260 HOME AND GARDEN 



habit was so unusually marked that I thought I 

 would call him after some little fish, hence his 

 name of Tittlebat. 



Patty is the latest importation from the outer 

 world. She is a small cat and I fear will never 

 be much bigger, for she had her first kittens when 

 she was not much more than half grown. I always 

 like, if possible, to bring up my own pussies from 

 smallest babyhood ; but to my sincere grief I lost 

 my dear mother-pussy, Toozle, from an internal 

 disorder that the doctor told me could not have 

 been cured. And as I always like to have the 

 pleasure of bringing up a succession of kittens, I 

 cast about for one to replace her as the mother 

 of future broods, and found little Patty close at 

 hand. She attracted me by being the tabby and 

 white pattern that I like best, and by her beautiful 

 great aqua-marine eyes and her pretty way of mov- 

 ing. When she first came she was rather inclined 

 to bite and scratch, and though still sometimes a 

 little wild, by much gentle handling and good treat- 

 ment she has greatly improved, and I hope will 

 soon be nearly as tractable as one of genuine home 

 growth. 



Her little boy Tommy is my latest pet, and 

 promises to be a handsome and charming addition 

 to our pussy-folk. He is with me in the morning 

 when I open my letters, and is the one who has most 

 appreciation of the many trade circulars brought by 



