THE CAT 25S 



this to you: treat the cat well, and it will not be 

 wild; feed it, and it will not turn thief; show it a 

 little attention, and it will return the compliment. 

 But what a miserable fate it often has! It is al- 

 lowed to grow thin with hunger under the pretense 

 that then it will hunt rats better. If it comes into 

 the kitchen, mewing for something to eat, it is driven 

 out with a broom; if it ventures into the dining- 

 room to gather up the crumbs fallen from the table, 

 the dog, suspecting designs on the bone it holds be- 

 tween its paws, growls and makes a move to throttle 

 the invader. As a last resort the poor animal takes 

 to pilfering. Who would go so far as to call this a 

 crime? Certainly not Uncle Paul." 



"Nor I either," chimed in Jules; "for it must 

 eat." 



' i Buffon says the cat does not become attached to 

 its master, that it shows no signs of affection. I ap- 

 peal the case to your own memories of the matter. 

 When Minette, our gentle cat, installs herself with 

 loud purrings on Emile 's knees in the chimney- 

 corner and rubs her pretty red nose on his cheeks, 

 then on his forehead, and higher still until it makes 

 his cap fall off, are not those, I ask you, kisses and 

 caresses of the most affectionate sort? Emile is 

 transported with delight when his cap tumbles to 

 the floor under the poking of that delicate nose. He 

 puts it on again and the friendly rubbing begins 

 afresh." 



"Certainly," Emile assented, "the cat gives me 

 caress for caress. Her look is affectionate, not 



