Brave Ebony

Brave Ebony

by M. B. L.

Ebony was a cat, big and black. One cold, frosty winter's morning, many years ago, Ethel Donaldson found him on the steps of the side porch. He looked very much like a little black fur ball then, for he was a poor, homeless kitten sound asleep.

When little Ethel picked him up in her arms he began to purr a song of thanks, just like any happy kitten. He was so black that she named him Ebony, for her teacher told her that Ebony meant black.

He ate and grew, and grew and ate, until he was a cat; still he grew and ate, and ate and grew, until he was a very large cat and weighed fourteen pounds.

Ebony was a beautiful cat. Sometimes Ethel tied a blue ribbon around his neck. This made him quite proud, for none of his cat acquaintances had such a pretty bow about their necks.

In the village were several Angora, Persian, Manx, and Maltese cats, and it was decided to have a cat show. Of course, Ebony was invited to be present and he was almost the first cat to take his place in the row of "village cats". He lacked the pretty bow of blue, and I think he knew it.

Ethel brought food for him often for he was almost frightened out of his senses to see so many cats and kittens of all sizes and colors.

The second day of the show, two ladies with "blue ribbons" for the prize winners, paused in front of Ebony's wire cage. He quickly saw his favorite color and opened his big, bright eyes, and said softly, "Me-ew!" The ladies were greatly pleased and said, "Of course Ebony deserves the prize, for he is the largest, sleekest, and brightest cat on this shelf."

Ethel was called and Ebony wore the prize ribbon.

He was a house-cat, and always slept in a cozy-corner at the end of the hall on the second floor, just outside Ethel's room. The furnace made the house as warm as summer, and the doors were always left open.

One cold, windy night in January Ebony lay fast asleep when a puff of smoke telling of burning wood, came to him. Suddedly he sprang up, winked, and blinked, to be sure there was danger, and then to Ethel's bedside he ran, he mewed, he clawed, he scratched, until she was awake — then away to the room where the boys, Frank and Charlie, slept. There he scratched and mewed, and then down the broad stairway, across the hall to where the parents of the children were.

Thus all were able to get to the street without injury. Neighbors helped and the fire was kept in check until the engine company came, and the firemen quickly put out the blaze.

When the family returned to the house, Ebony was treated as a hero, and next day Ethel's father sent an order for a silver collar marked "Ebony — Brave Cat. January 10, 1906."

He was only a village cat, yet no doubt he saved the lives of the Donaldson family that night.

Every one who saw him after that said he deserved a prize ribbon, a silver collar, and the name Brave Ebony.

Originally published in Primary Education, Volume 15, January 1907