200 THE IDYL OF AN EMPTY LOT. 



strated in their treatment of the abused race 

 how much more brutal than a brute the human 

 animal can be. Cats show their intelligence by 

 being wary of mankind. 



When October at last stripped the woods of 

 their summer glory, and the weather was no 

 longer warm, the heat-loving creatures deserted 

 the empty lot, except the silver tabby, who often 

 came out and sauntered through its lonely paths, 

 smelling of the weeds here and there, seating 

 himself in a bower that was still green, rubbing 

 his face against something he found there, and 

 evidently enjoying sufficient society in his own 

 thoughts, for to him plainly it was still 



" A woodland enchanted.' ' 



Then came a week of unwonted glory, of dis- 

 tinguished visitors. All the summer birds had 

 hovered over it ; toward evening the night hawk 

 circled high in air above it, uttering his wild, 

 quaint cry, collecting food for his little family, 

 no doubt safely reposing on some gravel roof 

 near by. 



And there were always the city sparrows. 

 They had taken possession of a vine, which, 

 clambering up the back of one of the houses 

 bordering the lot, had burst into sudden luxuri- 

 ance when it found itself without further support 

 at the eaves, spreading out each side, and cling- 

 ing for dear life to the roof, making a delightful 



