New Britain herald., 1915-10-21
The Purr of 8 Cat and t

The Purr of a Cat and he Sympathy of Servant.
 I do not know how long I sat looking dumbly at the shattered pieces of glass, all that was left of, my treasured vase. I was stunned at the storm of anger in Dicky which I had aroused by my ultimatum on our household finances, and my determin- ation to earn some money of my own. It seemed ages before I stirred The bent to pick up the pieces of glass. At my movement the kitchen door opened swiftly and Katie | rushed in. I had a sudden sick knowledge that she had been listen ing and looking during Dicky's out burst
 "Oh, poor Misses Graham" she l crooned, coming over to me and putting her arms around me. "You | not feel bad for dot. Dot noting for Meester Graham. He mean | noting. Many time I see heem mad, he trow things on floor, nearest ting he can get hands on. One time he trow omelet he no like, 1t go all over | stat-u-ary, make heem nightcap for head" Katie gigled reminiscently But he get over dot mad joost as queek." she went on. "Bimeby you see he come back, he say oh, I so sorry I nevaire, nevaire do eet again'-till next time." Katie giggled again. You no feel bad. Man like dot if you do all times vot they want, notimes vat you want, des dey tink you are carpet, dey wipe feet on you.' Through all my natural shrinking l from sympathy of any kind, and my 1 distaste of having a servant know any | thing of my affairs, the consciousness | of this girls hearty, sincere feeling l soothed me, while her homely philoso- phy fitted in with my own reflections. Thank you, Katie" said. Twill you kindly brush up these pieces be- fore you go."
 She brought the broom and dust pan, gathered up the pieces, carried them to the kitchen, returned and made a pretence of strengthening up the living-room, changing the posi- ton of several chairs, and arranging the books and magazines. Evidently she had something on her mind. Finally she came close to me. "Oh, say, Missis Graham, I no like
 
 sides I scared go home every night" A shrew look came into her face. She hesitated moment. Read ing her, I wondered what kindly false hood she would invent to cover her but moment.
 "A man he spik to me last night efrn md 'fraid he spik to me tonight, too?" "How did the man look Katie?" asked, half -smilingly in spite of my heartache.
 "Oh! a great beeg man. with beeg . black whiskers," Katie evidently was determined to paint a sufficiently strong picture now she had seized the brush. "Hees eyes look like dis at me-" Katie rounded her own. I could see that she fancied hefself an a.we-inspiring spectacle. If he spilk to me tonight I shall jeest die, I | know"
 "But there is no place for you to | sleep" "Oh, yes, Missis Graham. You come with me. I show you
 l I followed her to the kitchen She l threw open the door of the unused l closet I had given her for her things. Here" she said, II sleep here.' why. Katie" I exclaimed. There isn't room here for a bed,' and, in- deed, the closet, while a large one, 1 holding our trunks, seemed but a mere cubby hole for sleeping place. l But as I looked at it I vaguely. . menbered hearing the woman "
 had rented the apartment speak Of t | maids bed room" I had paid
 attention to the phrase, for I h not then intended to keep a maid | Was this what she meant?
 "Oh. yes, Missis Graham" carolled
 Katie again, and stopping behind the
 trunks she brought forth a queer look | ing iron framework which I had noticed, but in my ignorance of
 housewifely ways had ever bothered
 to investigate. Pulling it out it re-
 vcaled itself as a small, low bed, with | a fairly clean mattress and pillow held
 in its iron framework.
 See" said Katie gleefu1ly. "At
 night I pull heem out--so he nice
 bed for me, in morning I shut heem
 up, so, he no in way
 Katie, do not say him when you
 speak of things like beds, chairs, ta-
 bles, dishes, Say it or them!
 "All right answered Katie. Thank
 you. I like to spik the English right
 You teach me. I thank you. You lei
 me sleep here, please? This as such
 nice room. Down at my cousins
 leetle room like dis. me and three
 children sleep. no like" She spoke
 wistfully.
 To think that this cubby hole
 seemed a desirable sleeping-room to | anybody! The picture of Katie and