The cat that works hard dies of
starvation, the cat that has brains is kicked downstairs for a fool, and
the cat that has virtue is drowned for a scamp; but the cat that has
cheek sleeps on a velvet cushion and dines on cream and horseflesh. I
marched straight in and rubbed myself against the old man's legs. He and
his wife were quite taken with what they called my "trustfulness," and
adopted me with enthusiasm. Strolling about the fields of an evening I
often used to hear the children of the cottage calling my name. It was
weeks before they gave up seeking for me. One of them, the youngest,
would sob herself to sleep of a night, thinking that I was dead: they
were affectionate children.
"'I boarded with my shopkeeping friends for nearly a year, and from them
I went to some new people who had lately come to the neighbourhood, and
who possessed a really excellent cook. I think I could have been very
satisfied with these people, but, unfortunately, they came down in the
world, and had to give up the big house and the cook, and take a cottage,
and I did not care to go back to that sort of life.
"'Accordingly I looked about for a fresh opening. There was a curious
old fellow who lived not far off. People said he was rich, but nobody
liked him. He was shaped differently from other men.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147