XXII 



THE COMMON PUSSY 



THE beautiful and costly pets of the long- 

 haired varieties are, in our country, beyond 

 the reach of the majority of persons ; but the 

 common pussy, the friendly little creature, all 

 mews and purrs and wriggles of affection, is 

 accessible to every one, and should have an 

 honored and protected place at every fireside. 

 And this for several reasons. He is a pleas- 

 ing object to look at, and we cannot have too 

 much beauty about us; he is indispensable to 

 protect us from rats and mice ; and, more im- 

 portant than all, he is the most available sub- 

 ject on which to train children in humanity, 

 justice, and unselfishness. 



Moreover, Nature has not bestowed her 

 choicest gifts upon the long-haired gentry of 

 the feline race. For the less pretentious short- 

 haired, she has reserved intellect, wisdom, and 

 affection. The Angora and the Persian are 



