THE CAT 



there seating himself with his back turned scorn- 

 fully to an offending world. Even in his kindliest 

 corner, on such occasions, the expression of his 

 scornful back was as a whole volume of winged 

 words. 



But the rare little cat tantrums of the Shah de 

 Perse — if to his so gentle excesses may be applied 

 so strong a term — were but as sun-spots on the 

 effulgence of his otherwise constant amiability. 

 The regnant desires by which his worthy little life 

 was governed were to love and to please. He was 

 the most cuddlesome cat, Madame Jolicoeur un- 

 hesitatingly asserted, that ever had lived; and he 

 had a purr — softly thunderous and winningly af- 

 fectionate — that was in keeping with his cuddle- 

 some ways. When, of his own volition, he would 

 jump into her abundant lap, and go burrowing with 

 his soft little round head beneath her soft round 

 elbows, the while gurglingly purring forth his love 

 for her, Madame Jolicoeur, quite justifiably, at 

 times was moved to tears. Equally was his sweet 

 nature exhibited in his always eager willingness to 

 show off his little train of cat accomplishments. 

 He would give his paw with a courteous grace to 

 any lady or gentleman — he drew the caste line 

 rigidly — who asked for it. For his mistress, he 

 would spring to a considerable height, and clutch 

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