The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-23
MRS. BAKERS CAT
ey DON IA GRANGE.

the hands OF charity. She had her
little home in the outskirts OF tne
town. and her companion for the last
ten years had been her cat.
On q certain afternoon Miss KUN
Brighton, wishing for q sight OF the
country, took a street car for naii
mile and then walked for the same dis
lance to ind herself in front OF the
Widow Bakers cottage. Just a. sne
arrived the old woman ran out to the
gate and screamed:
"She's dying!" walled Mrs. Baker,
looking down at an outstretched cat.
Maybe it's only fit and we can
save her. Get a dish Of cold water
The water was brought and thrown
over the grimalkin, 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, as she rolled
her eyes to the sky.
That day Osborne Chalmers had de-
cided to take q half holiday and walk
into the country in the afternoon. He
was going to see things that might In
fluence him to buy an 80-acre farm
when he saw cottage, an old woman.
a girl and q blinking old cat.
"Will you come here?" called the
Widow Baker.
"Is 1t anything serious?" he asked
as he entered the gate.
my old cat has had a fit! What
would you advise me to do?"
1T seems to me the better way
would be to get rid Of her."
But how am I going to get rid OF
herr"
"she ought to be carried of and
drowned"
That was all about the cat for a
week, as far as the two outsiders were
concerned. They both had their walks
and returned to their homes.
Very few people would permit @
widows 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.
II believe I'll just take walk ou
there" said Mr.. Chalmers. Seems to-
bad for that old cat to die.
Miss Ruth arrived at the cottage
The cat sat on the porch. She hadn'
had another fit, but she looked as i
she were going to have one at tn
first convenient opportunity.
Eyes, she looks bad" agreed Mrs
Baker, "and l am going to ask grea
favor of you. You see. I am lame, an,
can't walk far. and I want the old ca
taken away and dropped on the roa,
somewhere. II she is carried a mil,
I don't believe she can find her wa,
back again."
But how will I carry herr" aske'
Ruth.
II don't know that you'd ever COM
back. but I've thought 1t all out. Wei
put her in a paper flour sack that
have saved. When you get about
mile away empty her out, say Shoe!
and that will be the last of her. She'l
find home somewhere"
Miss Ruth agreed to do the errand
and after time started back with tn
captive. The cat made no great oil
jections to being sacked up. It
possible that she rather longed for
I change Of environment
4 A cat In a flour sack meows an
snarls and splits. She claws and bite
and walls. She wobbles the sack I
and fro and back and forth.
Miss Ruth was hurrying along wit
that sacked cat when she saw youn
man approaching. 1t was Osborn
Chalmers. When he saw the VOL
bling sack held out at arms length b
suspected it's contents and hastene
his steps. He was too late, howeve
What Is to be will be. 1t was for
ordained that that cat was to claw hi
way out, and out she came. The felir
could have made peaceful and ho
orable retreat into the roadside bus
es. but she did nothing Of the kin
She clawed OF Miss Ruth's hat ar
y scratched her face-she clawed az
scratched the face of Mr.. Chalme
when he went to the rescue. The
she inflicted two or three bites, ar
went her way.
The humanitarians were sadly
need Of repairs, and they made 4
the Widow Bakers.
d The widow stood on her porch wi
a glad smile on her face. So did h
old cat!
I'm so glad to see you!" exclaim
the woman as the clawed a
scratched and bitten couple enter
the gate. The cat has got over b
- fits and is playing around as she us
to when she was kitten. 1t must ha
been the fright that did It,"
When the wounds Of the victims h
n been dressed the widow sent them
their way with:
Il did think the whole world "
hard-hearted. but this incident I
shown me to the contrary. Nav
widows blessing attend you,"
. Miss Ruth and Mr.. Chalmers wall
away together.
al Copyright, 1914. by the Mcclure Navs
per Syndicate.)