PUSS TAKING A JOURNEY.
Fidelle had one singular habit which I have not yet noticed. She used to
take a solitary walk every evening at about dusk. The custom began in
the following manner. For a long time Mr. and Mrs. Lee, with Minnie,
were in the habit of taking a walk at sunset, and sometimes Fidelle went
with them; but finding the frolics of the kitten fatigued the child,
causing her to run up and down in pursuit, they ordered the cat to be
kept at home.
As soon as they were out of sight, puss started off by herself, and
enjoyed it so much, that for years, except when the weather was very
stormy, the little creature might be seen walking demurely down the
avenue into the street, from which direction she usually returned in
the course of an hour, walking as quietly as she went.
One day a gentleman from the neighboring city came to pass the night
with her father, and, knowing Minnie's fondness for animals, told her he
had heard a curious account of a cat, which he would relate to her if
she pleased.
The little girl was delighted, and ran at once to call her cousin Ida.
They were presently seated in the parlor, Minnie having taken the
precaution to carry with her the favorite volume from the library, in
case it should be needed.
"I am told this story is authentic," said the gentleman. "It occurred in
the summer of 1828, near Deniston, England.
"A gentleman, by the name of Stankley, owned a cat, who was a great
favorite with the children, and was in the constant habit of going out
of doors to play with them. One day she returned to the house without
any of her usual company, and going directly to Mrs. Stankley, rubbed
herself against her feet, crying, to arrest attention. She then went to
the door and returned, which motions she repeated so long that the lady
suspected the little creature had something in view. She therefore put
on her bonnet, and followed her out. To her astonishment, it ran on
before her, turning continually, and apparently delighted that it had
gained its object, until they had gone some distance. Here the cat left
her, and darted forward, when, to her surprise, she saw her youngest
child stuck fast in the mud of a ditch, unable to move.
"When the mother extricated the child, the cat testified her pleasure
in every possible way, jumping on the lady's dress, and purring as
loudly as possible."
"I imagine," remarked Mr. Lee, "that the power of observation in the
inferior animals is greater than is generally supposed. Those who have
most carefully watched them, and noted their characters and habits,
think they not only come to know persons and events, but to distinguish
particular days, like the Sabbath, and to comprehend the meaning of
many words.
"I saw, the other day, a curious proof that cats observe what is passing
around them.
"There was a lady who lived at Potsdam with her children. One day, the
youngest ran a splinter into her little foot, which caused her to scream
out most violently.
"At first, her cries were disregarded, as it was supposed they
proceeded, as they often did, from impatience. At last, the elder
sister, who had been asleep, was awakened by the screams, and as she was
just getting up to quiet the child, she observed a favorite cat, with
whom they were wont to play, and who was of a remarkably gentle
disposition, leave its place under the stove, go to the crying girl, and
strike her on the cheek with one of its paws so as to draw blood.
"After this, the animal walked back with the greatest composure and
gravity to its place, as if satisfied with having chastised the child
for crying, and with the hope of indulging in a comfortable nap. She
had, no doubt, often seen the child punished in this way for crossness;
and as there was no one near to administer correction, puss had
determined to take the law into her own hand."
This story occasioned a great laugh, though Minnie pitied the crying
girl, who not only had to bear the splinter, but the punishment of the
cat.
"Another story, exhibiting the close observation of cats," rejoined Mr.
Lee, "relates to their habit of returning home from a long distance. A
most remarkable instance of this was given by a gentleman who removed
from the county of Sligo to Dublin, a distance of about ninety miles.
"When about to change their residence, he and his children regretted
exceedingly being obliged to leave a favorite cat behind them, which had
endeared itself to them by its docility and affection.
"They had not been settled many days in their new abode, when one
evening, as the family were sitting and chatting merrily at the tea
table, the servant came in, followed by a cat so precisely like the one
left behind that all the family repeated his name at once; the little
creature testifying great joy, in his own way, at the meeting.
"The gentleman took the puss in his arms, while all gathered about to
examine him; but no difference could be found between their old favorite
and this one. Still it was difficult to believe it was their poor
deserted pet, for how could he have travelled after them? or how could
he have found them out?
"Yet the exact resemblance, the satisfaction which the poor animal
evinced, as he walked about in all the confidence of being among
friends, with his tail erect, and purring with pleasure, left little
doubt that this was indeed their own cat.
"At last, one of the family examined his claws, and found they were
actually worn down with travelling. This circumstance convinced them
that poor puss had really followed them the whole journey of ninety
miles.
"As soon as they could believe it was their own, they gave the
faithfully attached creature an enthusiastic greeting and a sumptuous
repast."
"I think that is the most remarkable case of which I ever heard,"
responded the visitor, "though I know that cats are famous for returning
to their own homes. But here was a road over which puss had never
travelled, with nothing whatever to guide him in his difficult search
for those he loved."