| |
 |
I feel that the sketch of Dr. Reed's
life would not be complete
were not some mention made
of a pet c h at that for the
last nine years of his life
was a loving & beloved member
of our house hold. When we
were first married Dr's aser-
sion to the feline race was
most pronounced, but as I
would not give up the pets
of my girl-hood he gradually
became reconciled to their pre-
sence & finally as the years
passed by he became quite
as advocate of their much as
maligned intelligence & affec-
tion. Whenever orders came for
the breaking up of our army
home our cats would be given
to people whom we fell assured
would kindly care for them &
it was he who would most
often secure our new pets.
But of all the numerous
cats we had, "Flirt" a beautiful
tawny tobby held the peace of
honor in our affections-
He was a gift to our little [daughter]
|
 |
2
after our arrival in Washing-
ton, when he was no more than
a wee ball of fun. Although
the entire family made a
great pet of him his love
for his master became more
& more pronounces as he
attained his great size &
beauty- When the meals were
served he was always at Dr's
side, with his first paws upon
the table, standing on his hind
feet in confident anticipation-
for he never failed to receive
the loving caress in the shape
of the choicest tid-bit from his
beloved friend no matter hard
how great the latter's haste
might be- After dinner as we
assembled in the library, al-
though a bright & warmly lived
basket occupied a cosy corner
by the open fire nothing would
satisfy Flirt but Dr's lap, and
often when I would remonstrate,
knowing that the cat's heavy
weight was too great a burden,
Dr. Reed would look at me
|
 |
3
saying, "but, mother, 'son` wants
to stay & what can I do about
it?" In this way he would sit
reading for hours, unless his book was
too heavy & then with an apol-
ogy ge would gently lift the
cat down. During Dr. Reed's long absences
from home occasionally some
gentleman friend would call
who evidently reminded Flirt
of his master & with a little
cry of delight he would jump
up in the visitor's lap & settle
himself in great comfort.
Generally he would admit of
no advances from strangers
& his tiger-like kiss was
most unfriendly- All through Dr's busy work
in Cuba when his mind
& body were both under such
a tremendous strain in the
left hand corner on the front
page of my tri-weekly letters
would be, "a kiss" or my love
to "Doogy Johnson" The last
being a pet name of his
|
 |
4
bestow ly that in some way
meant more to him than
merely Flirt. On one occasion the cat was
fast asleep on a friend's
lap in the 3rd story of a board-
ing house (our temporary home)
where the sound of mens' voices
had no disturbing effect upon
his ning not . Suddenly
there was the sound of Dr's
voice in the front hall beloved
(having just arrived in a late
train after an absence of several
months in Cuba) and with a
lighting like spring down the
three [ two ] flights of stairs Flirt was
the first to welcome him-
loudly purring at his feet. We always took him to our
summer home, and after the
first trip by sail he seemed
to anticipate all of the pleasures
that were awaiting him & did
not demur against being shut
up in his basket- Dr. took great delight in early
rising while in his little visits
|
 |
5
to us from the city & would
take his love & wend his way
to the garden always accompa-
nied by Flirt who followed him
faithfully from plot to plot.
When called in to breakfast Dr.
would often say to me, "Doogy
& I have had a beautiful time"
In all of our wanderings over
the place the cat would be
with us & would cry to be car-
ried in Dr's arms if the
walk was too long- In our
moon light strolls his little
shadow would flit here & there
he sometimes running ahead
& then again right at Dr's feet.
Sad summer and there we
were no week's end comings
of his master to gladden
all of our hearts, I knew
that he too was a partaker
of our summer, for his
spirits left him and
|
 |
6
he would steal quietly away
& spend the day all alone
in some spot that had never
before been a favorite haunch
of his- That November he too was
laid to rest and who
knows but what it was of
a broken heart - for had
not he also lost his best
loved friend & protector? |
