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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 />
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