Evening star., 1950-01-13
This and That
Bv Charles F. TraceyeI
ARLINGTON, Va.

ARLINGTON. Va.
Dear Sir:
1--WE bring you our holiday greetings with
the true Christmas story of kitten
While enjoying a merry and bounteous
Christmas in nearby State we became
aware of little stray kitten with big, dark
eyes and wisp of tail who existed as best
she could out in the cold world, with now
and then handout from the kind-hearted
housewives who already had too many pets
Of their own to feel inclined to adopt
another.
"The kitten, we decided, should at least
have happy Christmas, and so she was
invited into a warm Kitchen and offered O.
feast Of salmon both of which were as un-
known to her as the word play of which
she had never heard.
"She had never heard of gratitude nor of
Christmas carols and yet one who saw her
agreed that never had they seen such an
exhibition Of pure joy and appreciation as
displayed by that little bundle of fur when
her tiny body was warm and her tummy
full.
"She would snuggle her head in our
neck and rub and purr in fortisSimo, and
liked best Of all to knead bread on our chin.
in her eyes an indescribable look of rapturous
thanksgiving.
when on the floor she would roll over and
over at our feet as If beside herself with
joy. and attempt to climb to her favorite
perch on our shoulder, where she would
often curl up and take a nap, such a nap
being the only interlude in her constant
purring.
while we remained as guests she was
periodically warmed and fed and her graft.
tude knew no bounds
To our delight, on one evening before
returning home, our little furry starlet so
cd l.,
that they couldn't resist her charms and
adopted her on the spot
And now for another year the glow Of
the Christmas tree lights has dimmed, and
the Yuletide carolers are SILENT and yet the
rapturous hosanna which welled from with
IN one little kitten with big dark eyes and
wisp of a tail will linger in our hearts
through many Christmastide-and who
can say but that we were perhaps enter
tanning an angel unawares.
ITO you. our good friend. who through
the inspiration Of your daily column brings
u.s. your devoted readers, ever closer to
our friends in fur and feathers, we wish
all the blessings of the glad New Year.
MARGARET AND PAUL McG."
Dear Sir:
"The plants you mentioned in your (may
| I say before going any further most divert
ing) column are not the only ones for which
| cats show some interest.
'"The silver vine (Actinidia polygama) Is
greatly relished by them.
Whether they find the ibrous stems
good for sharpening their claws or not,
| I cannot say. But the vine is frequently
clawed up by cats. Some garden authori-
ties recommend protecting the vines with
wire mesh Others say that sooner or
later cats find a way to go through any
| protective device.
| Zone garden encyclopedia says merely that
the vine is attractive to cats which many
| gardeners can assure you is like saying
that money is attractive to people.
| very truly, H. M"
"oouossoc, Me.
Dear Sir:
"Are the seasons changing?
'In April, snow was on the ground and
the wind howled like a wolf in the mountains.
'rBut the sun came shining through and
| the ice left the beautiful lakes.
The trees took on their robes OF beauty
and flowers came peeping through the
| ground. Summer IN Maine Is delightful.
1.-THE scene has changed.
"The mountains are dark and dreary
| and the only spots of beauty are the pines,
! dark and green, with silvery shadows, as
the pale moon casts its light on the beauti-
/ full lakes. The stars come peeping through.
might falls in Maine.
Sincerely, v. B. F."
So here we have kittens, and plants, and
moonshine. AS long as the world has these
| good things, and people to see and appreciate
them. we need not fear too much the atom
bombs. the political mind. and the fear in
/ the heart of nature. "InvictuS" shall be
| our motto, and God in His heaven our trust.
4 Through thinking of good things. we shall
1 find the lost chords and hear at last the
! celestial music Of the spheres.