Mr. Bullis's essay is titled "A Biography of Snipy." Although it is undated, we conclude that he wrote it as a student since the first six pages each bear a list of words in the margins that appear to be spelling words. Here is the beginning of that essay:
"About as far back as I can remember we had no cat untill Papa brought a kitten from Uncle Steves. Nettie and I called her Papa Cat.
"After a while Papa Cat had three kittens. Nettie called one of them hers and I called one mine and mama claimed the other and named her Babins. Mama also called Nettie's cat Tomy. Tomy disappeared in about a year and my cat was kill by Cristy our cow. Papa Nettie and I went walking over the cow pasture to get strawberries and my pussy went with us. When we came to the well Papa watered the cows and my kittie rooled up against Cristys hind leg and Cristy stomped on my cat and hurt her so she died and that gave her the name of Cowkill but Babins lived a long, hard, useful life and did not die till about Sept. first 1903. Cowkill was the first cat I can remember."
Later on, Mr. Bullis wrote:
"...(Snipy) was Netties cat. One morning Snipy came in lame in the left hip we thought that Reeds dog had hurt him and that evening mama sat by the stand sewing and holding lame Snipy in her lap and Netty made a little paper book and made a picture of mama holding Snipy and sewing by the stand. Nettie keeps that little book choice now."
Cats have been a part of the human experience for ages. Mr. Chandoha's photos and text emphasize the importance of that relationship. Charlie Bullis's visual description of his mother holding an ailing Snipy while his sister sketched a picture of the two illustrates the degree to which that relationship can develop.
Please plan to stop by the Bullis Room and let us show you Kittens and Cats and "A Biography of Snipy." We're confident that you'll enjoy both.
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