Aunt Jerusha's Cat

Little Bessie Atwood had ueither father, motlier, sister nor brother. ïi)e was olí alcue in the world) aiÍ Was about as miserable as auy liHle girl could be. To ba mire, she Was well and strong, and in full possession of her flve senses; but Bessie was twelve years old, and realizod fully the unpleasantness of her position. Mrs. Murdock had offered her a home for the choros she oould do, and Bessie j soon found that ehe was espeeted tö I work hard from earlj in the Corning j until the chiklren were all snug in bed j at night. The chief cause of Bessie's trouble was not so much the woik, for ! Bessie was an industrious cliild; btit thftt she was not allowed to go b school. Mrs. Atwood had tattght lier daughter to read and write a little, and Bessie could do sums in long división and parsc eiisy sentences in her reader. She knew j something of geography, too, and had stored away in her little head a clearcr knowledge of historica! events than is usually possessed byyoungladies doublé her age; but whea she carne to live at J Mts. Murdock's all these pleasures of ] study were forbidden her. " ï have no objections to your reading and writing, Bessie," said the mistress, one day, in auswer to tho cllild's earnest appeal to be all o wed some time to improve hereelf, " af ter your work is done. ! Of conrse, you know that I only took you in out of charity. I didn't lite the idea ef a girl ag capabie as you beiug sent to the-RcylUm; but Mr. Murdock ! isn't rioh, by auy mauner of meaus, and you will have to earu what you eat and the olothes you wear." "Oh! Mrs. Mnrdock," continued : Bessie, pleadingly, "if you only would let me go to school part of the day I would be willing to work half the night to pay for it. I am losing all my dear mother taught me, and 1 shall grow up notliing but a poor, ignorantservant." "Well, I declare!" burst in Mrs. Murdock, with ílashing eyes and a very red face. "If ever I heard such impudence ! If not a servant, what do you expect to be, Bessie Atwood ?" Mrs. Murdock's tones were intensely irritating, but Bessie replied, quietly, checking the inclination to cry : "I hoped to be able to fit myself for a teacher, Mrs. Murdock. This is the work my mother commeñced." ' ' Your mother was always too big j for her clothes," replied the mistress, coarsely. For a moment Bessie's eyes flashed j wilh temper. To hear her darling mother thus insultiogly spoken of was rather more than she could bear. It was on her lips to say : " My mother was a lady; but you don't know what the word ! means." But she controlled herself, and went on scouiïng the knivcs, her eyes blinded with tears, and her heart so ful] of pent-up agony that it was all she could do to keep from screaming. "If you are going to snivel, turn your head the other way," said the hardhearted yoman; and with these miserable words left the kitchen. Bessie tried to compose hei-self, and went over all tbe things her mother had said to lier about controlliiiEr her temper and ing her conscience void of oft'ense and her heart pure and loving, But the j dreadful sentenoes had snnk deep into Bessie's sensitive soul; and she found it j hard even to ask God to help her to be j calm and gentle. "How dare she speak so of my mother? How dare she?" muttered Bessie. Just then the kitchen door opened and Auat Jerusha entered, all out of breath, Annt Jerusha was an aged Quaker lady, who lived in a small cottage abont a quarter of a mile from the home of the fthirdocks. She had evidently walked very fast, and was laboring under considerable exoitcment. "Has thee secn aiiything of my cat, Bessie ?" was her ftrst question. "No, Auatie," said Bessie, smiling through her tears. " I hope yon haven't lost him." Aunt Jerusha's cat was her only compaoion, and was a big Maltese animal that one of her sons had brought her j from over the sea. Some of the boys in the ncighborhood, knowing how fond the old lady was of this pet, took every ! opportunity to annoy her by stealing it and carrying it n great distenoe out of town, and tlien leaving it to die or get back just as the poor creature was best able. Toni had returned safe from innumerable exeursions of this kind, and might perhaps from this, Avuit Jeruslia thought, but the poor old woman had í good deal of doubt bit it. The cireumstances were unusually aggravating. One of the neighbora bad seen Torn in tlie hands of Hal Murdook, Mrs. Murdock's oldest son; and, as he was a terror j to tiie whole villftge, the os'j looked dubíous. Aunt Jerusha told Bessie all about it, and Bessie promised if she saw the cat or heard anything of him to let Aunt Jerusha know immedifttely. " Thee has b.eu cryñlg, lïttle gil)," paid the lov ing old lady. " Ik it becauee theo has so much to do, dear?" " No, Aunt Jeruslm," answered Bessie. " I want to go to Hcíiool. I don't care so muck about the work, bnt I can't bear