191 

 RAIS^DOM RECOLLECTIONS OF THE CAT. 



BY JOHN DIXON, ESQ. 

 "A catt may loke upon a kjnge." — Old Proverb. 

 The character of your "harmless, necessary Cat/'* has generally been so much 

 censured by the world at large, that it would seem almost dangerous to 

 hazard any remarks in opposition to the many charges preferred against it, 

 on the score of being a most cruel and malignant good-for-nothing, and totally 

 devoid of all that affection and sagacity which characterizes its common enemy 

 the dog: while we readily admit some portion of the latter to be true, there 

 may still be found good store of published anecdotes,f from which it may 

 be seen that "poor puss" is by no means devoid of a vast amount of affection, 

 attachment, courage, gentleness, patience, and a host of other amiabilities, 

 which the eye of prejudice has either disregarded or overlooked. But I feel 

 certain that if its habits were only made the subject of a little quiet observation, 

 there would be found many pleasing traits, which would go a great way to 

 counterbalance a few of those bad qualities from which the best of us are 

 never free. The disposition and temper of most animals is as varied as our 

 own, but certainly not quite so stubborn and unyielding; and if we would 

 only practice that very simple word — kindness — rather oftener, we might at 

 least eradicate many of our prejudices against the Cat, by finding that it, 

 like most other domesticated animals, can repay our attentions with both 

 affection and attachment, 



A country fireside seems almost imperfect without its dosing Cat and 

 chinking crickets, at least in my quaint old-fashioned way of thinking, and 

 the purring of some sage grimalkin is music to my ears, breathing of that 

 homely comfort which our favoured land can so well bestow. One little incident 

 connected with a long sojourn in a rural district has often struck me; it was 

 during an evening in December that somehow or other I had the whole house 

 to myself, and might, at that particular time, have been found in an uncommonly 

 quiescent mood, promoted no doubt by being so snugly ensconced within 

 the chimney corner, up which a lively fire was crackling and roaring in 

 very glee at the comfort it diffused around; at least it might have thought 

 so, for the night was just such a one as you would not turn a dog out in. 

 The rain was falling in torrents, and came pattering heavily against the 

 windows, while the old trees creaked and groaned in concert with a howling 

 northern blast. We can all appreciate the warm fireside on such a night, 

 and yet how few of us can ever give a thought to the hard world without, 

 with its houseless naked wretches, groaning beneath that load of misery which 

 too often death alone relieves. At such a time King Lear exclaims — 



"How shall your houseless heads, and unfed sides, 

 Your loop'd and window' d raggedness defend you 

 Fi-om seasons such as these? 0, I have ta'en 

 Too little care of this!" 

 * "Merchant of Venice." f "Chambers' Miscellaneous Tracts, First series." "Magazine of 

 Natural History, (Loudon's.") etc. 

 . VOL. IV. /^^'^^^- ■'^''''\ 2C 



