Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-07
The Visitation of
the Black Cat


which had won it's way into the heart
the day it first stepped paw across the
threshold.
And what would Jack Sprat do with
out his little playfellow? From the be-
ginning the big, awkward st. Bernard
pup and the tiny kitten had shown the
keenest interest in each other. and in
terest that soon developed into warm
friendship. A pretty picture they made.
eating from the same dish, playing at
hide-and.Seek, and when tired out
from their frclics. cuddling down close
together for a nap.
"Oh, | have an idea!' cried Sister
Nell as she fed to her room, return
ing soon afterward with a dozen neatly
printed slips Of paper, each one of
which read as follows:
"LOST-A six-months black
kitten, answering to the name of Char
coal. When last seen, he wore about
his neck yellow ribbon with bell at
tached. Finder will be suitably re-
warded by leaving him at No. A
Street.
Now exclaimed the triumphant
printer, eff you children will tack up
these posters in conspicuous places. |
shouldn't be surprised if something
came out of it. At any rate it will do
no harm to ary."
Whereupon the little Brookses dried
their tears. and suddenly became very
busy
The next day, in her zeal for good
works, Mana Brooks went to the kim
dergarten, the primary. and the gram
mar schools in the neighborhood, and
asked permission of the teachers to
address the classes, which was cheer
fully given; and, going from room to
room, she announced, in her bright
and inimitable way, the loss of little
Charcoal, and succeeded in so inter-
esting the small fry that before an
other twenty-four hours nearly every
boy and girl in the distract had be-
come self-appointed detective bound
on discovering the whereabouts of that
kitten or knowing the reason why.
And comes the strangest part of my
story-strange, but true, nevertheless;
for all this really happened, and not so
very many years ago either, right here
in suburb of Boston!
For some days after the announce
ment of their loss, the Brookses' door
bell seemed to have acquired the
secret of perpetual motion, as kittens
galore descended upon the household.
Not only were black kits produced in
breathless expectation of receiving the
coveted reward, but various colored
kits of assorted ages and sizes-tab-
bies, tigers, calico cats, black and
white kits, kits tawny yellow. and even
couple of Angoras!-for descriptions
Of the waif had become somewhat dis
torted. So was it strange that after
a while Brookses themselves became
confused in their Judgment of cats, and
black kittens in particular?
And kittens grow so fast, too" de-
clared Ted. fonding one especially en-
gaging little beauty. "'Course Char
coal would be bigger'n when he went
away, a week ago. I believe this is
Charcoal" giving the ball of black
buff loving squeeze.
mo, it isn't Charcoal, his eyes were
yellower!' replied Lou, who was TAX
ing lessons in water color, and des-
cribed the eyes of the missing one as
pure gamboge.'
Yes, but a cats eyes change with
age and weather! Wait, l have an in
spiration!' exclaimed Nell, ever ready
of resource. Call Jack Sprat!"
Jack Sprat shambled in from the
yard, and simultaneously the ball of
black fluff assumed the appearance Of
a. small demon, as it's confronted the
big puppy in fury. eyes blazing, back
elevated, and tail distended. and hiss
ing and splitting like bunch of fire.
crackers. Jack Sprat fled in dismay.
That settled the question, and there
after, in times of doubt, and there were
many such occasions, his puppyship
was called in to act as judge.
But one day, after three weeks had
passed and forty-seven kittens had
been interviewed and the Brookses
had about given up hope, an odd-look-
ing bit of feline forlornity put in an
appearance, borne in the arms of a
freckle-faced ragamuffin. Surely this
hungry looking waif could never be
the once plump Charcoal; but the eyes
big and bright and beautiful-werG
the nearest approach to pure gam
boge" seen since the Inflated day of
their owners disappearance. Lark
and collarless, it seemed incredible
that so short time could have
wrought such a change.
Call Jack Spratt!'
Once again was the umpire sum-
moned, and-oh. joy!-no longer could
there be any doubt about it! Who
but Charcoal would dare to rub so at
fectionately and with such an air of
proprie torship against the awkward
legs Of the great puppy! And who
other than Jack Sprat could have look
ed so silly and sheepish and, yes act
ually happy. as he shifted his former
playfelIow with every indication of de-
light. and Immediately began set-to
at hide-and-seek!
Great was the rejoicing in the
Brooks household that day. and great
also was the rejoicing in the heart of
the young characterization who had
restored Charcoal to his rightful own
ers, thereby receiving crisp dollar
bill and a good dinner for his trouble
Needless to say. the truant grew
plump and beautiful again; and one