Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1891 — A Cat in a Cattle Camp. [ARTICLE]

A Cat in a Cattle Camp.

Speaking of intelligent cats, says m Writer in the New York Tribune, w* owned one when we were camped os the Big Sandy river who knew a thing' or two. The Doctor was not handsome; none of us thought that, but in » .country where one saw only Indians ami coyotes week in and week out a cat was a good companion for a man who had to watch the camp when the others wore away with the cattle. The most noticeable thing about the Doctor at first blush was his face and eyes There was a white spot over one eys and hall of his face, which made hits look like a bald-faced horse. To add to the odd effect caused by this blotch the Doctor’s eyes were of different colors. One was green and the other was a sort of brown. But if the Doctor was not noted for his beauty he was much respected ou the Big Sandy, and no little consideration was shown hire in looking after his wants. It is certain that as far as provisions went be always fared better than any man in camp. If there was one thing which the Doctor and the rest of us took a lively interest in it was the killing of a yearling to get fresh meat. It may be supposed that fresh meat wa3 not Scarce in a cattle camp, but this was not truck It was not often that the few men who watched the herd found time to do any slaughtering. So when it was decided to kill a yearling there was an unusual stir of interest among the men. The Doctor in a Bliort time got to know so much about this operation that at the first sign of preparation he gave expression to the wildest glee. As soon as one of the men began to sharpen his knife the Doctor climbed a fence-poet andjon top of it began a series of crazy antics. He raised his back, with hair standing up like porcupine quills, and' howled till the men started to lasso the yearling. Then the Doctor because a four-legged fiend. With a wild soreaos he leaped from the post and ran before the horses, tumbling over and over., clawing at the ground and tangling himself up with the horses’ feet But when the yearling was caught the Doctor became still more violent and his actipns were simply demoniac*l. Not till the yearling was killed did bet become calm and then the contrast startling. He walkod around the prostrate animal with an air of the kestwet delight, always ending his celebrati-H» by leaping lightly to to back and sitting there, purring softly and looking contented with the world and everything on its surface. - *J ' :i ‘ ' Of all the giddy pieces of feminine wearing apparel the blouSh is the giddiest, tlt appears decked out la the most startling tones, and the more pronounced it grows the more it is sought after.