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Family Farm: Feisty the Rooster and Slinky, the Black-And-White Cat

When I was growing up on a family farm in Iowa, my favorite farm animals were Feisty the rooster and Slinky the cat. Slinky was a black-and-white cat who got his name from the way he stalked his prey. I have a picture of me petting Slinky and holding Feisty.

Feisty was quite a pet. He just loved to crow. However, one day he quit crowing. We couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He didn’t seem to be sick. After several weeks, Dad decided maybe we should butcher him. When we dressed him, we found out he (or she) was just about ready to lay eggs. Dad figured that must have been why he quit crowing.

Joy J. Palmer
Forest City, Iowa


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.