ugh
the railings at the people passing by.

"Well," said Fido to himself, "I have no doubt but she will love
me in time; all the more, as I have great hopes of growing bigger
before the spring."

[Illustration: TITTUMS DESERTING FIDO.]

But one morning, when Tittums came in from a visit she had been
paying her mamma, she was followed by a gentleman from the
tropics, who, with all the impudence of his race, made himself
quite at home, pressed Tittums' paw to his heart, called her
"the loveliest of Cats," asked her to oblige him with a song,
which he had been told she could sing very sweetly, and never
took the least notice of poor Fido, who was sitting in the
corner. To tell the truth, poor Fido was very cross, and began to
growl quite savagely; the more so when, to his dismay, he beheld
the pleasure with which Tittums heard all this nonsense. He could
not think what right the bold stranger had to come there unasked;
for all that he had bright red and green feathers, a rakish,
broad-brimmed hat, and a gold-headed walking-cane, he was not
good-looking, that was very certain.

But Tittums was very much struck by his appearance and bearing;
his feathers were so pretty, he spoke so many languages, shrieked
so terribly and in such a loud voice, had travelled so much, and
was so struck by the beauty of Tittums, that, poor little Cat as
she was, she ceased to care a button for faithful Fido, and kept
all her sly glances for Mr. Paul Parrot.

"Lovely Tittums," said Mr. Paul, "you must forget such upstart
puppies as Fido. Listen to me--I am a traveller--I speak five
languages,--I have a palace made of golden bars, within which is
a perch fit for a king,--I have a pension of bread and milk and
Barcelona nuts: all of which I will share with you. To-morrow we
will go for a trip into the field next to the house. Good-by for
the present, my dear Pussy Cat;" and he went away kissing his
hand.

Poor Fido howled. Naughty Tittums!

As day followed day, Miss Puss neglected her little Dog more and
more. She walked out with Mr. Paul Parrot, she sang to him,
looked kindly at him, and, in fact, only seemed happy when he was
by. Poor Fido was true to his first love, although almost brought
to despair; he got very thin indeed, and his fine bushy coat,
which he had kept nice and clean, became ragged and dirty.

Indeed, Mr. Parrot carried all before him; he was so grand, so
loving, and so clever, that Fido from being deserted became