The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1914-11-28
MRS. BAKERS CAT
BY DON "A GRANGE.

She was ch1ldleSs WIDOW VINO nau
reached the age of sixty. She had
suficient income to keep her out OF
the hands of charity. She had her
little home in the outskirts OF the
town, and her companion for the last
ten years had been her cat.
On q certain afternoon Miss Ruth
Brighton, wishing for sight OF the
country. took q street car for half
mile and then walked for the same dis
lance to ind herself in front OF the
Widow Bakers cottage. Just 40 she
arrived the old woman ran out to the
gate and screamed:
"She's dying!" walled Mrs. Baker.
hooking down at An outstretched cat.
Maybe it's only q At and We can
save her. Get q dish Of cold water"
The water was brought and thrown
over the grimalkfn, and after long
minute she opened her eyes and re-
turned to the land Of the living.
II am thankful to heaven!" piously
exclaimed. Mrs. Baker. AZ she rolled
her eyes to the sky.
That day Osborne Chalmers had de-
cided to take half holiday and walk
into the country In the afternoon. He
vas going to see things that might In
luence him 10 buy an 80acre farm
WAsn he saw Q cottage, IN old woman,
. Girl and . blinking old cat
"WM you come herer called the
widow Baker.
IL It anything ssrious?" he asked.
- be entered the gate.
my old cat has had . At! What
would you advise me to DOT"
1T seams to me the better way
would b to get rid Of her"
But how am going to get rid Of
herf"
"she ought to be carried OF and
drowned"
That was all about the cat for
week. a. far a. the two outsiders were
concerned. They both had their walks
and returned to their homes.
Very few people would permit .
widowt cat to disturb their peace OF
mind. but in this case the occasion was
furnished by Providence. It put the
idea into Miss Ruth's head to take an
other country walk and see how the
old cat got along.
IT believe I'll Just take q walk out
there" said Mr.. Chalmers. Seems too
bad for that old cat to die.
Miss Ruth arrived at the cottage.
The cat sat on the porch. She hadn't
had another At, but she looked as II
she were going to- have one at the
first convenient opportunity.
Eyes, she looks bad" agreed Mrs.
Baker, land am going to ask a great
favor Of you. You see. am lame and
can't walk far. and I want the old cat
taken away and dropped on the road
somewhere. II she is carried a mile
I don't believe she can find her way
back again."
But how will I carry herr" asked
, Ruth.
II don't know that you'd ever come
back, but I've thought 1t all out. Well
, put her in a paper -four sack that
! have saved. When you get about
/ mile away empty her out, say 'Shoor
and that will be the last of her. She'll
find home somewhere"
. Miss Ruth agreed to do the errand,
and after time started back with the
captive. The cat made no great OBJ
:. jections to being sacked up. It II
possible that she rather longed for .
" change Of environment.
{ A cat in q -four sack meows and
snarls and splits. She claws and bites
I and walls. She wobbles the sack to
. and fro and back and forth.
Miss Ruth was hurrying along with
that sacked cat when she saw a young
man approaching. It was Osborne
r Chalmers. When he saw the wob
!, bling sack held out at arms length be
a suspected its contents and FASTENED
his steps. He was too late, however
What is to be will be. It was fore
= ordained that that cat was to claw her
= way out, and out she came. The feline
!. could have made a peaceful and hon
= orable retreat into the roadside bush
es, but she did nothing of the kind
= She clawed OF Miss Ruth's hat ant
scratched her face-she clawed and
- scratched the face of Mr.. Chalmer:
{ when he went to the rescue. Their
:, she inflicted two or three bites, and
. went her way.
- The humanitarians were sadly II
= need of repairs, and they made 70
:. the Widow Bakers.
- The widow stood on her porch witt
- glad smile on her face. So did he
= old cat!
I'm 20 glad to see you!" exclaime'
the woman a. the clawed an
scratched and bitten couple entere
the gate. The cat has got over he
flts and IN playing around "A she use