Concerning Kittens 



selves for six months or so, are extremely difficult 

 to tame, and will never submit to being handled 

 like those who have been trained from earliest in- 

 fancy. 



A writer in the London Spectator relates an instance 

 where an old cat assisted in this training process : 

 " There was an old cat, in one house I lived in, who 

 had a numerous progeny. She was treated with the 

 greatest respect by all the younger cats. She would 

 punish them if they misbehaved (by scratching their 

 faces), and they never retaliated. On the other hand, 

 ' Grannie,' for that was her name, was kindness itself 

 to all as long as they were dutiful, especially toward 

 the kittens. She was a real good old ' Grannie ' to 

 them. 



" Now, there was one kitten which was very timid. 

 Whenever I went into the yard where they were 

 kept, this one would run away in great alarm ; when- 

 ever he did so, ' Grannie ' would trot after him, and 

 evidently try to induce the foolish little thing to 

 return. I fancied hearing her say to this great- 

 great-great-granddaughter of hers : ' Come, don't be 

 stupid; that is a very kind gentleman. He won't 

 hurt you.' 



" ' Grannie ' at last succeeded in putting some con- 

 fidence in the timid breast of this weakling. One 

 day she came in and spoke to me, and then moved 

 off. I followed; there was the kitten lying on a 

 bench in the garden, trembling violently. ' Grannie ' 



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