to think that T must growup a poor, good-for-nothing, ignorant girl." And now Bessie was driving back tho tears again. "Thee is both rigbt and wrong this morning, littíe girl," said Aúnt Jorusha. " Right because thee should desire to improve thyself, and should be determined to use all the means in thy power to accomplish it ; b'At When thee soes Üiat all this doli't amount to anything then thee should try and remember tbat onr time isn't God's time. Anything that is right and noble we have a perfect rie:ht to strive after. If we cau't get it just when we want it that don't signify that we are never to get it only that God knows beet, líe hasn't forgotten thee, dear. Scour thy knives and wash thy dishes, and be sure that everything thee undertakes to do thee does ( oughly, never mind what it ÍS. Be f aithful over a few things, Bessie, and all that is great and good and trne in thee will j olie doy, when thy Heavenly Father sees I it is time, be bi'ought into perfect iigkt. j Bear and forbear, Bessie, bat be trae to thyself and thy honest convictions. I was nbout to say even if thee has to flght for it, although fighting is not a part of onr creed." "Oh ! Aunt Jeru.sha, yon huve uone me so much gcd-," cxolaimed Bessie. "I neVer will be impatient and cross again, never mind what happens." ' ' Oh ! yes, thee will. Don't make uny such promises," said Auntie, smiling. "The devil is a very wily okí rascal, and he creeps into very small places sometimes. Bemember, Bffíi'3, if thee see anything of my cat thee Ís lo let me know right awa.y" Besaie reitei'ated her proinise, and Anilt Jerusha stal'ted for home-. All the j rest of the day B'essíe schlbbed, and sang, and heeled the balay, and washed dishéS : ahxt Mrs. Murdock, who had not beeovered from the rumpus óf the morning, looked on and wondered. She ■ couldn't teil how a girl with any spirit (aöd sVe ESiew Bessie did not lack spirit) 'obuld so soon be good-natured again. Christmas had passed, and Bessie had been quite overlooked. The Christmas tree in the parlor had been leadt'l down with presenta for the yowng Murt1oek3 but poor BesRie had had no part iior share in the feñtivities. True, Mrs. Murdoek gave her an öld alpaca dress to out and make over for herself ■ but this was all. And for this Bessie was nöt in the leaöt grateful. The next day was Ñew Year's, and about as cold as cold could be. Bessie's little tíngers were so nmb as she made the fire in the kitchen stove that it was as much as ! she could do to lay the sticks together ; but the child kept bravely on, saying over to herself Aunt Jerusha's words of cheer which had done her so much good j the day before, and after a little Wañ j warded with a bright flro and j ble room. What was that queer Bouud j Bessie heavd every once in awhile like sometbing seratching and cltiwing in the cellar below ? She listened and tínálty opened half of the huge outside door j and peeïed down into tile darkness beneath. Just then can; e u decided and pitiful meaw, and Bessie knew that Auut Jerusha's cat was down there. Just then she heard the boys coming down j stairs and had only time to get back to the kitchen before they were upon her. j She heard Hal whisper to Frank as she set the breakf ast-table : " We'll let him be there till af ter ! ner ; and then wo'll take him to the bttrn j and put on those nut shoes, set a match ] to the end of his tail and send him j ing. Poor old Avnt Jentsh, what do ; you think Shell Bay when Mr. Thomas i Cat files past her house ?" The wholc plot was thus discovered. How Bessie was to manage to take that I cat to Aunt Jerusha or let Atmt Jerusha know that the animal was confined in the Murdocks' cellar was more than she could imagine. She could not leave the I house uutil after breakfast ; and not theu if the children were anywhere in the cinity. About half-past 10 - a time that seemed an age to poor Bessie - the boys i strolled off down the street. Then Bessie concluded she would teil Mrs. Murdock about the cat and ask lier permission to take him to his owner. This she did very prettily and frankly, and this was the answer she received : " If the boys want to have a little fun with that fussy old woman's cat it is certainly none of my business, and if you know when you are well off you won't make it any of yours. Just as sure aa you j do you'U get yourself into trouble. The boys expect to have a good time New Year's Day. Beat up those eggs now, and get all my things together for the pudding, and I'll be down in half an hour to make it." Bessie's little feet fairly flew over that j kitchen Hoor. She had decided. to keep ! the promise she made to Aunt Jerusha, [ at all hazards. She thought the subject over in every light, and decided that it j was right ; and so, after she had ar ranged everything for Mrs. Murdock, I she tied on her bonnet and shawl, took a large covcred basket, and