Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-03

Il
all his best ticks on u.s.
HE has nice eyes, said Aunt
Georgiana. His manners are GER
tainly ingratiatlng and bis craving
for affection is almost human. DO
poke him little with your foot, John.
He Is SO hungry for a little apprecia-
ton"
Mr.. Roswell poked. Henry instant
ly responded with 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 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 a 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 veritable
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 IT, said Grandma Keith.
Nor l." shuddered Elizabeth.
"Nor II echoed Dorothea Its a
pity we can't send him to the steam
laundry to be mangled with the
Sheets
@or,n said Mr.. Roswell, "to the
Chinainan to be starched with my
shirts. Perhaps Bridget
Sure, and I'll mott" declared
Bridget, when approached. "You new
er can tell what mischief d wet cat
will do.;'
But" argued Mrs. Roswell, "some.
body will have TO wash him. Suppose
we draw lots -
win you do it." queried Mr.. RIOS.
well, "if the lot falls to you?"
''No," 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 ~"
"No, ma'am! washed cat once
cnce was enough for 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 1t. She had gone to
visit 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 a little run
In the fresh air.
'0Thank you very much!" said tho
girl, returning half an hour later with
glowing cheeks. 81 feel lots better
flor; my walk. I'll do as much for
you some day.
did you ever happen to wash a
cat?" asked Mrs. Roswell, suddenly
remembering Henry.
Lots OF times. We used to own
a white one that had to be scrubbed
twice d week because she would
sleep in the coal-scuttle."
would you-'wouldn't you-would
you " began Mrs. Roswell, her anx-
ious pucker deepening suddenly.
would you -"
Would I wash cat for you? Why
of course would-if-if it isn't a
very fierce cat!"
ooh, Henry isn't fierce when he's
dry" returned Mrs. Roswell. He's
remarkably sweet-tempered. But we're
so afraid water will alter his dispose
ton that we've worried for three
weeks over the problem of washing
him.
I'll come over at ten tomorrow,
promised Miss Ball, ito take a look
at him. Have foot-bath and some
good common soap and plenty of hot
water ready in warm room. If he
looks at all promising, I'll tub him."
The assembled Roswells, fairly shiv-
ering with excitement, stood in a
circle in the kitchen the next morning
while Miss Ball tested the water in
the foot-bath with her thermometer.
Then she gently disengaged Henry
from Elizabeth's ANGLES, and lifted him
into the tub.
Grandma Keith backed into the PAN
try, Aunt Georgiana fed hastily UP
the back stairs, and the others
shrank against the wainscoating, to
make ample room for the flying leap
Of frantic, dripping, revengeful cat.
But there was no leap. Instead,
Henry deeply grateful for such an UNI
usual amount of attention. sat up and
purred while Miss Ball rubbed every
scrap Of him with soap except his
contented eyes. Then she rinsed him
with gentle showers of clean warm
water, and Henry, sitting knee-deep
in the pleasant flood, purred louder
than ever.
And to think" said Dorothea, who
held Henry, still purring, wrapped in
shawl before the crate to dry, that
this whole foolish family worried for
three weeks over washing cat that
would rather be washed than not!
Just see how proud he is of his nice
white paws"
Yes returned Mrs. Roswell, whose
brow was smoother than 1t had been
for many days, tall my worries turn
out Just that way; but ! don't believe
/ shall ever be able to worry again
without thinking of Henry sitting up
in that tub and purring with all his
might and main. Nothing ever made
me feel so foolish"
Then this" said Dorothea, twink
ling, may prove to be the cat that
killed care. - Youths Companion.
A Tall Tree Yarn.
Scott Cnmmins, the poet of Win.
chester, Woods County, was cow