[_See Note D, Addenda._]
PUSSY "POLL."
The following sketch of cat-life is contributed by one who loves "all
things both great and small." We give it _in extenso_.
Even supposing it to be endowed with the nine lives ascribed to the race,
was it at all probable that I would be successful in rearing to mature
cathood that dripping little wretch?
Such was the question, which not without doubt, I asked myself while
attempting to dry a kitten, some two weeks old, which I had just saved
from death in a neighbouring horsepond. Arrived at home, I put in practice
as many of the Royal Humane Society's rules for the treatment of the
apparently drowned, as I found applicable to the case in hand, and soon
had the satisfaction of seeing my charge, comfortably sleeping in a bed
prepared in an old cap, by the fireside. Not less successful were my
efforts at nursing, and in a few weeks, Poll, for so I named my pet, had
grown to be the daintiest thing possible; the very impersonation of
mischief and fun, without thought or care, from morn till night, except
that of--
"Turning to mirth all things of earth,
As only kittens can."
Time passed on, however, and with years, or rather months, came troubles,
one of the first causes of which to puss was a mirror. To her it was a
mystery which cost many hours of deep thought and serious study; but never
could she understand why the cat which was always visible in front could
neither be seen, felt, nor heard, behind the glass.
Numerous experiments were made to solve the puzzle; but the most common
one was for Poll to seat herself in front of the mirror and critically
examine her _vis-à-vis_. The thing seeming so real, she next would give
the glass a pat with her paw, and run round to the back; but nothing being
found there, one paw was then put in front and the other kept behind. She
would then peep round into the glass, and still seeing puss there, would
renew her efforts to catch her. This was repeated almost daily for some
time; but at last puss seemed to have resolved that the mystery should
remain one no longer, so struck at her opponent with full force, and of
course seemed to receive a blow in return. In an instant Poll sprang to
her feet and assumed a position of defiance; but her foe, nothing loath
for the fray, was equally ready. A moment's pause, and puss hurled herself
on her foe. There was a crash. A cat rushed wildly out of the door, and I
proceeded to gather fragments of a mirror from off the floor.
At meal-times, puss regularly seated herself on my shoulder, and waited
patiently for what she considered her due proportion; but if I seemed to
neglect her, she gently reminded me of her presence by patting my cheek
with her paw. If that was not sufficient, the paw was pressed on my cheek,
the claws slowly protruded, and my face drawn round towards her. Success
invariably attended this manoeuvre; and after receiving her share, she
thanked me by rubbing her head against my cheek, and licking my face.
In due course a young family of kittens appeared; but of course they all,
save one, met the fate from which I had saved their mother. With the
family came family cares. Soon the kitten was old enough to begin to
receive its education, and then mice at any time, varied occasionally with
a rat or two were to be found lying about the floor. As the kitten got
older, and was able to be left for longer periods alone, Poll extended her
hunting excursions: one morning she brought home four or five young
partridges, and the following day one of the parent birds. The next great
hunt produced as many young rabbits, and although to such games I had no
great objection to offer; yet, when frogs, toads, or lizards were the
produce of a day's sport, as was sometimes the case, I did protest.
On one occasion, while the kitten was playing out of doors, it was pursued
by a dog belonging to a neighbour, but escaped through a hole in a wall
close by. Poll, who at some distance had seen the whole affair, at once
darted to her kitten's side, and did her best to quiet its fears, telling
it, doubtless, that she would take an early opportunity of teaching that
dog better manners. The opportunity was not long wanting. Next day the dog
again passing, was noticed by puss, who ran and hid behind a corner, near
which he would come, and there waited his approach. Just as he turned she
sprung on his head, and with teeth and claws took hold so firm that he in
vain endeavoured to shake her off. Going to his assistance, I with
considerable difficulty disengaged puss, but not before his head was badly
torn.
But although thus ready to do battle when occasion required, puss knew
also how to evade a foe when so inclined.
Always treating the game-laws with that respect of which they are worthy,
puss was of course never disturbed in her rambles by gamekeepers; and so
'twas quite an accident when, being in the middle of a field, she was
chased by a dog belonging to one. Possibly on that particular morning she
may have remembered that "discretion is the better part of valour;" and
so, when she saw the dog coming, she made for the cliffs, by which on one
side the field was bounded. But the dog was swift, and ere half the
distance was passed he was upon her. Just, however, as he was about to
seize her, she sprang on one side and stopped, the dog rushing forward
some half dozen yards. While he was stopping and turning, she darted past,
and thus continued to elude him till the cliffs were reached.
While Poll and I were taking a walk one evening, a curious incident
occurred. A rook flying overhead seemed struck with some peculiarity about
puss; for suddenly checking himself in his flight, he circled once or
twice round us both, and apparently satisfied with the survey, darted away
to the opposite side of the field, where a large flock of rooks were
feeding. He took not time to alight, but gave several peculiar caws, in a
tone which seemed to me expressive of great excitement. What his
communication was, I know not; but it seemed perfectly intelligible to the
other rooks, which instantly took wing, and, following him as their
leader, bore down on puss, who by this time had mounted on the top of a
fence, and was quietly taking a survey of the surrounding scenery. At
first I expected to see them attempt to carry her off bodily; but if such
was their intention, none of them had sufficient courage to begin the
attack. Sometimes, indeed, one bolder than the rest would make a near
approach; but, as on these occasions puss endeavoured to make a capture,
they preferred keeping at a safe distance. For fully five minutes they
thus continued to circle around, filling the air with a perfect Babel of
sound, and then, as suddenly departed as they had come.
This was almost the last adventure of note which we two had together.
Shortly after, having to remove to a distant part of the country, where I
could not take my darling with me, it became necessary either to leave her
with some acquaintance or destroy her. With increasing years, her temper,
never good towards strangers, did not improve, and being afraid that if I
left her behind me she might be subjected to bad treatment, I determined
to adopt the course which seemed the lesser of two evils. On the day of my
departure, we paid a last visit to the ocean.
"A splash, a plunge, and all was o'er,--
The billows rolled on as they rolled before;"
and puss, my most pleasant companion and faithful friend, had met the fate
from which I saved her so many years before. "_Sic est vita._"