Mouser Cats Story | Page 2

to go and see her cousin in the city, so she put on
her bonnet and shawl, wrapped some fried fish in a paper, and started.
"When she got there her cousin saw the fish, and it made her ashamed
because she hadn't anything in the house to offer the visitor, so she
asked, turning up her nose considerably:

"Do you cats in the country eat fish?' and Mrs. Pussy replied:
"Why, yes, of course we do; don't you?"
"Certainly not; it is thought to be a sign of ill-breeding to eat such
vulgar food,' and then remembering that she could not offer her cousin
the least little thing, she said, never stopping to think very much about
it. We eat mice here. They are delicious; you would be surprised to
know what a delicate flavor they have."
That surprised the country cousin, and nothing would do but that she
must go right out hunting for mice. Of course some one had to go with
her, and then it was that the city cat found she hadn't made any such a
very great mistake after all, for mice or rats, take them any way you
please, cooked or raw, are very nice indeed.

THE KITTY WHICH THE SNOW BROUGHT.
"Do you think that is a true story?" your Aunt Amy asked, and Mrs.
Mouser replied:
"I can't really say; but I think it is as true as that the snow brought a
white cat to Dolly Man." Your Aunt Amy knew Miss Dolly's kitten
very well; but she had never heard any such thing as Mrs. Mouser
intimated, therefore, as a matter of course, she was curious regarding
the affair, and asked that it be explained to her.
"I was in the house when this happened, so there is no mistake about
the story part of it," Mrs. Mouser began. "It was snowing one day, and
Dolly, standing by the window, said to her mother that she wished the
snow-flakes would turn into a pretty, little, white kitten, so she could
have something to play with. She hadn't hardly more than spoken,
when they heard a cat calling from out of doors, and Dolly ran into the
hallway, believing the snow-flakes had really turned into a pet for her.
Now it is kind of odd, but true just the same, that when she opened the
door there stood a white kitten, the same one we call Kitty Snow.
"She was the forlornest little stray kitten you could ever imagine, and
as white then as she is now, from her nose to the tip of her tail, but so
nearly frozen when Dolly took her in, that they had to wrap her in a
blanket, and keep her near the fire two or three hours before she thawed
out."
"I believe that you and Kitty Snow are not very good friends," your
Aunt Amy said.

[Illustration: Dolly and Kitty Snow.]
"Well, I can't say that we are," Mrs. Mouser replied thoughtfully. "That
white cat has been petted so much that she really isn't of any very great
service about the house. I don't believe she has caught a mouse in six
months, and yet I heard her tell Mr. Towser Dog no longer ago than
yesterday, that she was of more value around this farm than I. Just
think of it! And it has been proven that I have a good deal more sense
than Mr. Fox, cunning as he thinks he is."

WHEN MR. FOX WAS FOOLISH.
As a matter of course, your Aunt Amy asked her what she meant, and
Mrs. Mouser sat down at one side of the fireplace, as if making ready
for an afternoon of story-telling.
[Illustration: Mrs. Mouser Flatters Mr. Fox.]
"It was like this;" she said. "I was down in the meadow looking for
field mice one day, and met Mr. Fox. You know some animals think
that he and I are relations; but whether we are or not, we have always
been good friends. So he sat down for a chat, and we talked of first this
thing and then that, until finally I said, just to make myself agreeable:
"'Do you know, Mr. Fox, I think you are very smart.'
"Well now, would you believe it, that puffed him way up with pride,
and he said, grinning in a way that was enough to make any cat laugh:
"'Indeed I am, Mrs. Mouser. There isn't an animal around here who can
hold a candle to me for smartness.'
"'What about the dogs?' I asked, thinking to joke him a little, and he
turned up his nose as he said:
"'I don't give a snap of my claws for all the dogs there are around this
place! Even if four or five of