MOUSER AND HER MISTRESS.
Soon after this, Minnie, was ill, and obliged to keep her bed for
several days. One morning she lay bolstered up with pillows, Fidelle
keeping her position close under the arm of her mistress, when a
particular friend of Mrs. Lee called, and was shown into the chamber.
She laughed as she saw kitty lying there, and tried to coax her away.
"I love kitties," she said, passing her hand softly over the glossy fur,
"and kitties love me."
Minnie's pale cheek kindled with a glow, in her sympathy with the lady's
remark.
"I must tell you about my puss, Mouser," the visitor went on, seating
herself close by the couch. "I was ill in bed, as you are, and puss, who
is a splendid great Maltese, was very anxious about me. She feared I
might be neglected, or that I should not take the right medicine, or
that every thing might not be done in the best manner, and thought
proper to oversee the whole business. She was continually running from
the shed to my chamber, as if she were half distracted, mewing and
crying in the most heart-rending manner."
"Why didn't she stay on your bed, as Fidelle does?" inquired Minnie, in
great interest.
"I was just coming to that, my dear. Unfortunately for Mouser, she had
at that very time five kittens, a family large enough, one would
suppose, to occupy all her attention. But even with the care of her
kittens on her mind, Mouser would not forsake her old friend. For a
time, her distress and anxiety were so great, running here and there
fifty times in a day, that it really began to wear upon her health, when
an expedient happily was suggested to her mind.
"I had provided a large box in the shed for the little family, with a
piece of soft carpet doubled for their bed. Mouser paid me an early
visit one morning, and, having taken a rapid, eager survey of the
premises, hastened away again. But she presently returned with a kitten
in her mouth, and made a bold jump with it on the bed.
"'I declare that great cat has brought her kitten up here,' exclaimed my
nurse, astonished at her effrontery. 'I'll soon teach her to keep them
at home;' and taking a broom, she was proceeding to drive the intruders
out in great wrath.
"'Let her stay,' I said, decidedly; 'she is a great pet of mine.'
"Mouser looked anxiously in my face, without dropping the kitten from
her mouth, as if her life depended on my words. She seemed instantly to
understand that I had conquered, for she laid the kitten down, and was
gone in an instant.
"I understood the whole matter at once, but had hard work to make nurse
believe that I really meant to have the cat and all her family on my
bed. It was with great reluctance she brought a foot blanket from the
closet, and spread it over the white counterpane, all the while
muttering, 'Well, I never heard any thing like it. I don't believe it's
healthy. I won't be answerable for the consequences.'
"When Mouser had brought the last one, and laid it on the blanket at the
foot of the bed, she walked deliberately up to me, and began to lick my
hand, while the look of gratitude and satisfaction she gave me amply
repaid my interference in her behalf. It said, as plainly as possible,
'Now I have all I love about me, and without distraction can attend to
you, my dear mistress, and not neglect my family. Now I am contented and
happy.'
"I was sick two days after this. At night, Mouser and her charge were
removed to the corner of the room; but whenever I made any sound of
distress, she was directly at my side, looking in my face, and mewing
piteously. I understood perfectly that she wished to express her sorrow
and sympathy at my affliction.
"When I was able to be out of bed, her delight was so great that even
the nurse was convinced of her affection. She frisked about, played with
her kittens, which she had not once done while I was in bed, followed
me around the room, leaping upon me, and rubbing her glossy fur against
my dress. Do you wonder, Minnie, that I love Mouser; and other kittens
for her sake?"
The lady was somewhat surprised, when the enthusiastic child, instead of
answering, started suddenly and gave her a kiss. From this time, a warm
friendship was established between them.
When she had gone, the child had a refreshing nap, and then asked her
mother to get the book and read her a story.
"Here is an affecting one," remarked Mrs. Lee, after having looked over
the pages, "where puss loved her mistress as much as Mrs. Davis's Mouser
did.
"A lady named Madame Helvetius had a favorite kitten, which constantly
lay at her feet, seemingly always ready to defend her. It never molested
the birds which she kept; it would not take food from any hand but hers,
and would not allow any one else to caress it.
"At the death of its mistress, the poor cat was removed from her
chamber; but it made its way there the next morning, went on the bed,
sat upon her chair, slowly and mournfully paced over her toilet, and
cried most piteously, as if lamenting its poor mistress.
"After her funeral it was found stretched lifeless on her grave,
apparently having died from excess of grief."
"I think Mouser would have died just so," said Minnie, softly, "she
loves her mistress so well."
"Here is another story, my dear, if you are not too tired."
"O, no, indeed! I think I should very soon be well if you would read
all the time."
"Henry, Earl of Southampton, was long confined in the Tower of London,
as a political prisoner. He had been already some time in confinement,
when, one day, he was both delighted and surprised by receiving a visit
from a favorite cat.
"The poor creature being distracted with grief at the cruel separation
from her master, and not being able to gain access to him through the
gates of the prison, was at last sagacious enough to plan a method of
visiting him. She watched her chance, scaled the walls of the Tower, and
finally reached him by descending through the accumulated soot and smoke
of his chimney. Whether instinct guided her aright the first time, or
whether she was obliged to descend many chimneys in her eager search
for the one she loved, we cannot tell; but her delight at last in
finding him seemed abundantly to repay her for all her perils."
"How very glad her master must have been to see her!" faltered the
child, her eyes moist with emotion. "I don't see how any body can help
loving cats."