The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Calico Cat, by Charles Miner Thompson

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Title: The Calico Cat

Author: Charles Miner Thompson

Illustrator: F. R. Gruger

Release Date: December 3, 2006 [EBook #20010]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE CALICO CAT

BY

CHARLES MINER THOMPSON

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY

F. R. GRUGER

[Illustration: Logo]

BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
The Riverside Press Cambridge
1908

COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY CHARLES MINER THOMPSON
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

_Published October, 1908_

SECOND IMPRESSION

TO MY WIFE

NOTE

I have to make these acknowledgments: to Mr. Ira Rich Kent for many
a helpful suggestion in the framing of the story; to the publishers
of "The Youth's Companion," in which the tale first appeared, for
permitting the use of Mr. Gruger's admirable illustrations, and to
Mr. Francis W. Hight for the very pleasant cat which he has drawn
for the cover.

THE AUTHOR

[Illustration: Cat dozing upon the top of the fence.]

THE CALICO CAT

I

Mr. Peaslee looked more complacent than ever. It was Saturday noon,
and Solomon had just returned from his usual morning sojourn
"up-street." He had taken off his coat, and was washing his face at
the sink, while his wife was "dishing up" the midday meal. There was
salt codfish, soaked fresh, and stewed in milk--"picked up," as the
phrase goes; there were baked potatoes and a thin, pale-looking pie.
Mrs. Peaslee did not believe in pampering the flesh, and she did
believe in saving every possible cent.

"Well," said Mr. Peaslee, as they sat down to this feast, "I guess
I've got news for ye."

His wife gazed at him with interest.

"Are ye drawed?" she asked.

"Got the notice from Whitcomb right in my pocket. Grand juror.
September term. 'T ain't more'n a week off."

The _staccato_ utterance was caused by the big mouthf