Daisy: the autobiography of a catSwan, Miranda Eliot
General
Daisy: the autobiography of a cat
Swan, Miranda Eliot
Cats -- Fiction
This Sunday I would not look at my book. The boys tried to make me, but
were obliged to give it up. I behaved just like a bad boy, running after
imaginary balls, jumping over the hassock, sitting on the Bible, till at
last Will said: "I will call Aunt Milly. We shall never get our lesson
if she does not take Daisy away."
This did not please me. I just picked up my book, and when my mistress
came in I was sitting at my hassock, my claws clasped over my Bible
(though it was upside down), looking as innocent as possible.
All this naughtiness because I wanted to be a choir boy and walk in the
processional with the rest of the boys. I think it would have been
better if they had taken me to church.
One thing always gave me great pleasure: I never could tire of cat
stories. I think it may be a help to the understanding of cat nature if
I give the most interesting ones for people to read.
With the horrors of vivisection and other cruelties practised upon
animals, it is time for them to assert themselves. Even a cat's voice
may be heard. Children can be taught to respect the rights of animals if
their parents will interest themselves in their dumb servants.
My mistress met two very nice ladies one summer while in the country.
They were cat-lovers, and gave many nice anecdotes of cats they had
known. I will tell you one I particularly liked.
A friend of theirs had a great many cats, and as their number increased
she felt the necessity of giving up some of them. She found homes for
all but one; and one day, when her friends were visiting her, she asked
them if they would take the cat and drop her near some nice house, where
they had no doubt she would soon make a home. It was not a very pleasant
commission, but they could not very well refuse.
Pussy had evidently heard their conversation, for she tried to hide from
them. She was very quiet, never responding to their coaxing, covering
her face with her paws in great sorrow. They drove many miles into the
country before they could think of parting with her.
At last a large and finely situated farmhouse attracted them by its
homelike aspect. It was a low, rambling house painted red, and the barns
and outbuildings were in keeping. Everything looked inviting. The large
kitchen-garden at the back of the house seemed just the place for cats
to enjoy. An opening in the trees gave them a glimpse of a small stream
meandering through the country, reflecting the rustic scene in its clear
depth.
"Here," they said, "we will leave her. Surely no one in a place like
this could turn away from a poor cat."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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