Stories of Animal Sagacity | Page 9

would thus gain the
victory; still more when he struck his sharp beak into one of Pussy's
eyes, while he tore her ears into shreds with his talons. At length,
however, she managed what had been from the first her aim--to break
one of her adversary's wings. She now sprang on him with renewed
fury, and seizing him by the neck, quickly tore off his head. This done,
regardless of her own sufferings, she began to lick the bleeding wounds
of her kitten, and then, calling to its brothers and sisters, she carried it
back to their secure home.
You will find many hawks with which you must do battle. The fiercest

and most dangerous are those you must encounter every day. Huge
dark-winged birds of prey--passionate temper, hatred, discontent,
jealousy;--an ugly list, I will not go on with it. Fight against them as
bravely as Pussy fought with the hawk which tried to carry off her
kitten.
THE BENEVOLENT CAT.
That we must attribute to cats the estimable virtue of benevolence, Mrs
F--gives me two anecdotes to prove.
A lady in the south of Ireland having lost a pet cat, and searched for it
in vain, after four days was delighted to hear that it had returned.
Hastening to welcome the truant with a wassail-bowl of warm milk in
the kitchen, she observed another cat skulking with the timidity of an
uninvited guest in an obscure corner. The pet cat received the caresses
of its mistress with its usual pleasure, but, though it circled round the
bowl of milk with grateful purrings, it declined to drink, going up to the
stranger instead, whom, with varied mewings, "like man's own speech,"
it prevailed on to quit the shadowy background and approach the
tempting food. At length both came up to the bowl, when the thirsty
stranger feasted to its full satisfaction, while the cat of the house stood
by in evident satisfaction watching its guest; and not until it would take
no more could the host be persuaded to wet its whiskers in the tempting
beverage.
Ever think of others before yourself. Attend first to their wants. Do not
be outdone in true courtesy by a cat.
THE CAT AND HER MANY GUESTS.
Mrs F--vouches for the following account, showing the hospitable
disposition of cats. It was given to her by a clergyman, who had it
direct from a friend.
A gentleman in Australia had a pet cat to which he daily gave a plate of
viands with his own hands. The allowance was liberal, and there was
always a remainder; but after some time the gentleman perceived that

another cat came to share the repast. Finding that this occurred for
several consecutive days, he increased the allowance. It was then found
to be too much for two; there was again a residue for several days,
when a third cat was brought in to share the feast. Amused at this
proceeding, the gentleman now began to experiment, and again
increased the daily dole of food. A fourth guest now appeared; and he
continued adding gradually to the allowance of viands, and found that
the number of feline guests also progressively increased, until about
thirty were assembled; after which no further additions took place, so
that he concluded that all those who lived within visiting distance were
included: indeed, the wonder was that so many could assemble, as the
district he lived in was far from populous.
The stranger cats always decorously departed after dinner was over,
leaving their hospitable entertainer, no doubt, with such grateful
demonstrations as might be dictated by the feline code of etiquette.
Ask yourselves if you are always as anxious as was the Australian cat
to invite your companions to enjoy with you the good things you have
given you by kind friends. Ah! what an important lesson we may learn
from this anecdote: always to think of others before ourselves. When
young friends visit you, do you try your utmost to entertain them,
thinking of their comfort before your own? Such is the lesson taught us
by this cat, which gathered others of her kind to share the bounties
provided by her kind master.
THE DISHONEST CAT.
I am sorry to say that cats are not always so amiable as those I have
described, but will occasionally play all sorts of tricks, like some
dishonest boys and girls, to obtain what they want.
An Angora cat, which lived in a large establishment in France, had
discovered that when a certain bell rang the cook always left the
kitchen. Numerous niceties were scattered about, some on the tables
and dressers, others before the fire. Pussy crept towards them, and
tasted them; they exactly suited her palate. When she heard the cook's
step returning, off she ran to a