The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-07-23
THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP

cat having made the acquaintance of a
mouse, they agreed to share the same house. and
to have their domestic affairs in common
But must provide for the winter" said the
cat cor we shall be starved. You, little mouse,
cannot go anywhere, you viii meet with ae-
cident."
This advice was followed, and pot was brought
with some grease in it. However, when they had
got it, they could not imagine where it should be
put At last, after a long consideration, the cat
said, Il know no better place to put 1T than In
the church. for there dares to steal anything
We will set it beneath the organ, and not touch
it till we really want it."
So the pot was put away in safety; but not
long while afterwards the cat began to wish for it
again, SO she spoke to the mouse, and said: Il
have to tell you that / asked by my aunt to
stand godmother to little son, white with brown
marks, and so | must go to the christening. Let
me go out today, and do you stop at home and
keep house"
Certainly" answered the mouse; "pray go; and
if you eat something nice, think of me-"
But it was all a story; for the cat had aunt,
and had not been asked to stand godmother She
went straight the church, crept up to the grease
pot and licked it till she had eaten off the top;
then she took walk on the roofs of the houses
in the town, thinking over the situation, and now
and then stretching herself in the sun and strok-
ing her whiskers as often she thought of the pot
Of fat When it was evening, she went home
again, and the mouse said: $50 you have come
home at last; what a charming day you must
have had"
"Yes," answered the cat; at went off very we'll"
What have you named the kitten2" asked the
mouse.
"Top-offw aid the cat, very quickly.
"Top-offi" replied the mouse; chat is curious
and remarkable name. Is it common in your
familyg"
What does that matterg' said the cat; ''it is
called
Not long afterwards the cat felt the same long
ing as before and said to the mouse: "You must
obige me by taking care of the house once more
by yourself; am again asked to stand godmother,
and since the youngster has white ring around
his neck, cannot get off the invitation"
So the good little mouse consented, and the cat
crept away behind the wall to the church again,
and ate half the contents of the grease pot
Nothing tastes better than when one eats by
oneself" said she, quite contented with her days
work; and when she came home, the asked
how this child was named.
"Haf-out," answered the cat.
Half out What do you meant never heard
such name before in my life; | will wager any
thing it is not in the calendar"
The cats mouth now began to water again at
the recollection of the feasting. "Al good things
come in threes" said she to the mouse. :! am
again required to be godmother; this child is
quite black, and has little white claws, but not
single hair on his body; such thing only happens
once in two years, SO pray excuse me this time"
"Top-otf!" ."Half-outp answered the mouse,
these are such curious names, they make me bit
suspicious"
"Ahp replied the cat "there you sit in your
gray coat and long tail, thinking nonsense That
comes of never going out"
The mouse busted herself during the cats alb
sence in putting the house in order, but meanwhile
greedy puss licked the grease pot clean. when 1t
is all done one will rest in peace" thought she to
herself, and as soon as night came she went home
fat and tired The mouse. however, again asked
what name the third child had received. ut will
not please you any better" answered the cat tor
be is called About"
"Al-outp exclaimed the mouse; 'well, that IS
certainly the most curious name by far: l have
never yet seen it in print. About What can
that mean?" And, shaking her head she rolled
herself up and went to sleep.
After that nobody else asked the cat to stand