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the cat - World eBook Library

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The Kitten<br />

THE CAT<br />

A kitten is <strong>the</strong> joy of a household. All day<br />

long this incomparable actor plays his little com-<br />

edy, and those who search for perpetual motion<br />

can do no better than watch his antics. His <strong>the</strong>-<br />

atre is always open, any room suffices him for a<br />

stage, and he has need of few accessories. A scrap<br />

of paper, a bit of string, a spool, a pen, <strong>the</strong>se<br />

are enough to incite him to marvellous acrobatic<br />

feats. " Everything that moves," says Moncrif<br />

" serves to interest and amuse a <strong>cat</strong>. He is con-<br />

vinced that nature is busying herself with his di-<br />

version; he can conceive of no o<strong>the</strong>r purpose in<br />

<strong>the</strong> universe; and when we sport with him, and<br />

make him leap and tumble, he probably takes us<br />

for pantomimists and buffoons."<br />

Even when a kitten is quiet, he is <strong>the</strong> drollest<br />

of creatures. What a spice of innocent malice in<br />

his half-shut eyes! His head, heavy with sleep,<br />

his outstretched paws, his air of ineffable languor,<br />

all tell of comfort and content. A little drowsing<br />

<strong>cat</strong> is an image of perfect beatitude. Look at his<br />

ears. How big and comical <strong>the</strong>y are. No sound,<br />

however faint, escapes <strong>the</strong>m. Look at his eyes<br />

when he opens <strong>the</strong>m wide. How quick and keen<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir glance. Who is that knocking? Who is<br />

20

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