The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-07-02

have been sitting on the vcranda listening
to my robins. call them my robins, because
I have taken them under my special care. l
will not allow gun to be fired on the premises.
No cat is to bc permitted to hunt them, although
recognize tho ''natural rights" Of cats, among
which is the right to vary diet Of mice and
rats with an occasional bird or chicken. But I
prefer to compound for the birds by giving my
cats m extra allowance Of other food.
You win perceive the need Of On understand
Ing between mo and my cats, when tell you
that I have five, with q constant tendency TO
have more First Is the matron, Bessie by
name, famous mouser, black, with white
breast and belly, and the mother Of two half
Maltese boys, and one gray, with white breast;
all virilc and, like their productive mother,
good rattcrs. To these add another, which
brought up last year from Brooklyn as kitten,
and which was ignorantiy named tho "city Ia
dy." But calling one lady does not make
one 50. Facts compelled change Of titles, and
now he is known as the "city cat" A splcn-
did fellow he is. the pride Of my heart A very
light grcy,with darker stripes, Of q spare habit,
large, Hat-sidcd, with dash Of wildncss and
6erceness which give spirit to his dcmeanor. A
very hunter he is, fearless Of dogs and dcspotic
among cats, whom he knocks over rs II he were
an oriental king. That oil my cats are honest
Is shown, among other ways, by the fact that
though there are some two hundred little chick.
ems oil around the barn, on daily count o.
each hen and her brood, none are missing eI.
ccpt such as were known to have had right to
die, sort Of ticket Of leave. Nor have ever
seen them hunting birds. It Is true that l have
seen them watching intently near shrubbcry
where birds were hopping about But Is 1t q
sign that one steals that he Is seen looking visit
fully in at shop windowi Isa boy going to
steal the bananas because he looks at them l
do not doubt that cats have sayory thoughts
while watching these birds, but I have never
seen them touch one, nor does there seem to be
any lack Of birds, as there would be II they
were hunted by Ave cats.
The education Of cats, and the establishment
Of proper discipline, is no small task. But all
this belongs to Mr.. Turner, who is one Of those
men that contro, the whole animal kingdom by
kindness. and under whose hand every beast be-
comes cosset and pet. But in every wcll-rcs-
ulatcd family there mus, be rod somewhere,
either expressed or elegantly understood, rs the
Latin grammar used to say. Although his dis
cipline Is in general very mild. and almost In
dulrcnt, yet there are certain things that will
bring down on cat or dog the salutary switch.
We have Just passed through one Of thcsc
seasons Of discipline. Be 1t known, that have
three black-and-tan terricrs-purc, not white
hair about them. One Is q dog, the others are
not; but they are all alike sharp. nimblc, nerv-
Gus and plucky. Only consider what amlable
times were likely to ensuc between three terri
crs and Ave cats Great is the Rod Already
the General Assembly Of Cats and the General
Assembly Of Dogs have agreed to make come
mon cause. I do not think that either side
ouitc believes In the other. have noticed q
sudden rising Of the back and splitting, when
the dogs came suddenly on the cats from around
the corner. have seen cat bolt from the
with three little terriers aftcr her.
yc, these are bu, the remains Of old hostilties,
when such conduct was esteemed duty. On
The whole they get on together remarkably well,
how recently the union has been
,rrced upon, and what Is the inherent nature
II cats and dcgs.
II one Is fond Of carly rising. he may 80 Mr..
Turner going up the hill aRer salad with four
DR. hrc cats trotting at his heels, purrins and
rubbing themselves against his legs whenever
he stops moment. Al later period thrce III |
lie black tails may be seen whirling about the
rrss, each looking like letter 8 cut In two.
Dat never have seen both cats and dogs In pro-
session together af.cr the master. Only when
hey come up to feed can they be made mutual.
y respectful.
How humaniring is food What . moral
pouer has the table Dinner cures enmities,