Daisy: the autobiography of a catSwan, Miranda Eliot
General
Daisy: the autobiography of a cat
Swan, Miranda Eliot
Cats -- Fiction
My mistress fell on her knees beside me, calling me all the pet names
she could think of, while Miss Eleanor said, "If ever a cat lived that
could equal Daisy, that cat I would like to see!"
I remained a long time in the same attitude, proud of my success. When
Miss Milly brought a little hand-glass for me to see myself, I did not
wonder they were delighted, and I wished they would let me pose for the
benefit of poor cats. I knew I could draw a crowd.
I never would pose for those I did not care for. I tore off the
handkerchief as soon as they put it on, and taking it by the lace edge,
I shut my teeth on it and dragged it under the bed. After this they only
asked me to pose for my friends. For them I was very willing to do my
best. I enjoyed being called a "darling" and a "love" by pretty girls,
just as any boy would enjoy it.
One friend of my mistress, a charming little woman and a real
philanthropist, was quite fond of me. She was the mother of my dear girl
friend, whom I introduced to you at my party. This good little woman was
a real friend to animals of all kinds, but she particularly loved cats.
She told us one day when she came to see us about the cruel people in
her neighborhood who went away in summer, leaving their cats to starve.
She said she had the past summer chloroformed eighteen cats in the last
stage of starvation and too far gone to save.
She had two lovely cats named Chico and Sancho. They had very beautiful
clear white fur and blue eyes. They were very bright, learning readily
many little tricks. They would turn a graceful somersault for their
food, and behaved at all times with great politeness.
Chico had trouble with his teeth, and Sancho was in great distress about
it. This sympathy was almost human. When he found he could do no good,
he retired in deep distress to the corner of the room, where he
preserved a grave silence. The family dentist soon made matters right by
extracting the troublesome teeth, making both cats very happy. No doubt
Chico disliked him just as children dislike those who operate upon them,
even though the kindness is evident.
Mrs. M. said, when she was telling my mistress about Chico, "Of course
you will have Daisy's teeth filled with gold when they decay?"
"Certainly," Miss Milly replied; "and I would hold him while it was
done."
For days after this I had no peace. Visions of doctors with horrid
instruments were ever before my eyes. I shut my mouth tight when any one
came in; and at the name of doctor I fled under the bed, where I
remained with fear and trembling, fearing my teeth were to be operated
upon. I could not clean and brush my teeth, but I got a bit of grass and
one of my catmint stalks, and sharpened my teeth on them, keeping them
as nice as possible, to preserve them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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