The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29

Victoria was large gray cat, her
front paws were white, and there was
white spot just under her chin which
looked like white bow.
Her eyes were yellow, and Victoria
was as prim looking as the white
house with green blinds in which she
Victoria belonged to Miss Mary and
Miss Ellen, two maiden ladies, and
she understood her position in the
neighborhood quite as well. She was
as dignified and proper In her man
ner as her mistresses.
She did not associate with the other
cats, and as for speaking to chance
acquaintance, she would have as soon
gone out of the house without Sticking
her fur.
Victoria had a plate and saucer all
her own, and they were filled three
times day and placed on a square Of
oilcloth in the corner of the kitchen.
Victoria never ate between meals,
and she never went into the dining
room when Miss Mary and Miss Ellen
were at the table.
She always ate all the food and
drank all the milk that was given her,
and was ever known to meow for
more.
That she was a very wise cat and
remembered better than some little
girls or boys you will learn by reading
this story.
When it was muddy weather Vic
toria always waited on the mat when
the door was opened, until some one
wiped her feet with a soft CLOTH And
she knew that no one was allowed to
cross the rug in front of the door with
out first wiping their shoes. One day
Victoria was in the hall when a man
came to see Miss Mary on business.
and the maid told him to wait in the
hall until she called him He was
standing on the rug and Victoria was
watching him. After waiting a few
minutes for the maid to return he
started to go to chair. But he did
not wipe his shoes and just as he
stepped off the rug Victoria ran at him
and clawed at his feet.
The man, of course. did not under
stand and thought the cat was mad :;
he was very much frightened, but Miss
Mary called Victoria away. but she did
not have the least idea what made her
act in that manner.
Victoria kent her eyes on him until
and then she walked away satisfied
that his muddy shoes would not soil
the carpet. s.s-
One dav a little girl, came to the
house and she tried to make friends
with Victoria bv rolling a-spool across
the floor. but Victoria sat very prim
and looked at her as if to Fl hope
you don't think | arm sillv enough to
chase that spool around the room
She showed her dislike to having
her name shortened to Vic by not NOV
ing If she heard it: she seemed to I'M
derstand that the name Victoria was
due. her dignity. and she xnswersd to
no other.
In the hall stood an. old -fashtrne d
clock. and when 1t strt1ek 9 in the
evening Miss Mary and Miss Ellen al
ways put out the light. In the sitting
room and went to bed.
Sometimes they would fall asleep
over their knitting or reading and
would not hear the clock. When this
happened Victoria would walk to
where they sat and meow until they
aWoke. 49, sr* - {.
Her mistress thought she could
count as she never seemed to notice
the. striking at any other hour ofahe
day or night
But one day Victoria's dignity re-
ceived q shock from which she never
fully recovered. She was in the pan
try and saw a mouse on the shelf. and
while she was not used to catching
mice or jumping about the temptation
was too great.
She sprang to the. ashelf. but she
missed her footing and tumbled to the
floor bringing pans With ho- on"