_Seeing her ultimate resolution was to keep me short of Victuals; I resolved to try some means whereby I might feed without her knowledge. Fortune favoured me so much, that one afternoon going up into her Chamber, wherein stood a great Chest she usually laid up her provision in, I saw the Key in it, which she by forgetfulness had left behind: I presently stept to it, and opening the Lid, found there a Turkey Pie, which I made so bold with, that I took as much as would have served me three dayes, if I had eaten nothing else, and that continually. I got me down the stairs with all possible speed, to prevent discovery, and secure my Provant; I soon found a place for that purpose, and having hid it, I began to consider what I had done, and that my Aunt would soon know, who it was that frighted her Turkey away, none else but me daring to be so bold; while I was deeply musing with myself, our Cat came purring by me, as if she had been sent by my good Angel, to be the Sacrifice that should free me from that punishment that would inevitably attend this Crime; so taking her up in my arms, I ran up into the Chamber, and having claw’d with my Nails the flesh, and the Crust sufficiently, I committed poor Puss to answer for what I had done. My Aunt a while after missing her Key, went hastily to her Chamber, and seeing it in the Chest, condemned her own carelesness, and looking thereinto to see whether all was well, the Cat bounc’d out into her face; the suddain surprizal made her make a noise more discordant, than if twenty Screetch-Owls had been in Consort. Being alarm’d at this bellow, I was the first that got to my Aunt, and very inquisitive I was of her to know, what was the matter._ Oh! _said she_ a scurvy Cat, I negligently shut in the Chest, hath almost frighted me out of my wits, besides what other mischief she hath done me. _But when she came to see what work supposedly the Cat had done, I was in good hopes that my Aunt would have taken a lodging in_ Bedlam. * * * * *