The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-27
THE STORY71EZLER
FAITHFUL BEN.

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0NE day, Will was on his way to the pump, he
~ found kitten meowing before the kitchen door,
EtOhl Charlie! Annie! Here's ktten!" he called,
as he picked it up and hurried into the house with it.
'sOh! Obi Ism 1T it pretty7 the children exclaimed,
Will set the fat little thing down the floor
'tMay we keep it, mother9 May wea'' asked Anna
cit doesn't belong to us, and may claim it,
you know,' said mother.
elf for it, may weg' urged Anna, and
Rugged it to her she said Isnt it just too cunning
for anythng9'
eyes if no claims it, you may keep it,, answered
Mrs. Bous.
The children were delighted and Anna Immediately
got and filed it with milk and set it before the
kitten, while they all crowded around and watched it
lap up the milk with its little red tongue tongue
ttWhat shall call it, mother?" asked Charlie
"Im too busy to think about that now'' their
mother answered. and then added You into the sit
tngroom and talk it and choose for it, and
then out and let me know what it ISL So the
children scampered off, taking the kitten with them It
fully hour before they had definitely decided
Charlie thought Blacky would be very suitable Will
thought other would be half pretty Ben
jamin Franklin, because was American: WIN Won
''to save BREATH Charlie said.
They they; all hurried out to the kitchen, where
mother and grandmother Haven were busy with the
baking to exhibit their truly American cat.
They set him down by the stove and greatly in
terested in watching him lick lick first foot and then
the other No to inquire for Ben, and the
children very glad He beautiful kitten, all
black, except little white mark large cent
his throat he grew into large wise and useful cat
as tell this story of his life-a true feyou will
all agree with that he really intelligent
ture.
Ben when he was grown never asked to be let in [,
from the Kitchen but he would jump up and hold to
the door by putting front paw thru the handle and
tap, tap the latch with the other until the door
opened; then he would jump down and walk in.
Ben great hunter especially in finding little
snakes and he would display them to the family always
in the diningroom. When shrek from grandma
Mrs. Bous the family knew that Ben had presented
her with snake and it not appreciated.
Ice cream and cake were tempting morsels to Ben
and the children say that he was always generously
helm when thew rafa we'd theirs
Anna and he were great playmates, and he always
submitted gracefully to all her plans, to being
dressed in dolls Clothes and pushed around in Sarah
Virginia s go-cart
Grandma Haven was very fond of raising chickens,
and spring had nice lot Of little chicks in the gar
: den up in the chiczenhouse.
"Ben, said she, "you must touch these little
chicks. DO you UNDERESTIMATE
''Meow,' answered Ben, tho he understood, and
doubt he did
'<Benl Benl'' called Grandma night when it
was time go bed but Ben responded her call.
You will have to sleep in the shed, for not going
to wait up any longer for you,' said Grandma at last
and she closed and locked the door and retired.
During the night Mrs Bous heard noise in the
yard remarked tBen is fighting with strange
cat dog"
Bous opened the door, where Ben, with welcoming
meow greeted her. but he acted restless and strangely
He rubbed against Mrs. Bous then went to Grandma and
did the thing, and then would meow' and start
toward the door,
~ do believe he wants to 60 with him, Mrs
Bous finally concluded and followed him. but said moth
ing. When Ben she following he started out
the house, but looked back frequently to make
He led her the lawn to the large linden tree
where, with proud ttmeow,' he showed her dead
something she could tell what. Mr. Bous came out
and said it was weasel
tsThat's the reason why you didn't in last
night is itf' said Grandma patted him approx
ingly nand was almost ready to scold YOU Bss.
lived be nine years old and then fell victim to
fatal disease One night the children tucked him n bed
went to his grave honored wep over loved and missed
Eighth Grade, Leila Myers.