would
allow "he precious ores" 10 wheel bin
srour a 10 their little carriages, ard seemed