st, the elder
sister, who had been asleep, was awakened by the screams, and as she was
just getting up to quiet the child, she observed a favorite cat, with
whom they were wont to play, and who was of a remarkably gentle
disposition, leave its place under the stove, go to the crying girl, and
strike her on the cheek with one of its paws so as to draw blood.

"After this, the animal walked back with the greatest composure and
gravity to its place, as if satisfied with having chastised the child
for crying, and with the hope of indulging in a comfortable nap. She
had, no doubt, often seen the child punished in this way for crossness;
and as there was no one near to administer correction, puss had
determined to take the law into her own hand."

This story occasioned a great laugh, though Minnie pitied the crying
girl, who not only had to bear the splinter, but the punishment of the
cat.

"Another story, exhibiting the close observation of cats," rejoined Mr.
Lee, "relates to their habit of returning home from a long distance. A
most remarkable instance of this was given by a gentleman who removed
from the county of Sligo to Dublin, a distance of about ninety miles.

"When about to change their residence, he and his children regretted
exceedingly being obliged to leave a favorite cat behind them, which had
endeared itself to them by its docility and affection.

"They had not been settled many days in their new abode, when one
evening, as the family were sitting and chatting merrily at the tea
table, the servant came in, followed by a cat so precisely like the one
left behind that all the family repeated his name at once; the little
creature testifying great joy, in his own way, at the meeting.

"The gentleman took the puss in his arms, while all gathered about to
examine him; but no difference could be found between their old favorite
and this one. Still it was difficult to believe it was their poor
deserted pet, for how could he have travelled after them? or how could
he have found them out?

"Yet the exact resemblance, the satisfaction which the poor animal
evinced, as he walked about in all the confidence of being among
friends, with his tail erect, and purring with pleasure, left little
doubt that this was indeed their own cat.

"At last, one of the family examined his claws, and found they were
actually worn down with travelling. This circumstance convinced them
that poor puss had really followed them the whol