went down ! into the cellar. Poor Tom was securely tied, and she was compelled to go back ] to the kitchen for a knife to cut the cord with. All this neoessarily ( sumed some minutes, and when Bessie emerged írom the regions below, with . poor Torn trembling and bmised in the , basket, it seenied to her that she was quite as badly frightened as the animal she had in charge. She heard Mrs. Murdock cali alter lier from au upper window : "Bessie Atwood, where are yougoing? Como back this minute!" But Bessie turned neither to the right nor left. She didii't even think of what awaited her on her return. She had just begun to congratúlate herself that Aunt j Jerusha's cottage would be soon reached indeed, it was in plain sight - whon half a dozen boys, blowing fin horns and hooting and bellowing in the rudost and maddest marnier, canie rushing toward her. Hal and Frank were among the i foremost, and immodiately suspected j what she had is the basket. " Give me that cat, you hussy," shouted Hal, "or I'll give you a good ! punch." All the effect this threat had upoi; Bessie was to make her hold on to her charge the firmar. "Meáw, moaw, meaow," squealed Tom, trying his best to get out. " She heard what we were talldng this mc.rning," snid Hal. "And the little I ; thief workod her cards pretty well ; but j : just before ahe did she dida't, eh! Now ! I ttül you, fellere, ouc of you hold on to her arm írom behind, and I'll have the cat out of the bag in a twmkling." Up to this time Bossie had not spoken a word. Now she said, clearly and calnily : "Boys, stand aside ! Aunt Jerusha ! cime to the house for her cat, and I ; promiaed her that if 1 saw him or heard anything of him I would let her know. j I am on niy way now to keep my proinise." "But you won't be on your way long, I not if Í know it. Take hold of her, Frank. We'U settle up some old score now." And witk tbis the young destetado dealt her a ringing blow on tJ.o side of face. At the same time Frank and another boy pulled at the handle of the basket, bnt without effect. " Let go," screamedone of thein, " or you'll get hurt, " " Yoü may kill me, boys, if you will," said ske, holding on with all her might ; "but 1 started for Aunt Jerusha's with this eat, and if you succeod in taking it from me you'll do it when I'in dead, not before." "That's the talk, little girl, said a friendly yoiee from the rear. "Got Aunt tteruhft's Maltese cat in that basket, have yoil ? Now teil me who those boys are." Bessie obeyed. 8he had r ever seen this gentleman beíore aiid feít quite sure he was a stranger in the village. "I'm going to the cottage," contivmed the gentleman. "Come along with me. I'll see if there's any law in this town af ter I see yoü safely housed." Alld thé twöwalked oh, leaving the boys considerably crostfallen and not a little alarmed. "How does thee do, mother?" said the gentleman, walking sfeiighi intó the house-, lending Bössio uy tíie hand. "Bless thy heart, boy, is it thee, safe home again?" said Aunt Jerusha. "I expected the Lord was preparing this surprise for me." And the old ladycuddled down in her son's arms as if there was nothing else on earth to wish for. "And here is thy cat, mother," con - tinued the stranser, "and the bvavest little girl t ever" lieard of. Wlly that child woultl stand at the caiilioli's mouth without flinchihgi " ín thë mêantitne Bessie had liberated Torn ; and íie now pul-red cohtentedly ön his mistress' ktïee. After hearing a full accoiint of the child's struggle Aunt Jerusha said, suddenly, taking her son's hand : " William, how much money has thee?" " Enough and to spare," was the quiet answer. " Has thee enough to rear this child as she should be reared - enough to secure her a good Home with me and ílll tile adVahtages that aetive little bráiü deülandsf' "Yes, motlierj and nothing would please me so well as to. take tliis responsibiiity. Littí.e girl," he continued, " what do you want most of anything in thisworld?" " To go to school," answered Bessie, simply, "and have somebody to love me." Aunt Jerusha wiped her eyes and said : " William, this child has been abused. She must never go back. Tuke off your things, Bessie. This is your home as long as ifc plöttsös thee. Thee has done thy best, and God is always as good as His word, Thee is Under nö obligation to those Murdöcks. I will settle all this business for thee. " And she did. Bessie Atwoöd is now at the head of all her classes, and no girl in the Country has a botter home or more loving caro. Mrs. Mul-ddck's rage was fearful to witness ; but there was nothing she could do, as Bessie was not bouud to her by the law. So she vented her spleen on chaira and tables and doors, whipped one or two of her wretchedly-brought-up cnildren, spoiled her New Year's pudding, and flnally vowed that when sho tried again to be benevolent it would be when her name Was something besides