"I think, my dears, as Peter was born on a--" My mother's speech was interrupted by an exultant "Cock-a-doodle-do." "That horrid fowl again!" exclaimed my mother. The cock in question was the property of a neighbor, and was a most annoying bird. Even my kitten was disturbed by the defiant note. "_M-e-w?_" said he, in a meek interrogative, as much as to say, "What _is_ that dreadful noise?" "Cock-a-doodle-do," cried the bird again. "Mew," replied the kitten, this time with a note of anger in his voice. "COCK-A-DOODLE," screamed the bird, evidently in a violent temper. "Mew," said the kitten again, in a tone of remonstrance. The remaining syllable of his war-cry and the kitten's reply were cut short by my mother, who put her fingers to her ears, and said: "And the cock crowed thrice. My dears, I have it!" "What, mother?" "We'll call him PETER." cried the family. "Peter Gray?" "Peter Simple?" "Peter the Great?" "No," replied my mother, with a humorous twinkle, "Peter the Apostle," pointing to the Family Bible, which was always kept on a little occasional table in a corner of the sitting-room. "And let Peter be a living warning against fibbing, my dears, whether on a small scale or a large one." A bowl of water was then placed on the table and, having sprinkled a shower upon his devoted back, I as his proprietor, looking at him closely, cried: "Arise, Peter; obey thy master." In the middle of my exhortations, however, Cordelia jumped on the table, took little Peter by the scruff of his neck, and carried him back to the nursery. The day came when I put Peter into the pocket of my overcoat, and took him away to his new home. I had the greatest confidence in him, being a firm believer in the doctrine of heredity. His father I never knew, but his grandfather bore a great reputation for courage, as was indicated on his tombstone, the inscription on which ran as follows: Here lies LEAR. Aged about 8 years. A Tom Cat killed in single combat with Tom the Templar whilst defending his hearth and home. England expects every cat to do his duty.