Year: 1873

answers to the name OF Richard. Nov
Richard pas a comely cat, and the especia
pride of his mistress, who cared for hin
with the solicitude of a parent for an onl,
child. His dulcet voice could be plainl'
dstinguishable amid the weird chorus tha
nightly arose from the backyard of the At
woods. Richard was black with the ex
ception of a white spot at the tip of his tail
He seemed proud of that appendage, fo
midst the wailing and gnashing of teetl
which often broke the quietude of Atwood
yard. he would lash it to and fro with sucf
regularity that the chorus seemed to time
their movements to the motion of said eau
dal extremity.


One afternoon, not long since, Mr.. At
wood came home early from his work
His wife wished him to cut the grass around
her flower beds. Taking sickle he straight
way proceeded to comply with her desire
The grass was quite high, and dry, and ii
taxed his strength somewh 1T as he labored
at the task. There was one spot of grass
that grew heavy and rank, and as he had
about completed his labor he resolved to
make short work of the remaining clump
He raised the sickle and with an heroic
thrust drove it into the rich grass. There
was grating sound as though he had struck
a bone; then a wild yeaow spit fzz
and from out the clump of grass bounded a
tailess cat, which went across the yard like
streak of creased lightning, and disappear
ed under a neighboring shed.


The next thing Atwood did was to look
around and see if he could discover his wife
anywhere. He saw her over in the next
yard talking with tin peddlar. Cropping
around in the grass he found the decapitated
member, which was yet quivering. He am.
putated the white tip. Then punching a
hole in one of the mounds he set the tail
therein, leaving about an inch above ground.
He finished his work, put away his sickle,
then ate his supper calmly, and with no
thought of the future. That same night
Mrs. Atwood was taken sick, and for a
week did not 60 out of doors.


The other morning while Mr.. Atwood
was eating his breakfast, he heard his wife
calling him from the yard. He arose and
went to the door.


Come here, Timothy" she called, "come
quick. A black cactus has come up in one
of my flower beds"


"ls it possible ," asked Atwood, wend-
ing his way to where she stood smiling with
delight


" Yes" she answered. isn't it beautiful"
at the same time pointing to the tail which
stuck in the dirt.


Is it a fragrant plant?" inquired the
wicked Atwood.


Very fragrant" she answered. Then
getting down on her knees she took stick
and loosened the earth around it.


"Why believe it is going to blossom"
she exclaimed, as she noticed the end of
bone which protruded. She bent her head
down and smelled of it. Then a change
came DER her countenance painful to behold.


"Phew ! the horrid thing. | won't have
it," and seizing the cactus she pulled it up.
She gave one long, earnest look at it, and
then. she espied in the grass the white tip
which Atwood had cut off with his knife.
Just then IA plaintve meou,o caused her to
turn, ano there stood poor Richard, ptiiul
object indeed. She gave one look at At
wood, and after that all was confusion to
that individual.


He says he has a dim recollection of
something fitting before his vision, which
found resting place on his Uranium. Also
a dull ringing in his ears. Then all was a
blank until he found himself in bed, with
the family physician trying to force some
thing into his mouth.


Atwood's employer has hired a man to
take Timothys place for few weeks. He
went to see Atwood, and reported his head
as looking like half peck of CLANS smash
ed agin a barn door" Correspondence
Danbury Ne,cs.


A LAUGnABLE LOVE SToRY.-A rich old
gentleman had an only daughter, possessed
Of the highest attractions, moral, personal
and pecuniary. She was engaged and de-
votedly attached to young man in every
respect worthy of her choice. All the mar
| riage preliminaries were arranged, and the
wedding was fixed to take place on a certain
| Thursday. On the Monday preceding the
wedding-day the bride and groom elect (who
was to have received $4,000 down on his
wedding day, and further sum of 100000
on his father-in laws death, an event which
would probably soon occur had little
jealous squabble with bis intended at the
evening party The stiff" arose in conse-
quence of his paying more attention than
she thought justifable to a lady with spark
| ling eyes and inmitable rnglets.


The gentleman retorted, and spoke taunt
| ingly of certain cousin whose waistcoat
was the admiration of the company, and
limited that it had been embroidered by the
| fair heiress herself He added that it would
| be soon enough to be schooed after they
were married, and that she adopted the
" breeches" little too soon. After supper
they became reconciled apparently, and the
bridegroom elect, in taking leave, was kind
and atfectionate On the next morning the
swain regretted the angry feeling he had ex-
| hibited and the cutting sarcasm with which
he had given it vent and, as part of the
| dmende honorable, packed up a magnificent
satin dress which he had previously bespoke
for his beloved (which had been sent home
in the intervaD, and sent it to the lady with
| the following note


p" DEAREST JANE Il have been unable
to close my eyes all night, in thinking OF
our misunderstanding last evening. Pray
pardon me; and in token of your forgive
ness, deign to accept the accompanying
dress, and wear it for the sake of your most
affectionate HENRY"
Having written the note, he gave it to his
servant to deliver with the parcel. But, as
pair Of pantaloons happened to need re-
pairing, he availed himself Of the opportuni-
ty tthe servant having to pass the tailor
sAop) to send them in another package to
the tailor. The man made the fatal blum
der left the satin dress with Snip, and took
the note and the damaged trowsers to the
lady. So exasDerated was she at what she
considered determined and deliberate al-
front, that when her admirer called she or
dered the door to be closed in his face, re-
/ fused to listen to any explanation, and reso-
! lutely broke off the match.