n the
orchard, and cat-mint planted on his grave. Poor creature, it is well
that he has thus come to his end after he had become an object of pity,
I believe we are, each and all, servants included, more sorry for his
loss, or rather more affected by it, than any one of us would like to
confess.

"'I should not have written to you at present, had it not been to notify
this event.

R. S.'"

In a letter from Leyden to his son Cuthbert, then in his seventh year,
he says--"I hope Rumpelstiltzchen has recovered his health, and that
Miss Cat is well; and I should like to know whether Miss Fitzrumpel has
been given away, and if there is another kitten. The Dutch cats do not
speak exactly the same language as the English ones. I will tell you how
they talk when I come home."[134]

ARCHBISHOP WHATELY'S ANECDOTE OF THE CAT THAT USED TO RING THE BELL.

Archbishop Whately[135] records a case of an act done by a cat, which,
if done by a man, would be called reason. He says--"This cat lived many
years in my mother's family, and its feats of sagacity were witnessed by
her, my sisters, and myself. It was known, not merely once or twice, but
habitually, to ring the parlour bell whenever it wished the door to be
opened. Some alarm was excited on the first occasion that it turned
bell-ringer. The family had retired to rest, and in the middle of the
night the parlour-bell was rung violently; the sleepers were startled
from their repose, and proceeded down-stairs, with pokers and tongs, to
interrupt, as they thought, the predatory movement of some burglar; but
they were agreeably surprised to discover that the bell had been rung by
pussy; who frequently repeated the act whenever she wanted to get out of
the parlour."

* * * * *

A friend (D. D., Esq., Edinburgh) tells me of a cat his family had in
the country, that used regularly to "_tirl at the pin_" of the back door
when it wished to get in to the house.

FOOTNOTES:

[121] Mark Lemon, "Jest-Book," p. 280.

[122] "British Quadrupeds." The professor has long retired to his
favourite Selborne. He occupies the house of Gilbert White; and a new
illustrated edition of the "Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne"
has been long looked for from him.

[123] "The Instructive Picture Book; or, A Few Attractive Lessons from
the Natural History of Animals," by Adam White, p. 15 (fifth edi