THE CAT 



The Kitten 



A kitten is the joy of a household. All day 

 long this incomparable actor plays his little com- 

 edy, and those who search for perpetual motion 

 can do no better than watch his antics. His the- 

 atre is always open, any room suffices him for a 

 stage, and he has need of few accessories. A scrap 

 of paper, a bit of string, a spool, a pen, these 

 are enough to incite him to marvellous acrobatic 

 feats. " Everything that moves," says Moncrif , 

 " serves to interest and amuse a cat. He is con- 

 vinced that nature is busying herself with his di- 

 version; he can conceive of no other purpose in 

 the universe; and when we sport with him, and 

 make him leap and tumble, he probably takes us 

 for pantomimists and buffoons." 



Even when a kitten is quiet, he is the drollest 

 of creatures. What a spice of innocent malice in 

 his half -shut eyes! His head, heavy with sleep, 

 his outstretched paws, his air of ineffable languor, 

 all tell of comfort and content. A little drowsing 

 cat is an image of perfect beatitude. Look at his 

 ears. How big and comical they are. No sound, 

 however faint, escapes them. Look at his eyes 

 when he opens them wide. How quick and keen 

 their glance. Who is that knocking? Who is 



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