seen walking demurely down the
avenue into the street, from which direction she usually returned in
the course of an hour, walking as quietly as she went.

One day a gentleman from the neighboring city came to pass the night
with her father, and, knowing Minnie's fondness for animals, told her he
had heard a curious account of a cat, which he would relate to her if
she pleased.

The little girl was delighted, and ran at once to call her cousin Ida.
They were presently seated in the parlor, Minnie having taken the
precaution to carry with her the favorite volume from the library, in
case it should be needed.

"I am told this story is authentic," said the gentleman. "It occurred in
the summer of 1828, near Deniston, England.

"A gentleman, by the name of Stankley, owned a cat, who was a great
favorite with the children, and was in the constant habit of going out
of doors to play with them. One day she returned to the house without
any of her usual company, and going directly to Mrs. Stankley, rubbed
herself against her feet, crying, to arrest attention. She then went to
the door and returned, which motions she repeated so long that the lady
suspected the little creature had something in view. She therefore put
on her bonnet, and followed her out. To her astonishment, it ran on
before her, turning continually, and apparently delighted that it had
gained its object, until they had gone some distance. Here the cat left
her, and darted forward, when, to her surprise, she saw her youngest
child stuck fast in the mud of a ditch, unable to move.

"When the mother extricated the child, the cat testified her pleasure
in every possible way, jumping on the lady's dress, and purring as
loudly as possible."

"I imagine," remarked Mr. Lee, "that the power of observation in the
inferior animals is greater than is generally supposed. Those who have
most carefully watched them, and noted their characters and habits,
think they not only come to know persons and events, but to distinguish
particular days, like the Sabbath, and to comprehend the meaning of
many words.

"I saw, the other day, a curious proof that cats observe what is passing
around them.

"There was a lady who lived at Potsdam with her children. One day, the
youngest ran a splinter into her little foot, which caused her to scream
out most violently.

"At first, her cries were disregarded, as it was supposed they
proceeded, as they often did, from impatience. At la