CAT AND DOG
The little boy was playing in the court with the moujik's dog that
helped to guard the sheep. It was a clear, cold day, but the little
boy was not cold, for he had on his warm quilted kaftan, or blouse,
his cap, which he called his chapka, on his head, and on his feet
were sandals made of the tough bark of the linden-tree. He was not
going to risk frozen toes another time!
The sheep-dog was old and rather cross, but he was always kind to the
little boy. But when the house-cat followed the cow-herd woman out of
the house, where she had gone to carry some milk, the dog bristled up
and growled. The cat spat at him, and this was too much. He sprang
at her, but kitty was too quick for him. She flew across the court
and scrambled nimbly up to the shed roof by one of the supporting
poles. The dog was too old and heavy to follow her, and he sat on his
haunches in the court below, bristling and snarling, the cat spitting
back at him and evidently enjoying the fun. The cow-herd woman and
a moujik who was at work in the court were laughing heartily; the
little boy's brother, who was cutting wood in the shed, came out to
see what it was all about. The little boy was highly excited, and he
ran to call his grandmother to come and see.
But by the time the grandmother had risen slowly from her chair--for
her rheumatism was bad that day--and had gone to the door, leaning on
her stick, the fun was all over. The cat had gone around to another
side of the shed, and lay basking in the sun, out of the dog's sight;
the moujik, the cow-herd woman, and the little boy's brother had gone
back to their work. Only the dog remained, looking up at the deserted
roof and growling at nothing.
The little boy went with his grandmother into the house.
"Grandmamma," he asked, "why does the dog always quarrel with the cat?"
"My great-grandmother told me why," replied the grandmother. "I will
tell you that story now, if you like."
"Oh, do, do!" cried the little boy.
"It is the story," said the grandmother, "of
"WHY THE DOG CANNOT ENDURE THE CAT, NOR THE CAT THE MOUSE"
In olden times, as my great-grandmother told me, dogs enjoyed great
freedom, and among other privileges they had a right to all the meat
that fell from the table. To guard this right for all time they drew
up a manifesto, and copied it upon parchment. In this manifesto this
right was expressly made known. For a long time the King of the Dogs
had charge of this document, but finally he confided it to the care
of his private secretary, the Tomcat. And the Tomcat carried the
proclamation up into the garret and hid it behind a beam where no
one could possibly find it.
Now it happened that behind the beam dwelt a young Mouse, and on
one of his walks he stumbled upon the roll. He tried to drag it from
its hiding-place, but the stiff parchment stuck fast, and he could
not pull it out. But it was quite within reach of his little teeth,
and the Mouse was highly delighted with his lucky find, for now he had
something to nibble upon. Day by day he paid a visit to the parchment
and whetted his teeth upon it.
Now it presently happened that one day a Dog picked up a piece of
meat and was caught and his paw well rubbed with hot ashes. Weeping,
he appeared before the King and told him the whole story.
Then the King immediately summoned his private secretary, the Tomcat,
and commanded him to show the proclamation. The Tomcat hastened to
bring the parchment without delay; but, to his misfortune, what did
he find? Only a few fragments!
It was at once clear to him that this was the deed of some little
Mouse. He told the story to all the other Cats, who, to express
their grief and sorrow, began to mew most piteously. When they had
sufficiently expressed their feelings they declared war against
all Mice.
After this the Tomcat made his report to the King of the Dogs, and
the King immediately summoned the Dog-zemstvo. The Dogs came together
from all parts--sheep-dogs, wolf-dogs, boar-hounds, house-dogs; and
to them all the King gave command that from thenceforth and forever
they should treat the Cat as the common enemy. Thus all cats would
be made to rue that Tomcat's carelessness.
And that is the end of the story.
"Now I understand all about it," said the little boy.