Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1892 — A Cat that Enjoyed Shooting. [ARTICLE]

A Cat that Enjoyed Shooting.

I suppose I shall tax your powers of belief if I tell you many more of Middy’s doings. But truly he was a strange cat, and you may as well be patient for you will not soon hear of his equal. The captain was much given to rifle practice, and used to love to go ashore and shoot at a mark. On one of his trips he allowed Middy to accompany him, for the simple reason, I suppose, that Middy decided to go, and got on board the dingy when the captain did. Once ashore, the marksman selected a fine large rock as a rest for his rifle, and opened fire upon his target. At the first shot or two Middy seemed a little surprised, but showed no disposition to run away. After the first few rounds, however, he seemed to have made up his mind thatsince the captain was making all that racket it must be entirely right and proper, and nothing about which a cat need bother his head in the least. So, as if to show how entirely he confided in the captain’s judgment and good intentions, that imperturbable cat calmly lay down, curled up, and went to sleep in the shade of the rock over which the captain’s rifle was blazing and cracking about once in two minutes. If anybody was ever acquainted with a cooler or more self-possessed cat I should be pleased to hear the particulars.—St. Nicholas.