UNiVE 



OF 



GGESTIONS TO TEACHERS 29 



the closet. I was about to step in myself and see what had 

 become of the mouse, when I heard the cat spring. A brief 

 rustle followed and I heard a peculiar squeak, which I recog- 

 nized as the cry of the mouse. I knew then that the mouse 

 was caught. I sprang forward and saw it held firmly in the 

 claws of the cat. The mouse struggled hard to get away, 

 but kitty's claws seemed much longer than I had ever noticed 

 before and she held the mouse very firmly. Tabby did not 

 keep her prisoner suffering very long, however, for she opened 

 her mouth very wide and took the mouse between her teeth 

 - what kind of teeth has a cat ? 



Pupil. Sharp, pointed teeth. 



Teacher. And she gave the poor mouse such a squeeze 

 that its struggles soon ceased. She did not eat her well- 

 earned supper, but started downstairs calling loudly to her 

 kittens. What kind of noise does a cat make calling for her 

 kittens ? 



Pupil. Mew ! ^ Mew ! Mew ! 



Teacher. I followed her downstairs to see what she 

 would do with it. When she reached the kitchen, she met 

 a great danger. Some one had let in old Shep, our dog, and 

 he came toward the cat, wondering what she had. 



How do cats look and what do they do when they are very 

 much frightened, but want to defend their young ? 



Pupil. 'They ruffle up the hair on their backs and tails 

 and make a loud, hissing noise. They will often scratch 

 and bite, too. 



(Let pupils imitate the noise of the cat.) 



Teacher. Well, one scratch on Shep's nose with pussy's 

 long, sharp claws was enough to make him run away, and 

 Tabby went to where her five kittens were in an old basket. 

 She laid the mouse down in the midst of them and mewed 



