diff options
Diffstat (limited to '22043.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 22043.txt | 1063 |
1 files changed, 1063 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/22043.txt b/22043.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..27b845b --- /dev/null +++ b/22043.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1063 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Book of the Cat, by Mabel Humphrey and +Elizabeth Fearne Bonsall, Illustrated by Elizabeth Fearne Bonsall + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Book of the Cat + + +Author: Mabel Humphrey and Elizabeth Fearne Bonsall + + + +Release Date: July 10, 2007 [eBook #22043] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE CAT*** + + +E-text prepared by Jason Isbell, Katie, Christine D., and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) from +page images generously made available by the Rare Book and Special +Collections Division of the Library of Congress +(http://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/digitalcoll/digitalcoll-children.html) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 22043-h.htm or 22043-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/0/4/22043/22043-h/22043-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/0/4/22043/22043-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of + the Library of Congress. See + http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=rbc3&fileName=rbc0001_2003juv0001page.db + + +Transcriber's note: + + Words surrounded by _underscores_ are underlined in the original. + + + + + +THE BOOK OF THE CAT + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +With Facsimiles of Drawings in Colour by + +ELISABETH F. BONSALL + +And with Stories and Verses Written for the Pictures by + +MABEL HUMPHREY + + + + + + + +New York +Frederick A. Stokes Company +Publishers +Copyright, 1903, by Frederick A. Stokes Company. +Published in October, 1903. + +[Illustration] + + + + +Snowball and Ebony. + + +Down at my feet on the red tiles in front of a roaring great fire sit a +great black cat and a soft white Angora pussy. They are named Ebony and +Snowball and are as different in nature as they are in colour, but are +devoted friends for all that. Possibly _because_ of it! for where Snowball +is timid, Ebony will bravely lead the way; while if Ebony is cross, +Snowball will purr and coax and cuddle until he gradually grows peaceful +and pleasant again. + +From the time he was a tiny kitten Ebony had known no home, and such +food as he had was picked up when and wherever he chanced to find it. He +had won many and lost few of his many cat battles, but he did not like +to fight and never did it unless obliged to. + +Snowball had never struck or received a blow in all of her carefully +guarded life. She was a finely bred Angora that had taken many prizes at +the cat shows, while her meals--far from being irregularly picked +up--had always been brought to her on a silver tray as regularly as the +sun rose--and considerably oftener! + +One bright cold November afternoon Snowball was wandering restlessly +around looking for something--anything--some excitement! As she passed +the Dresden saucer filled with rich cream she sniffed, and when she +caught sight of her silk-cushioned basket she fairly switched her tail. +Even the favourite spot on the warm hearth failed to allure. + +Outside the wind blew the few remaining leaves from the trees in +tempting swirls to the pavement, but _she_ could not play with them. She +was shut indoors for fear she might be stolen or stray! Stray! She would +_run_ away as soon as she found the chance! + +As she wandered into the broad hall some one opened the front door to +pass through it, and Miss Pussy saw and seized her chance. Like a flash +she darted down the steps and up the street, never stopping until she +was well out of sight of the house. Then she paused and looked curiously +around. + +Close under the railing of a shabby area, not many blocks from +Snowball's home, she spied three rough-coated, gaunt cats greedily +drinking from a dish of sooty skim milk. The saucer was thick and +cracked, and--worse yet!--had not been washed since it contained boiled +onions, but to the pampered runaway it seemed far more desirable than +the cream she had left untasted in her own Dresden china plate. + +As she edged slowly toward them the three waifs paid no attention to +her, beyond giving a warning growl or two, which Snowball--not +understanding that she could be unwelcome--mistook for their usual way +of speaking. With a friendly "P-r-r-r-rh!" of greeting she drew near, +and lapped daintily at the strongly flavoured milk. Was it hunger, or +the feeling of liberty and comradeship that made it taste so good and +made her for one short instant perfectly happy? + +Then a stinging blow on one ear, followed immediately by a sharp slap on +the side of her head from the big grey cat, sent her reeling dizzily +away from the dish. She recovered herself and turned in abject terror, +her one thought to escape from this uncalled for abuse, but directly in +her path stood the black-and-white cat with lashing tail and flaming +eyes. Another turn, and she was again confronted by the grey, crouching +angrily ready for another attack. + +Snowball's heart seemed to stand still, and she shut her eyes and waited +for the end, when with one bound the black cat stood between her and her +enemies. He began battle instantly, and so vigourously that it was +impossible to stand before the whirlwind of flying claws and snapping +teeth that he seemed to have become. Soon his opponents retired with +inglorious haste, and he was victor--Snowball was saved! + +In the silence that followed Snowball cautiously opened an eye and +peeped around. Peace! And her deliverer again lapping at the puddle of +blue milk that was spreading from the overturned saucer across the +broken flagstones. He saw the timid glance and moved a little to one +side with a gesture of friendly invitation. + +Gratefully she crept to his side; the black and white noses bobbed +busily up and down together as the pink tongues darted in and out, and +the milk rapidly disappeared. + +That afternoon Snowball brought Ebony home with her and seemed so fond +of him that I could do no less than ask him to stay, and for the first +time they sat in their now usual resting place--down at my feet on the +warm red tiles. + +How do I know about the rescue? Ah, that's quite a story, too; not +to-day, Dear. