Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-03-14
Clara odell. in St. Nicholas
puss. TINEY AND BEss.

works is found more than page of
fine print devoted to mis- treatment of
the hares which he took in the year
1774 by way OF diverting himself
when he was i'll in both mind and
body and fit for neither people nor
books. A hare of which the child Of
a neighbor had tired was given him
1t pleased him, and presently two
more were received The names
gave them" wrote the poet. are
Puss. Tiney and Bess. Notwithstand-
ing the two feminine appallatives, /
must inform you that they were all
males. Immediately commencing car-
pentering, built them houses to sleep
in; each had separate apartment"
He further relates: "Puss grew pres
emily familiar. would leap into my
lap, raise himself upon his hinder
feet and bite the hair from my tenn
PIES. He would suffer me to take
him up and carry him about in my
arms. and has more than once fallen
fast asleep upon my knee. He was
III three days, during which time
nursed him, kept him apart from his
fellows, that they might not modest
him (for, like many other wild ami
mails, they prosecute one of their own
species that is sick) and by. con-
slant care, and trying him with
variety of herbs, restored him to
perfect health. No creature could be
more grateful than my patient after
his recovery, a sentiment which he
after significantly expressed by lick
ing my hands, first the back of it, then
the palm, then every finger separate
ly, then between all the fingers, as If
anxious to leave no part unsaluted;
a ceremony which he never perform
ed but once again upon a similar oc-
casion. Finding him extremely tract
able, ] made 1t my custom to carry
him always after breakfast into the
garden, where he hid himself general
ly under the leaves of the cucumber
vine, sleeping or chewing the cud
ill evening; in the leaves also of
that vine he found favorite repast.
As for Tiney, he was different. The
poet declares: Upon him the kindest
treatment had not the least effect.
He, too, was sick, and in his sickness
had an equal share of my attention.;
but If after his recovery took the
liberty to stroke him, he would grun;,i
strike with his fore feet, spring for
ward and bite. He was, however,
tn; inf ;,, e.
his surliness was matter of mirth,
and in his play be preserved such an
air of gravity. and performed his
feats with such solemnity of man,
ner, that in him too l had an agree
able companion"
Bess. it seems, was hare of great
drollery and humor. Puss was tanned
by gentle usage; Tiney was not to
be tanned at all; and Bess had a
courage and confidence that made
him tame from the beginning. Al.
ways admitted into the parlor after
supper, when the carpet afforded
their feet firm hold, they would
frisk and bound, and play thousand
gambols, in which Bess, being re-
markedly strong and fearless, was al
ways superior to the rest, and proved
himself the Vestris of the,party. One
evening the cat. being in the room
had the hardness to pat Bess upon
the cheek, an indignity which he re-
scented by drumming upon her back
with such violence that the cat was
happy to escape from under his paws
Bess died Young.
Tiney lived to be 9 years old and
had an epitaph of II stanzazs. Here
are two of them:
kept him for his humors sake,
For he would oft beguile