THE RED COW 



returning to power. And now it is my privilege to 

 record a great event. New Year's Day there was 

 great news. The children learned with pride and 

 delight that their favourite cat had been honoured 

 with a title. Instantly there was wild excitement. 

 The distinguished cat was called by his familiar 

 name, and finally was found in a shed, where he was 

 trying to think up some scheme for commandeering 

 a quarter of beef that hung beyond his reach. He 

 was hurried into the house for the ceremony of 

 dubbing, and while the preparations were being 

 made he purred as contentedly as if he knew just 

 what was happening. I was really surprised to see 

 how well the children understood what to do. While 

 one held him in a respectful attitude in front of a 

 Morris chair another got the carving knife and 

 prepared to administer the accolade. There was 

 only a moment's pause while they asked me to indi- 

 cate the exact spot on his neck that should be 

 smitten by the ennobling sword. Then they com- 

 pleted the ceremony with 



"a ribband to stick in his coat." 



As cats are by nature the most aristocratic of 

 animals, this one took his new honours with the 



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