Evening star., 1926-10-24
This and That
By Charles E. TracesCeN.

Guppy, small black-and-white cat,
has just undergone a double insult.
First of all. his head and ears were
smeared with lard and sulphur. to
counteract the pernicious activities OF
certain fieas that chose him as their
abode.
The ointment gave Guppy a most
comical aspect. causing his fur to
stand up in a sort of ruff between his
ears. Guppy, however, could see no
fun in it.
Ifa cat ever showed shame-and they
often do-Gup did. as he sensed the
fact that his friends were laughing at
him. Guppy is at the awkward age.
Some folks call him kitten. but he
believes himself to be a real cat.
However that may be, Guppy futile
ly resented his sulphur and lard treat
ment--futilely, because between the
ears is pretty hard place for cat
to reach, especially for a small one.
that has not quite learned the full
technique of the bath.
SO Guppy allowed his mixture to re
main in full force, with the happy re-
suit that his abrasions began to heal.
He would sit outside the window, on
the sill. looking in at Jack Spratt de
vouring his dinner.
There was look of absolute envy
in Guppy's small. round, black eyes,
as he sat on the sill watching Jack
Spratt consume leisurely half pound
Of veal outlet II the lordly Spratt
deigned to allow few scraps to re
main, Guppy would get them.
So Guppy forgot. for the moment,
his first humiliation.
The second insult however, plsced
upon the little cat by some small
children. was unforEiveable.
To be taken for squirrel. when
one is full-fedged cat, is nothing
less than lese majestic TO the king Of
beas sts, Of which the house cat IL
miniature representative.
Now Guppy rather prided himself
upon being a cat. Could he not catch
Srasshoppers on the hop, as it were?
Could he not scale fences as high as
mountains--at least go they looked to
Guppy-and could he not engage in
pAw.to-paw combats with old Jack
Spratt himself?
Yes, Guppy was reasonably proud
of himself. He often wished that his
mother. who lived in a grocery store.
could see him as he chased the tiger.
striped Jack Spratt and as the latter
chased him.
Between the two had sprung up
firm friendship. 1t would not be long,
Guppy hoped. as he felt the spring In
his long legs. before he would be abls
To sit on Spratt and hold him down
with one paw, just as Spratt could
do with him.
AS Guppy squalled from the under.
cat position, when Jack got rough, 81
he hoped to look forward to the day
when he could roll the large Spratt
L. ~S,I III
fat frame.
ut will not he long. now, old man.
squeaked Guppy. attempting to play
with the tip Of Jacks tail. a procedure
in which Spratt found no particular
amusement. it might he stated.
Then to he called an "old squirrel"
1t came about this way: There waS
a scurry in the front yard. and a rust.
ling among the kochia bushes. now 3
feet tall.
What is the matter. children?"
A troop Of little ones. between 3
and years Of age, halted, each point.
ing toward The bushes.
There's an old squirrel in there,
and he tried to bite us.'' cried the
leader.
A squirrel in the kochias. Interest.
ing, if true. The cat Jack Spratt
peered out with interest. Here would
be sport, indeed. Jack had always
wanted to see a squirrel.
There was movement in the thick
bushes. now just about ready TO he.
gin to turn red for the Autumn.
The squirrel was coming out,
Then. with a hutter of long tail,
out stepped Guppy.
so that Is your SQUIRREL
But Guppy could see m jeks In Il
ut all.