A Terrible Tragedy

On a pine wood shed, in an allcy dark, where scattered moonbcams flittod thro' a row of tottering chiinneys, and an awning, torn and drooping, feil, stroke back and fortb, with stiff and tensedrawn nmsolo and peculiar troad - a cat. His iiamo was Norval. On yonder neighboriug shed bis father fought the oats that came in squads from streots beyond, in search of lood and strange adventure. Grim war he courted ; and his twisted tail, and spine upboaving in faptastio curve, and claws distended, and ears flatly pressed against a hcad thrown back defiantly, told of impcnding sti-ife. With eycs agleain, and soreeohing blast of war, and steps as of the falling dow, young Norval crept along the splintered edge, and gíized a moment through the darknoss down, with tail awag triumphantly. ïhen, with au iiuprecation and a growl - perhaps an oath, in dirost vengeance hissed - he started back, and, crooked in )ody like a letter S - or rather like a U nverted - stood in ficrce expeccaucy. 'T was well. With eyeballs glarbg, nd ears aslant, and open mouth, in whicn ,vo rows of fangs stood forth in sharp and dread conformity, slow up a post, 'rom out the dark below, a head appeared. A dreadful tocsin of' deterrained strife young Norval uttered ; then with face unjlanched, ai)d moustacbe standing straight jefore his nosc. and tail fhing wildly to the passing breeze, steppcd back in caurious invitation to the foe. Approaehed tho other, and witli prcparations dire, each cat survoyed the vanage of the field. Around they walked, with tails uplifted in the air, while from lieir moutha, in accents hissing with con uming rage, dropped brief but awful entonces of hate. ïhricc 'round tho roof they went in ircle, each with oye upon the foe intenty bent; theu sidewise moving, as is wont with cats, gave one long-drawn, terrific, avage yow, and buckled in. The fur fiew. A mist of air hung o'er he battle field. High above the din of )assing wagons rose the dreadful tumult f struggling cats. So gleamed their yes in frenzy that to me, who saw the ouflict from a window near, naught else was plain but fiery stars that moved in rbits most eccentric. An hour they struggled in tempestuus might; then faiut and fainter grew lie squall of war, until all sound was mshed. Then went I forth with lamp n hand, and by its ghostly light the field urveyed. What saw I ? Six claws - one car - of toeth, perhaps handful-- and, save fur, naught else exept a solitary tail. That tail was Noral's - by a ring I knew't. The ear was. 3ut we will let tho matter rest. The ail will do without the ear. - N. Y. Printer.