152 
Pussy Meow 
found in my experience with animals that it will 
forge a chain far stronger than iron.” 
The lady said she would speak to her husband, 
and I am sure she has, for after that Nap had his 
meals more regularly, and he was free to roam 
where he pleased; and he proved himself very 
useful to the old hens in helping to keep strange 
cats out of the yard, while their chicks were small. 
One Sunday morning when mistress was out 
in the yard with us, Nap came over to our fence 
barking for joy, and peeping in at us between the 
pickets. He seemed so happy to be at liberty. 
Mistress had brought a lunch out for us, and she 
offered him some of the meat, which he devoured 
greedily. I was glad to share my breakfast with 
him, for having known Dennis so long, I cannot 
help feeling very friendly toward all dogs. 
But Budge and Toddy evidently did not care to 
share their meat with Nap, so they did what cats 
often do when they meet with an unpleasant sur- 
prise ; they sang a song. Budge’s voice is a bari- 
tone, Toddy’s a tenor and mine a soprano. But I 
did not join them on this occasion. 
I suppose you have often listened to cat concerts, 
and perhaps you have wondered why cats’ music is 
