The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-09-21

owning a maple frappe cat!"
| 'I've been worrying for five days"
said Mrs. Roswell, about that ami
NAL. He must, be washed, but how
in the world can the thing be done?
I've never washed q cat"
| you mustn't think of trying it,"
cried Grandma Keith. Some cats go
perfectly mad with terror at sight of
water"
EYES," said Elizabeth, 81 know it's
dangerous. The Millards washed their
Angora cat, and Grace was scratched
clear to her elbows"
| We'll have to send the poor thing
away" declared Mrs. Roswell, draw
ing her skirt from under Henry, who
was settling down for a nap. HE
has already caught three mice and
two rats, and I'd really like to keep
him if his fur was only decently
clean, but he does look too disreputa-
BILE for words"
eff you'll give him time," said Mr..
Roswell, kindly permitting Henry to
lick his shoe, che may get himself
clean"
"He can't!" declared Dorothea.
There's more of him to wash than
there was last week, and he wastes
all his best ticks on u.s."
"He has nice eyes," said Aunt
Georgiana. "His manners are GER
tainly ingratiating and his craving
for affection is almost human. DO
| ,o1,o b;,,o = l;tfJo with vo,r foot Tohn
He is so hungry for a little apprecia-
tion."
Mr.. Roswell poked Henry instant
ly responded with a deep, sonorous
purr.
| Mrs. Roswell, her mother, her sis
ter and her two daughters worried
considerably about the feeding of Hen
ry. They even wrote to a woman's
magazine to ask how many mice a
middle-sized cat should be permitted
| to eat in one day, and if rats would
| injure the digestion of pussy of
| tender age. But, above all, it was
the problem of giving Henry much
needed bath that brought the deepest
wrinkles to all the Roswell brows.
Henry, in dry state, was a peace
able, thoroughly good-tempered cat.
Henry, wet, might prove a veritabie
demon. He certainly cried aloud for
at least one bath, yet who of all
the Roswells would undertake to
bath soiled, maple frappe, half
grown cat?
Not l." said Grandma Keith.
Nor l." shuddered Elizabeth.
"Ncr l." echoed Dorothea. cts a
pity we can't send him to the steam
laundry to be mangled with the
sheets"
Cor" said Mr.. Roswell, ''to the
Chinaman to be starched with my
shirts. Perhaps Bridget"
Sure, and I'll mott" declared
Bridget, when approached. "You new
er can tell what mischief a wet cat
will do"
But" argued Mrs. Roswell, "some-
body will have to wash him. Suppose
we draw lots -
Twill you do it," queried Mr. Ros-
well, "if the lot falls to your"
mo" admitted Mrs Roswell.
They're nice lot, aren't they, Hen
ry," said Mr.. Roswell, ito be so
afraid to wash one small harmless
yellow cat?"
20 John! Will you -
mo, maam! l washed a cat once
once was enough fer me. Why don't
you send to the hospital for trained
nurse?"
This suggestion was made in fun;
but later in the day Mrs. Roswell
was reminded of it. She had gone to
visit a sick neighbor, and in the good
ness of her heart, had offered to sit
with the patient long enough for Miss
Ball, the nurse, to take little run
in the fresh air.
Thank you very much!" said the
girl, returning half an hour later with
glowing cheeks. 81 feel lots better
for my walk. I'll do as much for
you some day"
did you ever happen to wash
cat?" asked Mrs Roswell, suddenly
remembering Henry.
Lots of times. We used 20 own
a white one that had to be scrubbed
twice a week because she would
sleep in the coal-scuttle."
would you-wouldn't you-would
you - began Mrs. Roswell, her anx-
ious quicker deepening suddenly,
would you -"
Would wash a cat for you? Why,
of course 1 would-if-if it isn't a
very fierce cat!"
"Oh, Henry isn't fierce when he's
dry" returned Mrs. Roswell. Hes
remarkably sweet-tempered. But we're
so afraid water will alter his disposi-
ton that we've worried for three
weeks over the problem of washing
him."
I'll come over at ten tomorrow,
promised Miss Ball, ''to take a look
at him. Have foot-bath and some
good common soap and plenty of hot
water ready in a warm room. If he
looks at all promising, I'll tub him."
The assembled Roswells, fairly shiv-
|