CHAPTER II 



CONCERNING MY OTHER CATS 



"/^H, what a lovely cat! " is a frequent expression 

 V^ from visitors or passers-by at our house. And 

 from the Pretty Lady down through her various sons 

 and daughters to the present family protector and 

 head, "Thomas Erastus," and the Angora, "Lady 

 Betty," there have been some beautiful creatures. 



Mr. McGinty was a solid-color maltese, with fur 

 like a seal for closeness and softness, and with the 

 disposition of an angel. He used to be seized with 

 sudden spasms of affection and run from one to 

 another of the family, rubbing his soft cheeks against 

 ours, and kissing us repeatedly. This he did by 

 taking gentle little affectionate nips with his teeth. 

 I used to give him a certain caress, which he took 

 as an expression of affection. After leaving him at 

 the farm I did not see him again for two years. Then 

 on a short visit, I asked for Mr. McGinty and was 

 told that he was in a shed chamber. I found him 

 asleep in a box of grain and took him out ; he looked 

 at me through sleepy eyes, turned himself over and 

 stretched up for the old caress. As nobody ever 

 gave him that but me, I take this as conclusive proof 



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