A GAT-ASTBOPHE. 



211 



you are well aware- Little Tray Dog had never seen a cat before, 

 as his parents did not approve of the family, and he had been 

 carefully kept from all low company. "What is that, papa?" he 

 asked, pointing to the cat. 



"That, my dear," said Mr. Dog, "is a cat, a very low kind of 

 animal. Shoo, cat! Go away!" 



"Yah!" said the cat, rising and fixing her green eyes on little 

 Tray, with a fiendish grin. "Ya-ou-ow! Ss-s-s-s-s! Hc-a-a-ah!" 



And instead of rubbing her nose on 

 the ground, to show her humble 

 respect for the great Dog 

 family, this impudent creat- 

 ure actually humped 

 her back, stuck out 



her tail, and showed every tooth in her head, in a way very alarm- 

 ing to the tender puppy. 



"Boo-hoo!" cried poor Tray, catching hold of his mother's dress 

 and trying to hide behind it. " O papa ! send it away ! I'm afraid 

 of it. Boo ! yow ! yap ! yap ! yap ! " 



"Beast!" said Mr. Dog, sternly. "How dare you grin at my 

 child? Be off this instant, or I shall " — 



"S-s-s-s-s! bah!" said the cat. "Be off yourself, old Yellow- 

 legs. Sidewalk aint yours! Mia-u-ow! F-f-f-f ! " 



This insolence was more than Mr. Dog could bear; besides, was 

 not his darling Tray shivering and squeaking with terror behind 

 the blue silk gown? "My dear," he said grandly, "protect our sweet 

 child for a moment, while I chastise this vile cat as she deserves. 

 In one instant I will be with you again." And, grasping his cane 

 firmly, Mr. Dog took a step towards the vagrant cat. 



