University of Virginia Library

Cat and Kittens.

Aunt Mary's cat, three snowy kittens had,
Playful, and fat, and gay. And she would sport,
And let them climb upon her back, and spread
Her paws to fondle them,—and when she saw
Her mistress come that way, would proudly show
Her darlings, purring with intense delight.
—But one was missing, and grimalkin ran
Distracted, searching with a mother's haste
Parlor and garret, sofa, box and bed,
Calling her baby with a mournful cry,
And questioning each creature that she met,
In her cat-language, eloquently shrill.
And then she left the house. Two hours past by,—
When bringing her lost treasure in her mouth,
She came exulting. While her mewing train
Join'd in loud welcome, she with raptured zeal
Wash'd and re-wash'd their velvet face and paws.
—It had been given to a kind lady's care,
By my Aunt Mary, out of pure good will
To pussy, fearing she might be fatigued
By too much care and nursing. But she sought
From house to house, among the neighbors all
Until she found, and numbered it again
With her heart's jewels.
One full month she fed
And nurtur'd it. Then by the neck she took
The same young kitten, and conveyed it back
To the same house,—and laid it in the lap
Of the same good old lady, as she sat
Knitting upon the sofa. Much surpris'd
She rais'd her spectacles to view the cat,
Who with a most insinuating tone,
Fawning and rubbing round her slipper'd foot
Bespoke her favoring notice.
This is true,
Aunt Mary told me so.
Did pussy think
Her child too young for service?—and when grown
To greater vigor, did she mean to shew
Full approbation of her mistress' choice,
By passing many a nearer house, to find
The lady that its first indentures held?
—This looks like reason,—and they say that brutes
Are only led by instinct. Yet 'tis hard
Sometimes to draw the line, where one begins,
And where the other ceases.
But I know
That kindness to domestic animals
Improves their nature,—and 'tis very wrong
To take away their comforts, and be cross
And cruel to them. The kind-hearted child
Who makes them humble friends, will surely find
A pleasure in such goodness, and obey
The Book of Wisdom in its law of love.