292 The Book of Cats. 



Once more to see my home and mistress dear, 

 And purr these grateful accents in her ear. 

 ' Thy faithful Cat, thy poor departed slave, 

 Still loves her mistress e'en beyond the grave.' " 



Stray Cats, I am afraid, have a bad time of it 

 before they find a new home. Cats were recently 

 said to be in great demand at Lucerne, in Switzer- 

 land, and to be selling at a high price, in conse- 

 quence of a malady which had greatly thinned 

 their numbers. According to the account in the 

 newspaper, the head of the animal swelled rapidly; 

 the Cat refused all nourishment, and very soon 

 dropped down dead. 



It is true, that in some quarters of the globe, the 

 feline race is still held of some value. Vide Lady 

 Duff Gordon's Article in MacmillarC s Magazine, 

 which gives us a glimpse of a strange superstition 

 in Thebes. She says : — 



" Do you remember the German story of the lad 

 who travelled * um das gruseln zu lernen ' (to learn 

 how to tremble) } Well, I who never * gruselte ' 

 (quaked) before, had a touch of it a few mornings 

 ago. I was sitting here quietly drinking tea, and 

 four or five men were present, when a Cat came to 

 the door. I called ' bis ! bis ! ' and offered milk ; 

 but puss, after looking at us, ran away. 



