Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-06-30
Intelligence and Fidelity of Cats.

Marvellous stories are sometimes told
concerning the intelligence and devotion
of cats to master or mistress; but there
is slight doubt that although remarkable
isolated cases of this sort may exist,
most cats are noticeably free from any
high instructive developments. An ac-
count is given of an old toll-keeper who
had favorite cat and a pet canary, who
dwelt together on terms of the most
millennial harmony; but it is also related
that once during the absence OF the toll
man, puss fell victim to her natural
yearnings and suddenly fed, with the
golden songster in her teeth, past her
master. who Glanced to be working in
his garden. The toll-man never beheld
her again, for there are certain misdeeds
which their perpetrator knows to be
past all possibility ofEforgiveness. Other
tales are told, however, in which
this final element of treachery is wholly
wanting. An English lady not long ago
asserted that she had a fine gray-and-
black cat which defended her larder
against the inroads of other feline fora
gers. A stray cat was once observed to
abstract from this lady's refrigerator o
cold stewed pigeon, whereupon "our cat
rushed after the thief" declares the
possessor of this remarkable animal,
and with some difficulty induced it to
drop the spoil. This unselfsh and heroic
cat then laid the pigeon triumphantly at
its owners feet. An instance is also re-
lated, on good authority, of a cat which
brought home live canary in its mouth
and presented the bird to its mistress.
The canary, being put in cage, subse-
quently became great pet, and puss also
became its devoted friend, once severely
Furnishing another cat who presumed to
gaze with yearning looks upon its favor
ite. In Scotland it is said to be quite
common thing for cats to occupy the
position of sentinels on shopkeepers'
counters. 81 remember" says Miss
Oliver, "one cat in particular, a very
large and powerful Tom, who used daily
to mount guard ON the counter, to pro-
tect his masters wares. He used to
walk up and down, generally keeping
close to the shopkeeper, with his quick
eye on the customer. If the latter paid
the money down, he was allowed to take
up and pocket the articles; but if he
put finger on any little package before
paying, Toms big paw was down on him
at once, a hint that never required re-
peating to the same customer. Regard
ing this ideal Tom, it is furthermore
narrated that he was the pink of every
thing that was fair and honest; under
no circumstances could he ever be in
duced to steal. The shopkeeper had
once retired for few minutes to the
back of his shop, and had left Tom APP
parently asleep beside large piece of
butter which had just been weighed. A
boy, who Glanced to be passing with a
piece of oat cake in his hand, observed
the absence of the master and the SEEM
ing slumber of Tom. Here was superb
chance to butter his cake, thought the
urchin, and he drew forth his jack knife,
slipped up to the butter, and prepared
to help himself. But his knife had no
sooner entered the butter than Tom,
with distended claws, sprang upon him.
A wild struggle ensued, and Tom mingled
his own cries with those of the would-be
thief, until the shopkeeper was present.
ly drawn to the scene of conflict. After
ward, it is related, Tom showed marked
satisfaction in seeing the Offenders cars
soundly boxed. A Mrs. Church has
printed an account of cat which saved
the life of a poor Scotch peasant, ben
lying i'll, by bringing tohis cottage every
night rabbit which abe. had killed,
occasionally varying her tribute with a
bird instead.