Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-02-10
STRANGE coMPANIoNSHIP.
nough of West Bratteboro Subject OF
Interesting Story.

lHtSIeSt'HS ohO'y'
Grit, a widely circulated paper pub
lished in Williamsport, Pa, contained
recently an article on the strange COM
partnership of a cat and hen owned in
West Brattleboro. The story was illus
trated with three pictures, one showing
Ted taking Old Maid out for an afternoon
in a doll carriage; a second exhibiting
Ted in the act of rolling barrel across
the lawn and in the third the camera
caught Ted in mid-air while practicing
high jumps. The accompanying article
was as follows:
There sincere grief in the home of
E. NJ. Goodenough, electrician of
Brattleboro, Vermont, when Teddy the
cat, that does not seem like cat at
all; more like folks" the townspeope
say. lost his lifelong chum, "Old Maid"
the hen. Old Maids taking off was
rather sudden and altogether unlocked
for by any member of her owners family
least of all by Ted, who when first he
opened his eyes to look upon the world
| he had entered saw Old Maid squatting
there by his bed, and keeping guard over
him as faithfully as sentinel assigned
to his duty.
What drew Old Maid hither no one
was able to say. But the moment Ted's
mother gave birth to that branch of her
| family to which he belongs she consti-
| tuted herself his friend and companion,
| and as such she remained to the day of
her death. which recently occurred at
| the age of seven years, she being three
| years Ted's senior.
Four years of cat companionship-and
what a companionship it was! The two
chums were noted throughout the sur
rounding country, for their intelligence
and constancy to each other. Taking
| Old Maid out for a ride had become such
| a common occurrence that II an afternoon
| @ doll carriage with Old Maid seated
within, and Ted wheeling her along,
| failed to appear, grave apprehension was
| at once entertained Something must
have happened" those who were familiar
with this strange sight at once conclud
ed. And it was owing to the cat and the
hen not appearing for their afternoon
outing that the news of Old Maids death
got abroad. The neighbors began calling
to inquire if anything was the matter.
| And when it was learned what had hap
| pened all We're profuse with their sympa-
thy for Ted. who they knew, would miss
his chum sadly.
AS for Ted he appeared to possess some
sort of cat instict that made him fully
| alive to the nature of his loss, and after
witnessing the finding of his lifeless COM
panion by his owner he turned away.
| But for days after he sat mutely watch
ing that particular spot Of the covered
| steam pipe in the basement of his mas
panion's favorite roostlng place.
1t is a singular friendship, and no MIS-
| take, that of Teddy, the cat, and Old
Maid, the hen, and one that was brought
| about by no outside Intervention, either.
| Simply adjusted itself at the birth of
Ted, the same as if Old Maid had been
anticipating the event. And that it
should have continued throughout all
these years is further to be wondered at.
That Ted has some remarkable quail
ties, there is no gain saying. And Old
Maids reasoning faculties, or what she
displayed as being such, were in no wise
| inferior. For one thing, she had the
habit of knocking with her beak. first at
one door and then at another If by any
accident she happened to be shut out of
the basement and this, too, was a source
of much enjoyment to the neighbors, who
were always observant of the strange
doings of this curious pair.
The dining room window of the Goode-
nough home Is always left open at the
bottom, whenever the family go out. for
the convenience of Ted. And II after
knocking at the door she failed to gain
, an entrance, Old Maid invariably flew W
to the window and let herself into the
house the same as Ted did. When the
family returned there would be-the cat
and the hen, asleep together in Ted's
, chair.
One popularity about Ted-Old Maid
| ndd nOne-lS MS toes EVERY one is dOu-
BILE. That, however, is of no Significance
? For there are doube-toed cats a-plenty
and as Is often remarked of Ted's broth,
ers, each as just a cat that's ALL"
: From a standing position Ted can jumI
eight feet into the air He can roll
barrel over the lawn equal to any mem
Der of the Bartholomew equine paradox
? And from any considerable distance h,
) will spring upon his masters shoulder
with the agility Of a squirrel.
= Ted likes nothing better than "beinl
weighed" He tips the scales at 4
q pounds, and is always good naturet
r | whenever requested to "shake hands.
I Since Old Maid has ceased to be hi
constant companion, he does not seen
: so eager to trundle her carriage about
4 And II is doubtful II Ted ever will b.
S willing to perform for another the offic
he so cheerfullv fulfilled for Old Maid
l.. IT,