The Book of Cats. 129 



work was done in rather a rough and knotty 

 manner. This battered and suffering Pussy was at 

 last assisted by a younger hero, which, profiting by 

 the teachings of his senior, managed to avoid the 

 scrapes which had tortured the one who was self- 

 educated. These two Cats, Junior and Senior, ap- 

 peared to swear (Cats will swear) eternal friendship 

 at first sight. An interchange of good offices was 

 at once established. Senior taught Junior to avoid 

 men's feet and wine cases in motion, and pointed 

 out the favourite hunting grounds, while Junior 

 offered to his Mentor the aid of his activity and 

 physical prowess. 



Senior had a cultivated and epicurean taste for 

 mice, though he was too old to catch them ; he 

 therefore entered into a solemn league and covenant 

 with the junior to this effect : — It was agreed be- 

 tween the two contracting powers, that Junior should 

 devote his energies to catching mice for the benefit 

 of Senior, who, in consideration of such service, was 

 to relinquish his claim to a certain daily allowance of 

 Cat's meat in favour of Junior. This courteous com- 

 pact was actually and seriously carried out. It was 

 an amusing and touching spectacle, to behold young 

 Pussy gravely laying at the feet of his elder the 

 contents of his game bag; on the other hand, Senior, 

 K 



