e him
proceeded a couple of genteel kittens, and he resolved to follow them,
since they, perhaps, knew the way to the kitchen better than himself.

When Muck had ascended the steps, he met the same old woman who had
looked forth from the window. With frowning air she asked what he
wanted.

"Thou hast invited every one to thy porridge," answered Little Muck,
"and as I was very hungry, I came too."

The old woman laughed, saying, "Whence come you then, strange fellow?
The whole city knows that I cook for no one but my dear cats, and now
and then, as you see, I invite their companions from the
neighborhood." Little Muck told her how hard it had gone with him
since his father's death, and entreated her to let him dine, that day,
with her cats. The old woman, on whom the frank relation of the little
fellow made quite an impression, permitted him to become her guest,
and gave him abundance to eat and drink. When he was satisfied and
refreshed, she looked at him for some time, and then said:--

"Little Muck, remain with me in my service; you will have little to
do, and shall be well taken care of." Muck, who had relished the
cat-porridge, agreed, and thus became the servant of the Frau Ahavzi.
His duties were light but singular: Frau Ahavzi had two male, and four
female cats; every morning Little Muck had to comb their hair, and
anoint them with costly ointment. When the Frau went out, he had to
give them all his attention; when they ate, he placed their bowls
before them; and, at night, he had to lay them on silken cushions, and
wrap them up in velvet coverings. There were, moreover, a few little
dogs in the house, on which he was obliged to wait; but there were not
so many ceremonies gone through with these as with the cats, whom Frau
Ahavzi treated as her own children. As for the rest, Muck led as
retired a life as in his father's house, for with the exception of the
Frau, he saw every day only dogs and cats.

For a long time it went very well with Little Muck; he had enough to
eat, and but little to do; and the old woman seemed to be perfectly
satisfied with him. But, by-and-by, the cats began to behave very
badly; the moment the Frau went out, they ran around the rooms as if
possessed, threw down every thing in confusion, and broke considerable
fine crockery, which stood in their way. When, however, they heard
their mistress coming up the steps, they would creep to their
cushions, and wag their tails, when they saw