Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-15

| like the heather Chinee," he had I'M
derneath a double portion of the spirit
| of BeelZebub. That is a cat. That was
Micawher.
His life contained other forms of ex-
element. Once for Il time he found a
| haven of refuge in Il saloon. He did
not learn to tipple, for that is n form
| of human delinquency that is beyond
even cat. He was regarded as the
mascot of the place and grew us sleek
and prosperous looking as the owner
One night the saloon blew up from q
defective gas main. In removing the
ruins the worrmen unearthed one
piece of debris that emitted wild veil
and shot out of the place like streak
1t was Nicnwber. denudcd of hair, but
very much alive. Many emotions were
expressed in that yell-pain. rage. ter
for, hunger and the outraged sense that
follows the betrayal of chiIdlikc faith
He had trusted and in return had Lad
hurled at him Il large section of earth
quake and destruction. Out of peace
full sleep he had been hit by house.
hurled what seemed miles upward and
had fallen back to he pinned down Un-
der rain of broken bar fixtures. frag-
ments of free lunches and smashed
beer bottles. there to he imprisoned in
the blacllness of utter darkness for
what seemed unending ages. What
way was. this to treat 4 dcfenseless and
unsuSpectinS cat? What had he done
TO the world that it should blow him I'D
and trample on him in such fashion?
IN time, however. his wounded feel
and lie was once more ready to make
Il presentable appearance in company.
Even cats feel some delicacy about
yenturing into society with most of
their clothes ripped of.
Still later in his career he was taken
in by Il large and matronly woman
with an amiabIe disposition and dou-
bic chin. Here lie regIjned his faith
in humankind and ceased for 4 time
to be n bowling pessimist. Having
had Il little oriice cut for him into the
kitchen entryway. this he wore slick
with his frequent comings and goings.
But some stray cats also learned OF
the hole, so Il small door with hinges
above was placed over the opening
This hurt MicIwber'S feelings. and he
mewed piteously until one day the
small boy OF the house pushed him
through the hole and showed him how
the door worked. Ever afrcrwarI he
asked nobody's assistance-that is. in
going out. But when it came to get
ting back. that was n different matter.
At first he pushed against the door.
but this hurt his head and did not
effect the desired result. Then he
mewed. Finally he worked it out via:
his small cat brain. Lying on his
back. he paved the door open. then by
a sudden squirming motion was
through the hole before it could close
again. After that achievement he
archcd his back and walked as proudly
as though he had whipped the biggest !
the trick. Finally the family discoy-
cred him at 1t, and neighbors came to
see his cleverness. If this caused him
any pride. however, he never showed 1
it. Cats are not afflicted with sweIled
head, even though they have no ethics
worth mentioning.
When the family whom Micawber
had honored with his presence moved
away to Il distant city it was with !
sincere regret that they were forced !
to leave him behind. As the house stood !
vacant for a time he again became u I
on the face of the earth. a |
tramp, a stray, vasabond. SO once /
more he began carousing and disturb |
ing the neighborhood. He had Il per-
ennial appetite that never was appeas- 7
I'd, 4 craving that never was filed. |
Micawber was Il handsome cat and /
valiant withal, and among the monde I
script felines of all colors and no color |
10 speak of he shone Respondent in a 7
.abby coat. striped like tiger. He had |
now reached an age when any well |
cat should have settled down I
md become respected citizen. Per- |
laps it was Il sense of his unregenerate /
condition that caused him to cast about |
'or another home. During his wander /
ngs he stopped at a barn and farmer !
gave him milk fresh from the cow. |
There were three dogs on the place,
md AIicawber did not stay.
One winters day he especially felt /
lie need of new life. Perhaps it was |
because he was cold; also hungry. 1t I
seemed 10 him that he was always hun
yry. He was IL bundle of appetite, an !
void, an incarnate longing. /
This particular day, which was TO !
,rove red letter one in his career, he
wandered far from his usual haunts. |
Finally espying n slightly open door, +
lis old domestic habitA got the best of
lin. and he ventured in. 1t was Christ I
mas. but he knew nothing of that. be- |