`` Did you live in a poorhouse ? '' `` A little while . Never mind that I did n't mean to speak of it ; '' and Dan stopped short in his unusual fit of communicativeness . `` Tell about the cats , please , '' said Demi , feeling that he had asked an unpleasant question , and sorry for it . `` Nothing to tell ; only she had a lot of 'em , and kept 'em in a barrel nights ; and I used to go and tip over the barrel sometimes , and let 'em out all over the house , and then she 'd scold , and chase 'em and put 'em in again , spitting and yowling like fury . '' `` Was she good to them ? '' asked Demi , with a hearty child 's laugh , pleasant to hear . `` Guess she was . Poor old soul ! she took in all the lost and sick cats in the town ; and when anybody wanted one they went to Marm Webber , and she let 'em pick any kind and color they wanted , and only asked ninepence , she was glad to have her pussies get a good home . '' `` I should like to see Marm Webber . Could I , if I went to that place ? '' `` She 's dead . All my folks are , '' said Dan , briefly . `` I 'm sorry ; '' and Demi sat silent a minute , wondering what subject would be safe to try next . He felt delicate about speaking of the departed lady , but was very curious about the cats , and could not resist asking softly , `` Did she cure the sick ones ? '' `` Sometimes . One had a broken leg , and she tied it up to a stick , and it got well ; and another had fits , and she doctored it with yarbs till it was cured . But some of 'em died , and she buried 'em ; and when they could n't get well , she killed 'em easy . '' `` How ? ''
asked XXXXX , feeling that there was a peculiar charm about this old woman , and some sort of joke about the cats , because Dan was smiling to himself .
Dan Demi Marm Webber communicativeness minute ninepence poorhouse pussies yarbs