The Book of Cats. 1 19 



body of a dried Cat was found behind them. The 

 unfortunate animal had been shut up by accident, 

 and starved to death, a prisoner, Hke the heroine 

 of the *' Oak Chest." 



Mrs. Loudon, in her book of Domestic Pets, tells 

 several amusing stories. Her mother, the writer 

 says, had a servant who disliked Cats very much, 

 and in particular a large black Cat, which she was 

 in the habit of beating, whenever she could do so 

 unobserved. The Cat disliked and feared the girl 

 exceedingly ; however, one day, when her enemy 

 was carrying some dishes down-stairs into the 

 kitchen, and had both her hands full, the Cat flew 

 at her and scratched her hands and face severely. 



A strange Cat had two kittens in a stable belong- 

 ing to the house, and one day, pitying its wretched 

 condition, Mrs. Loudon ordered her some milk. 

 A large Tom Cat, attached to the establishment, 

 watched the proceeding very attentively, and while 

 the Cat was lapping, went to the stable, brought 

 out one of the kittens in his mouth, and placed it 

 beside the saucer, and then fetched the other, look- 

 ing up into the lady's face, and mewing when he 

 had done so, as much as to say, " You have fed the 

 mother, so you may as well feed the children," 

 which was done ; and it should be added, for the 



