and he wagged his tail
at the pots, and he giv a sniff round and conveyed to me as he was used
to beer. So I draw'd him a drop, and he drunk it up. Next morning he
come agen by the clock and I draw'd him a pint, and ever since he has
took his pint reg'lar."

On account of our birds, cats were not allowed in the house; but from a
friend in London I received a present of a white kitten--Williamina--and
she and her numerous offspring had a happy home at "Gad's Hill." She
became a favorite with all the household, and showed particular devotion
to my father. I remember on one occasion when she had presented us with
a family of kittens, she selected a corner of father's study for their
home. She brought them one by one from the kitchen and deposited them in
her chosen corner. My father called to me to remove them, saying that he
could not allow the kittens to remain in his room. I did so, but
Williamina brought them back again, one by one. Again they were removed.
The third time, instead of putting them in the corner, she placed them
all, and herself beside them, at my father's feet, and gave him such an
imploring glance that he could resist no longer, and they were allowed to
remain. As the kittens grew older they became more and more frolicsome,
swarming up the curtains, playing about on the writing table and
scampering behind the book shelves. But they were never complained of
and lived happily in the study until the time came for finding them other
homes. One of these kittens was kept, who, as he was quite deaf, was
left unnamed, and became known by the servants as "the master's cat,"
because of his devotion to my father. He was always with him, and used
to follow him about the garden like a dog, and sit with him while he
wrote. One evening we were all, except father, going to a ball, and when
we started, left "the master" and his cat in the drawing-room together.
"The master" was reading at a small table, on which a lighted candle was
placed. Suddenly the candle went out. My father, who was much
interested in his book, relighted the candle stroked the cat, who was
looking at him pathetically he noticed, and continued his reading. A few
minutes later, as the light became dim, he looked up just in time to see
puss deliberately put out the candle with his paw, and then look
appealingly toward him. This second and unmistakable hint was not
disregarded, and puss was given the petting he craved. Father was ful