Minnie's Pet Cat, Page 2

  CHAPTER II.

  THE CAT AND CHICKEN.

  "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, inEngland, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens. As he did notwish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens tobe drowned.

  "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chickenalso.

  "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, butin vain. Day after day passed, and at last the gentleman concluded someaccident had deprived them of life.

  "Nearly a week after the kittens had been drowned, a servant hadoccasion to go to an unfrequented part of the cellar, where, to hisgreat astonishment, he saw the cat lying in one corner, with the chickenhugged close to her body, and one paw laid over it as if to protect itfrom injury.

  "Puss and her adopted chicken were brought into a closet in the kitchen,where they continued some time, the cat treating her little charge inevery respect as a kitten. Whenever the chicken left the cat to eat thesoft dough provided for it, she appeared very uneasy, but on its return,received it with the affection of a mother, purred, and presented theappearance of being perfectly happy.

  "The gentleman, being curious to know whether the affection of puss wasreturned by her protege, carried it to the hen, the cat following withloud cries of distress. But on being released, the chicken at oncereturned to her attached friend, who received her with enthusiasticdelight.

  "Some time after, the chicken was, by some accident, killed, and,though another one was tendered her, the cat pined, and was inconsolablefor the loss of her favorite."

  "O, father," cried Minnie, her face glowing with excitement, "wasn'tthat strange? I mean to try Fidelle, and see whether she likeschickens."

  "More likely she'll make a meal of them," said the lady, laughing. "Atany rate, your story only proves my opinion of cats, as thieving,mischievous creatures, to be true. Even she stole a chicken from thehen, the rightful owner of it, and alienated its affections from its ownmother."

  "But all her kittens had been taken away from her, and pussies must havesomething to love, as well as people," exclaimed Minnie, while herquivering lip and flushed cheeks showed how much she was in earnest inwhat she said.

  "My dear," remarked her father, "the lady is only joking, to carry outher side of the argument, which, when I have read farther, I am sure shewill see is a weak one."

  "Here is a case just in point."

  "A lady had a tame bird which she was in the habit of letting out of itscage every day. When at liberty, it would fly to the top of the mirror,or on the picture frames, and then to the floor, to pick up crumbs.

  "One morning, as it was busily picking crumbs of bread from the carpet,her cat, who had always before showed great kindness for the bird,suddenly seized it, and jumped with it in her mouth upon the table.

  "The lady screamed, being greatly alarmed for the safety of herfavorite; but on turning about, instantly discovered the cause. Thedoor had been left open, and a strange cat had just come into the room.

  "After turning it out, her own cat came down from her place of safety,and dropped the bird on the carpet without doing it the smallest injury;for it commenced again picking crumbs, as if nothing alarming hadoccurred."

  "What do you say to that, Mrs. Belcher?" inquired Mr. Lee, earnestly.

  "I must confess," she answered, "that was the most sensible puss I everheard of. She certainly did a good deed, and ought to have beencommended for it."

  "She showed presence of mind in danger," added the gentleman, "anaffection for the bird with which she daily associated, and gratitudefor the kindness of her mistress, who had, no doubt, treated hertenderly."

  "Now here is another case."

  "In the parish of Stonington, Surrey, England, a man was passing througha hay field in the month of September, 1793, when he was surprised tosee a cat and a hare playing together in the hay. He stood more than tenminutes gratified at the unusual sight, when the hare, alarmed at seeinga stranger approach, ran into a thicket of fern, and was followed bythe cat."

  "I'm sure, father, Fidelle and Tiney are good friends," cried Minnie,exultingly. "They often play together."

  "Tiney is getting too fat and lazy to play much with any body," remarkedMrs. Lee, smiling.

  "Will you please read more, father?"

  Mr. Lee was looking over the book, and laughed heartily.

  "Do please read it aloud, father," again urged Minnie.

  The gentleman commenced.

  "In 1806, Mr. Peter King, of Islington, had two large cats, which usedto sit at table with him. They were waited upon by servants, and partookof the same dainties in which he indulged himself.

  "Mr. King was a great admirer of fine clothes, richly laced, and ofmaking a display. One day, as he sat eating, with his cats for company,he thought, perhaps, they might like liveries, as well as he did. Heaccordingly sent for the tailor, when he had them measured for theirsuits. The clothes were speedily sent home, and the cats wore them forthe rest of their lives."

  "That doesn't prove much for you," remarked Mrs. Belcher, archly.

  "It only shows there are some foolish cats as well as some foolish men.But whatever we may think on the subject, the king of Guinea, oncethought a cat so valuable that he gladly gave a man his weight in goldif he would procure him one, and with it an ointment to kill flies.

  "A Portuguese, named Alphonse, was the happy individual; and he so wellimproved the money he made by the trade, that after fifteen years oftraffic, he returned to Portugal, and became the third man in rank andwealth in the kingdom. All that for the despised cat."

  "O, I don't despise them in their place!" urged the lady. "They are goodto keep the cellar and out buildings free from those troublesomeanimals, rats and mice. But I never could make a pet of a cat."

  "Nor eat one, I suppose," he added, roguishly.

  "No, indeed," with an expression of contempt.

  "They are thought by some to make a delicious meal," he went on withmock gravity. "A fricassee, for instance. Here is a recipe for thecooking:--

  "Skin the cat thoroughly, cut it in pieces, and soak twenty-four hoursin vinegar; then anoint it with garlic and honey, after which it isfried like a young chicken."

  "Horrible!" exclaimed Mrs. Belcher; while Mrs. Lee confessed, much asshe esteemed cats, she could not relish such a meal.

  "Is it possible they are ever used for such a purpose?" she inquiredpresently.

  "Certainly, my dear; among the negroes they are considered a greatdainty, and Goethe, in his 'Rifleman's Comrade,' said the soldiers atPalmero ate them with a relish."