"
"What's the use of cats who can't catch rats and mice?" said Frank.
"Do the French pet the mice, too? I wonder what comes of the bread
and cheese?"
"O, the people have another set of cats, whom they call gutter cats,
who catch rats and mice. The gutter cats never come into the drawing
room; but they are treated well in the kitchen, and made as happy as
possible.
I was told that these working cats were far more intelligent than
the pets of the drawing room.
I knew a French seamstress who had a gutter cat, of which she was
very fond. One day the cat fell from the roof of the house. She
seemed dead, but her faithful friend put her upon a soft bed, gave
her homoeopathic medicine, and watched all night by her to put a
drop of something into her mouth if she moved. At last the cat gave
signs of life, and by good nursing her life was saved.
I saw once in Paris a man carrying about a splendid large mouse-
colored cat, dressed up with ribbons.
The creature was twice the common size, and gentle as a lamb. He was
for sale; the price, sixty francs, which is twelve dollars. Every
body who was not too busy, stopped to stroke Master Puss."
"He would have done to wear boots," cried Harry. "I should like him
right well. Such a big cat would be worth having.
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