MY FRIEND AND HIS CAT. 175 



With an almost childish eagerness, he communicated the glad 

 tidings to the household ; and being desirous of observing " her 

 utmost stretch of intellect," as he termed it, he requested that a 

 small portion of milk might be brought, and set before the cat; 

 while he placed himself in his chair to watch her proceedings. 

 The milk was not at the moment agreeably palatable. In about 

 a quarter of an hour pussy arose, and weakly drawing her body 

 by her master's legs, surveyed the parlour, smelled at the cup- 

 board doors — entered the kitchen adjoining, and then made the 

 circuit of the stairs — returning, she approached her master, and 

 lapped up the milk. 



My friend, like his cat, felt once more " at home," and being 

 satisfied that this remarkable change was occasioned by the 

 unsolicited visit of the stranger, he gave explicit directions, that 

 if it again appeared, an inquiry should be instituted among his 

 neighbours, as to owner aiiip, and if not claimed, it should be 

 given away ; but on no account allowed to remain a guest in his 

 house. His own tabby had now become doubly interesting. 

 For the first time he noticed her extraordinary physical proportions 

 — discovered that she was remarkably small for her age — her ears 

 were more round — her stripes more regular — her colors bolder — 

 and her sagacity far surpassing that of any other of her species. 

 From a man of feeling he became a man of scientific observation ; 

 and if truth could decide, valued his tabby even more than the 

 celebrated Whittington did the cat of his fortune ^nd civic conse- 

 quence. 



Not many hours, however, after my friend had expressed his 

 pleasure to the maid, the little cat re-appeared. It entered, as 

 was supposed, through the passage, the door of which was then 

 open; and a collar of red ribband around its neck, removed all 

 fear of destitution. It pursued its course to the fire place, unob- 

 served by the slumbering tabby ; but the moment it approached, 

 so near as to touch her. Tabby gave a sudden spring, and, soft- 

 ening by degrees her erect fur, walked slowly off, and left the 

 stranger in undisputed possession of the fire place. This occurred 

 on Saturday, which, being a day of bustle to the maid, and busi- 

 ness to the master, no farther notice was taken of the cats, 

 beyond a ready compliance with instructions, which gave young 

 pussy to the street, and the passage door power of opposing 

 renewed intrusion. The Sunday was a day of absence. On 

 Monday, at dinner time. Tabby was inquired for, but none of the 

 parlour guests had seen her. In the evening the inquiry was 



