140 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



all the temerity of ignorance, " not in anger, but in 

 the way of philosophic inquiry and examination." 



" As curious as the kittens erst had been, 

 To learn what this phenomenon might mean." 



Cowper, who always made a point of looking at 

 things before he described them, which habit en- 

 abled him to convince eighteenth century readers 

 that there was such a thing as Nature, watched the 

 three kittens gathered close around the viper, re- 

 garding him with polite attention, and speculating 

 innocently on his possibilities as a playmate. 



" Forth from his head his forked tongue he throws, 

 Darting it full against a kitten's nose ; 

 Who, never having seen in field or house 

 The like, sat still and silent as a mouse ; 

 Only projecting, with attention due, 

 Her whiskered face, she asked him, ' Who are you ? ' " 



He also watched on more than one occasion their 

 sedate and serious parent, the " Retired Cat," who 

 loved, like himself, a quiet corner in which to sit 

 and think. 



" I know not where she caught the trick, — 

 Nature perhaps herself had cast her 

 In such a mould philosophiqne, 

 Or else she learned it of her Master. 

 Sometimes ascending, debonnaire, 

 An apple-tree, or lofty pear, 

 Lodged with convenience in the fork, 

 She watched the gardener at his work ; 

 Sometimes her ease and solace sought 



