Daisy: the autobiography of a catSwan, Miranda Eliot
General
Daisy: the autobiography of a cat
Swan, Miranda Eliot
Cats -- Fiction
Aunt Martha allowed the man of all work to plant all that Jack brought
him, though she did not think it best for him to take the catmint from
Jack's garden.
Jett and Bimbo were very much interested. Bimbo eyed them in solemn
silence for a while, then he yelled, "Go ahead! Hurry up! hurry up!
She'll get you!" till it did seem as if that clever bird knew
everything.
Jett's help was rather doubtful, though her interest was not. She
followed Jack back and forth, and at every fresh root he would take up
she would turn a somersault in the hole, scratching the earth with all
her might; then she would rush back--a picture of yellow earth, black
fur, and catmint.
These were happy days, too soon followed by sorrowful ones. As summer
waned, and autumn advanced, the first frost cast a blight on the little
life so fondly cared for by her friends.
Jack's sorrow, when he was made to realize her danger, was pathetic. He
was now constantly with his little playfellow when she was able to see
him. It was a picture to see her propped up in bed, Jack sitting by the
side, in a little rocker, Joanna in her arms, or if too feeble to hold
her, lying by her side, while Jett was curled up at her feet.
Poor, sorrowful Aunt Martha hovered around her darling, ready to attend
to her slightest wish. Jett was devoted to her. In this case can be seen
what devoted creatures cats and dogs can be if they are made friends of.
They seem to realize the approach of that dread messenger, and to be
"faithful unto death."
Jett only left the sick child long enough to take a constitutional and
her meals. Then she would go back and mew piteously, if the door was
closed, to get in to her little mistress. If Hope was asleep, she would
jump up on the bed, stand and look at her a little while, perhaps lick
her hands, and then lie down where she could watch every movement. If
Joanna had fallen on the floor, she would pick her up with her teeth,
give her a real shake, as if to say, "What did you fall down for?" and
then, jumping up on the bed, deposit her in Hope's arms or by her side.
Never was there a case of greater devotion. She was always pleased to
see Jack. She would lick his face and sit in his arms, but on the least
movement of her little mistress back she would go and watch her with the
deepest affection.
The end came very suddenly. Just at the close of a lovely October day
sweet little Hope Farley fell asleep. She had seemed to know that the
end was near. She had spoken of her death to her Aunt Martha, saying, "I
am so tired, but I do not want to leave you and my dear ones."
She had made her auntie promise that Joanna should be dressed just as
they dressed her, and be buried in her arms, saying, "I shall not be so
lonesome with my dear dolly, and I know Jack and Jett will come and see
me often."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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