Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-12
Evening Star
Daily Story
MRS. BAKERS OLD CAT
ny non La GRANGE.

She was a childless widow who had
reached the age of sixty She had
sufficient income to keep her out OF
the hands OF charity. She had her
little home in the outskirts OF the
town, and her companionship for the
E last ten years had been her cat.
1t was an old gray cat. 1t was
solemn blocking cat. It was cat
which had once been a kitten and
frolicked as kittens do, but that time
had long past and the date had ar
rived when she must ponder over
what the future had in store for her.
It was this bordering and wpnering
that made her sit around without am
bition and permit the rats and mice
to come and go unafraid and un-
touched.
On a certain summer afternoon Miss
Ruth Brighton, wishing for sight OF
trees, birds, lambs, hollyhocks and
toadstools of the country, took a
street car for half mile, and then
walked for the same distance to find
herself in front of the Widow Bakers
cottage. Just as she arrived the old
woman ran out to the gate and
screamed:
''Murderl Police! Fire."
who was being murdered? Where
vas the fire? Where the police?
Come in, quick!'
Many a girl would have taken to
her heels and clipped it along for a
mile without stopping for breath, but
Ruth Brighton didn't. She followed
the old lady to the porch, and with
her looked down at the gasping, out
stretched cat.
'She's dying!" walled Mrs. Baker
as she wrung her hands.
Maybe it's only a fit and we can
save her. Get a dish of cold water
The water was brought and thrown
over the grimalkin, and after q 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 .0sbourne Chalmers had
decided to take half holiday and
walk into the country in the after
noon. He also wanted to see the
trees and birds and lambs and holly
hooks and the rest of the things that
make farmers life so joyful and in
nocent that he never sells thirteen
eggs for dozen for fear of hurting
the feelings of "A buyer.
Mr.. Chalmers saw q crow. He saw
a COW. He saw sinartweed and may
weed and burdocks along the high
way. He was just going to see a lot
of other things to influence him to
buy an eighty-acre farm and raise
seventy-five acres of turnips when he
saw cottage. an old woman, girl
and a blinking old cat.
'eWiil you come here?'' called the
Widow Baker as he slackened his
pace.
sit is anything serious?" he asked
ss he entered the gate.
"My~old cat has had fit"
rs it possible?" he replied, without
cracking SMILE
"And but for this young lady here,
who told me to throw cold water OH
the gasping creature, she'd have been
dead by this time"
at was q tit, I suppose?"
That's it,. = 81. !. 4. !. ...s.~4 - s.
Aged cats are subject >to them, I
believe"
what. will she have another"
Very likely to-"
But what would you advise me
to do?r
at seems to me the better way
would be to get rid of her If there
cheerfully do it, but as there is not
| will go on
Miss Ruth had kept a shoulder to
tile conversation, and her face was
sober as she turned to the widow and
said: 81 have heard that aged cats
are apt to run mad"
Lands of mercy!"
"You think a good deal of her, no
doubt, but the safest way is to get rid
of her If she runs mad she may bite
you."
But how am going to get rid of
her?"
"she ought to be carried off and
drowned"
That was all about the cat for
week, as far as the two outsiders
were concerned. They both had their
walks and returned to their homes.
Very few people would permit a
widows old cat to disturb their
peace of mind, out in this case the
occasion was furnished by Provi-
dence for special purpose. and in
about three days Miss Ruth found
herself saying to herself:
II feel bad for that poor old
woman. That cat has got to go. and
it will be very lonesome around the
house. I'll see if ] can't buy her an
other somewhere"
And Mr.. Osborne Chalmers found
himself saying to himself: Darn
that old cat, but why should keep
thinking of her. L never gave a cat
two thoughts before. Reckon it was
because | met a good-looking girl at
the same time | met the old cat. IF
the critter has another fit she'll turn
up her toes for good. If / knew
where could find young cat be-
lieve ] would carry 1t to her"