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utting a handsomely bound volume into his hand, and looking very bright and rosy. "Yes, child, this is it." "I thought it was, by the picture of the cats." The lady looked surprised; and presently asked, earnestly, "Can't you read, Minnie?" Vivid blushes spread all over the child's face, as she softly answered, "No, ma'am." "We have our own views on that subject," said the gentleman, smiling, as he drew his only daughter tenderly to his side. "She will learn fast enough when we put her to her books. At present, our only desire is to see her enjoy herself, and lay in a good stock of health." "Why not do both, Mr. Lee?" asked the lady. "My little Marie Louise is only four, and she can read almost as well as I can. She is learning to write, too, and really pens a letter very prettily." "I dare say," added the gentleman, gravely, after giving his wife a comical look; "your daughters are all geniuses, which, I am happy to say, Minnie is not. She is only an obedient, affectionate, practical little girl," giving her a tender caress. "But come, we were discussing, not the child's merits, but the cat's." "True; and now for your account of them." Mr. Lee turned over the leaves of the book, thanking God that his dear, conscientious, simple-hearted Minnie was not artful, disobedient, and affected, like the child of their visitor, even though the latter might be ever so learned a miss; and presently came to the chapter on domestic cats, from which we shall quote a few incidents. CHAPTER II. THE CAT AND CHICKEN. "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens. As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned. "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also. "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain. Day after day passed, and at last the gentleman concluded some accident had deprived them of life. "Nearly a week after the kittens had been drowned, a servant had occasion to go to an unfrequented part of the cellar, where, to his great astonishment, he saw the cat lying in one corner, with the chicken hugged close to her body, and one paw laid over it as if to protect it from injury. "Puss and her adopted chicken were brought into a closet in the kitchen, where they continued some time, the cat treating her
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