This trick continued to answer Pussy's object for some time, the cook
wondering what had become of her tarts and creams, till a watch was
wisely set to discover the thief, when the dishonest though sagacious
cat was seen to pull the bell, and then, when cook went out, to steal
into the kitchen and feast at her leisure.

There is a proverb--which pray condemn as a bad one, because the motive
offered is wrong--that "honesty is the best policy." Rather say, "Be
honest because it is right." Pussy, with her manoeuvres to steal the
creams, thought herself very clever, but she was found out.

PUSSY AND THE CREAM-JUG.

I must now tell you of another cat which was a sad thief, and showed a
considerable amount of sagacity in obtaining what she wanted. One day
she found a cream-jug on the breakfast-table, full of cream. It was
tall, and had a narrow mouth. She longed for the nice rich contents,
but could not reach the cream even with her tongue; if she upset the
jug, her theft would be discovered. At last she thought to herself, "I
may put in my paw, though I cannot get in my head, and some of that nice
stuff will stick to it."

She made the experiment, and found it answer. Licking her paw as often
as she drew it out, she soon emptied the jug, so that when the family
came down they had no cream for breakfast. A few drops on the
table-cloth, however, showed how it had been stolen--Pussy, like human
beings who commit dishonest actions, not being quite so clever as she
probably thought herself.

THE REVENGEFUL CAT.

Cats often show that they possess some of the vices as well as some of
the virtues of human beings. The tom-cat is frequently fierce,
treacherous, and vindictive, and at no time can his humour be crossed
with impunity. Mrs F--mentions several instances of this.

A person she knew in the south of Ireland had severely chastised his cat
for some misdemeanour, when the creature immediately ran off and could
not be found. Some days afterwards, as this person was going from home,
what should he see in the centre of a narrow path between walls but his
cat, with its back up, its eyeballs glaring, and a wicked expression in
its countenance. Expecting to frighten off the creature, he slashed at
it with his handkerchief, when it sprang at him with a fierce hiss, and,
seizing his hand in its mouth, held on so tightly that he was unable to
beat it off. He hastened home, nearly fainting with the agony he
endure