ented. I have heard people that
deal in birds affirm there is a way of preventing cats from meddling
with them.

_Tommy._--Oh dear, sir, I should like to try it. Will you not show me
how to prevent the cat from killing any more birds?

_Mr Barlow._--Most willingly; it is certainly better to correct the
faults of an animal than to destroy it. Besides, I have a particular
affection for this cat, because I found her when she was a kitten, and
have bred her up so tame and gentle that she will follow me about like a
dog. She comes every morning to my chamber-door and mews till she is let
in; and she sits upon the table at breakfast and dinner as grave and
polite as a visitor, without offering to touch the meat. Indeed, before
she was guilty of this offence, I have often seen you stroke and caress
her with great affection; and puss, who is by no means of an ungrateful
temper, would always pur and arch her tail, as if she was sensible of
your attention.

In a few days after this conversation another robin, suffering like the
former from the inclemency of the season, flew into the house, and
commenced acquaintance with Tommy. But he, who recollected the mournful
fate of his former bird, would not encourage it to any familiarity,
till he had claimed the promise of Mr Barlow, in order to preserve it
from danger. Mr Barlow, therefore, enticed the new guest into a small
wire-cage, and, as soon as he had entered it, shut the door, in order to
prevent his escaping. He then took a small gridiron, such as is used to
broil meat upon, and, having almost heated it red hot, placed it erect
upon the ground, before the cage in which the bird was confined. He then
contrived to entice the cat into the room, and observing that she fixed
her eye upon the bird, which she destined to become her prey, he
withdrew the two little boys, in order to leave her unrestrained in her
operations. They did not retire far, but observed her from the door fix
her eyes upon the cage, and begin to approach it in silence, bending her
body to the ground, and almost touching it as she crawled along. When
she judged herself within a proper distance, she exerted all her agility
in a violent spring, which would probably have been fatal to the bird,
had not the gridiron, placed before the cage, received the impression of
her attack. Nor was the disappointment the only punishment she was
destined to undergo; the bars of the gridiron had been so thoroughly
heated that,