utting a
handsomely bound volume into his hand, and looking very bright and rosy.

"Yes, child, this is it."

"I thought it was, by the picture of the cats."

The lady looked surprised; and presently asked, earnestly, "Can't you
read, Minnie?"

Vivid blushes spread all over the child's face, as she softly answered,
"No, ma'am."

"We have our own views on that subject," said the gentleman, smiling, as
he drew his only daughter tenderly to his side. "She will learn fast
enough when we put her to her books. At present, our only desire is to
see her enjoy herself, and lay in a good stock of health."

"Why not do both, Mr. Lee?" asked the lady. "My little Marie Louise is
only four, and she can read almost as well as I can. She is learning to
write, too, and really pens a letter very prettily."

"I dare say," added the gentleman, gravely, after giving his wife a
comical look; "your daughters are all geniuses, which, I am happy to
say, Minnie is not. She is only an obedient, affectionate, practical
little girl," giving her a tender caress.

"But come, we were discussing, not the child's merits, but the cat's."

"True; and now for your account of them."

Mr. Lee turned over the leaves of the book, thanking God that his dear,
conscientious, simple-hearted Minnie was not artful, disobedient, and
affected, like the child of their visitor, even though the latter might
be ever so learned a miss; and presently came to the chapter on domestic
cats, from which we shall quote a few incidents.

CHAPTER II.

THE CAT AND CHICKEN.

"In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in
England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens. As he did not
wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to
be drowned.

"The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken
also.

"Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but
in vain. Day after day passed, and at last the gentleman concluded some
accident had deprived them of life.

"Nearly a week after the kittens had been drowned, a servant had
occasion to go to an unfrequented part of the cellar, where, to his
great astonishment, he saw the cat lying in one corner, with the chicken
hugged close to her body, and one paw laid over it as if to protect it
from injury.

"Puss and her adopted chicken were brought into a closet in the kitchen,
where they continued some time, the cat treating her