Stories of Animal Sagacity | Page 4

no other hands than those of her mistress would she take
food, nor would she allow any one else to fondle her.

The lady kept a number of tame birds; but the cat, though she would
willingly have caught and eaten strange birds, never injured one of
them.
At last the lady fell ill, when nothing could induce the cat to leave her
chamber; and on her death, the attendants had to carry away the poor
animal by force. The next morning, however, she was found in the
room of death, creeping slowly about, and mewing piteously. After the
funeral, the faithful cat made her escape from the house, and was at
length discovered stretched out lifeless above the grave of her mistress,
having evidently died of a broken heart.
The instances I have given--and I might give many more--prove the
strong affection of which cats are capable, and show that they are well
deserving of kind treatment. When we see them catch birds and mice,
we must remember that it is their nature to do so, as in their wild state
they have no other means of obtaining food.
THE CAT AND THE CANARY.
Animals of a very different character often form curious friendships.
What do you think of the cat which of her own accord became the
protector of a pet canary, instead of eating it up?
The cat and the bird belonged to the mother-in-law of Mrs Lee, who
has given us many delightful anecdotes of animals. The canary was
allowed to fly about the room when the cat was shut out; but one day
their mistress, lifting her head from her work, saw that the cat had by
some means got in; and, to her amazement, there was the canary
perched fearlessly on the back of Pussy, who seemed highly pleased
with the confidence placed in her. By the silent language with which
animals communicate their ideas to each other, she had been able to
make the canary understand that she would not hurt it.
After this, the two were allowed to be constantly together, to their
mutual satisfaction. One morning, however, as they were in the
bed-room of their mistress, what was her dismay to see the trustworthy
cat, as she had supposed her, after uttering a feline growl, seize the

canary in her mouth, and leap with her into the bed. There she stood,
her tail stiffened out, her hair bristling, and her eyes glaring fiercely.
The fate of the poor canary appeared sealed; but just then the lady
caught sight of a strange cat creeping cautiously through the open
doorway. The intruder was quickly driven away, when faithful Puss
deposited her feathered friend on the bed, in no way injured--she
having thus seized it to save it from the fangs of the stranger.
Confidence begets confidence; but be very sure that the person on
whom you bestow yours is worthy of it. If not, you will not be as
fortunate as the canary was with its feline friend.
Your truest confidants, in most cases, are your own parents.
THE CAT AND THE FROG.
I have an instance of a still stranger friendship to mention. The servants
of a country-house--and I am sure that they were kind people-- had
enticed a frog from its hole by giving it food. As winter drew on,
Froggy every evening made its way to the kitchen hearth before a
blazing fire, which it found much more comfortable than its own dark
abode out in the yard. Another occupant of the hearth was a favourite
old cat, which at first, I daresay, looked down on the odd little creature
with some contempt, but was too well bred to disturb an invited guest.
At length, however, the two came to a mutual understanding; the kind
heart of Pussy warming towards poor chilly little Froggy, whom she
now invited to come and nestle under her cozy fur. From that time
forward, as soon as Froggy came out of its hole, it hopped fearlessly
towards the old cat, who constituted herself its protector, and would
allow no one to disturb it.
Imitate the kind cat, and be kind to the most humble, however odd their
looks. Sometimes at school and elsewhere you may find some
friendless little fellow. Prove his protector. Be not less benevolent than
a cat.
THE CAT AND HER DEAD KITTEN.

That cats expect those to whom they are attached to sympathise with
them in their sorrow, is shown by an affecting story told by Dr Good,
the author of the "Book of Nature."
He had a cat which used to sit at his elbow hour after hour while he was
writing, watching his hand moving over the paper. At length Pussy had
a kitten to take care of, when she became