Concerning Cats in England 



at least plenty to eat, and, although the " authentic 

 reports " use a great many words to tell us so, the 

 boy was homesick. Just then the sound of Bow Bells 

 reached him, and to his youthful fancy seemed to call 

 him back : — 



" Return, return, Whittington ; 

 Thrice Lord Mayor of London." 



Thus the old tale hath it. At any rate, the boy 

 gave up the idea of flight and went back to Mr. Fitz- 

 warren's house. The second night after, his master 

 sent for him in the midst of one of the cook's tirades, 

 and going to the "parlour" he was apprised of his 

 sudden wealth ; because, added to the rest of his good 

 luck, that captain happened to be an honest man. 

 And then he went into trade and married the daugh- 

 ter of Mr. Fitzwarren and became Lord Mayor of 

 London, and lived even happier ever after than they 

 do in most fairy tales. And everybody, even the 

 cook, admired and loved him after he had money and 

 position, as has been known to happen outside of fairy 

 tales. 



Whether or not cats in England owe anything of 

 their position to-day to the Whittington story, it is 

 certain that they have more really appreciating friends 

 there than in any other country. The older we grow 

 in the refinements of civilization, the more we value 

 the finely bred cat. In England it has long been the 

 custom to register the pedigree of cats as carefully as 



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