Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1886 — “The Cat It Died.” [ARTICLE]

“The Cat It Died.”

“Our cat’s dead,” said one little girl to another yesterday afternoon, as they 'were returning from Sunday school. “Did he die?” asked the other, as she she slipped her hand into her companion’s, and looked interrogation points. “Yes, he died,” was therreply; “but we all think at home that brother Jim caused bis death, but you mustn't say anything about it. Our Tom was sitting on the kitchen table. Right under him was a big pot of grease mamma was cooling for something. Brother Jim came in and threw his cap at Tom, and Tom fell off the table into the grease, and jumped out again, and ran into the cellar and came out again, and he was all covered with dirt, and looked awful, mamma said disreputable, and brother Jim he chased the cat into the coal shed, and when he came out he was still dirtier, and Jim ran him into the hen house and Tom got feathers stuck on him. and Jim chased him on top of the house and jumped him off' into a barrel of water, and lie jumped out again and Jim ceased him into the stable and caught him in the hay, and tied his head and feet, to keep him from biting and scratching, and Billy Green helped him.” “What did he do then?” asked the other little girl. “Why,- he and Billy Green took him into the kitchen and rubbed him with turpentine till they got him clean. Then they scrubbed h m with soap and water till they got him clean, and then they put him in the oven of the stove — it wasn’t very hot. you know—till he dried, and then they untied him and let him go, and he capjldn’t walk very much. He went off into one corner and lay down to sleep, but when the bops waked him up he was dead. Jim said the turpentine must have turned his stomach.”— Exchange.