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +"Scat!" + + + Said a greedy old tramp of a cat: + "I declare, I heard someone say 'scat!' + Of course I _might_ run; + But t'would spoil all this fun, + And I don't see much reason in that." + + + + +"Kittens will be Kittens." + + +The kittens were playing a sort of "follow-the-leader" in and out of +their comfortable box of straw, while Mrs. Tabby Cat sat patiently by, +only occasionally glancing at them to make sure that all three were +safe. + +Things were very comfortably arranged for the little family of pussies +out in the barn, and the only possible danger to the cat babies was the +St. Bernard dog's drinking dish which was set down into the barn floor, +very near the wall, and kept filled with water. One of the grooms had +arranged it one idle afternoon, more for his own amusement than for any +real need so to place it. + +"Mr-r-r-owh!" trilled Mother cat warningly as Frisker wobbled over +toward her greatest dread, that dreadful water! "Do stay near me, +kittens; then you won't tumble in and get drowned." + +"Miew!" answered the three kittens, in three different keys. "Don't +worry about us: we're all right!" + +Folly, the white-nosed kitty, rose gaily on her tottery hind-legs for an +instant and cuffed playfully at her mother's ear, then started across +the barn floor as fast as a fat three-weeks-old kitten can tumble, +followed at once by Frisker. + +Calico saw them go and, anticipating a frolic, at once made up her mind +to be in it. She lifted her heavy little head and started eagerly toward +her stronger sisters; but the progress was slow, for Calico was feeble, +and the weak little legs _would_ slide apart, while her tail waved +wildly from side to side in the effort to keep her balance. + +She was a strong-minded small pussy, though weak in body, and she kept +steadily on. As she drew near her goal she _felt_ very strong and proud! +One or two surprising sit-downs and a very hard bump on the pink nose in +no way dampened her enthusiasm; but alas! the fall that always follows +pride dampened both enthusiasm and her whole wee self for a time. + +Just as she was becoming quite reckless, almost prancing, with feet +stepping at least half an inch from the floor, there suddenly yawned +directly in front of the astounded kitten the six-inch chasm of the +drinking dish! She toppled; her tail gave a single wild twirl; and she +splashed heels over head into two inches of water! + +Mrs. Tabby, who had been anxiously watching the unsteady promenade +sprang to the basin at once and leaning down tried to pull Calico out by +the nape of the neck. To the frightened and shivering kitten--that had +upon touching bottom at once gained its feet--this would have been quite +as unpleasant as the cold water that was now chilling her through and +through, so she protested in shrill wails. + +Though she was too heavy for the little mother to lift, still Mrs. Tabby +would not give up, and tried to claw her kitten out with sudden dabs, as +she took the fish from the brook. _This_ was more than any kitten could +stand, and Calico rebelled openly; she spat at her worried mamma! (Of +course, she did not know any better, for she was only a kitty.) The +water might be cold; but at least _it_ did not hurt, while her nose and +ears smarted sharply from her mother's well-meant scratches. Then Mother +Cat grew desperate and lost her head completely, circling round and +round her baby, now coaxing Calico to jump out--"As if I wouldn't if I +could!" thought the kitten--now crying piteously. After what seemed to +Tabby an age, but was really less than five minutes, the groom, who had +really been the innocent cause of all this trouble, sauntered in and put +an end to it by lifting Calico tenderly out. Gently he dried the little +trembling thing, and sat her down in her comfortable box once more, +where Mrs. Cat at once cuddled down close beside her. Suddenly spying +her sisters again, she made a fresh start only to be stopped by a +well-directed slap from her mother's swift paw. "M'you, M'you!" snapped +Mrs. Cat. "You just sit still for a while. I've had worry enough for one +day, and I _will_ not help you out again." + +"I _don't_ want you to," sniffed Calico, rubbing her still smarting nose +thoughtfully. + +Tabby sighed, as the kitten made yet another start for her sisters, but +wisely let her go. + +"Did you _ever_?" she groaned; "but then, kittens will be kittens!" + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +A Feline Fantasy. + + + "Oh, Maria?" + "Tom?" + "'Ria!" + "Tom!" + "'_R-r-ria_!" + The two voices grew fervent, rose higher-- + Till their serenades sweet + Interruption did meet + From a bootjack that took a quick flyer. + + + + +A Night On. + + +"I've a very great longing for a sweet juicy robin; what do you say to +catching one or two, you old moon-gazer?" + +Whitey gave Mr. Twinkletoes Black a playful chuck under the chin, +skipped gleefully across the moonlit roof and back, and sat down +sociably by him, before that leisurely pussy turned his head to look +scornfully at the youthful--I almost said "speaker," but as all of their +conversation is in cat language perhaps "mewer" would be more exact. + +"You foolish kitten! Who ever caught a robin in December?" + +"My _dear_ boy!"--Twinkletoes' tone made Whitey think he was anything but +a dear boy--"When you've lived three years as I have (Whitey was just +ten months old) you'll know December when you--er--_feel_ it! It's apt to +be cool, and snow--Ugh! Horrid stuff, it is; white--sticks to your feet +you know; wet!--" The fussy Mr. Black shook a dainty paw at the very +thought, while Whitey listened eagerly, so that the next time he would +know how December felt. + +"There's one nice thing about it," added Twinkletoes: "the nights are +long, and one has time to sing--and sing! One could--" + +"Why can't one, Twinky?" asked Whitey hopefully. + +"Oh, we might try, but--er--well, bootjacks, you know, hair-brushes, old +shoes!--but it's very good exercise, this dodging." + +"You said _singing_," corrected Whitey, rather puzzled. He didn't "know," +but never having sung on roofs it was new and sounded thrilling. "Come +on," he urged; "let's!" They started in, and their voices rose into +awful sleep-destroying discords: "R-r-r-i-ah--M-m-r-r-riee--Mer-r-r-row!" +Louder and more banshee-like grew the noise till the expected missiles +began to arrive. + +Twinkletoes Black was an expert dodger and skipped gracefully from place +to place, avoiding the brushes and bottles that dropped from the windows +of the tall apartment house next door. + +Whitey had retired, silent, after the first old slipper landed heavily +on his tail; but he was admiring Mr. Black's prowess with his whole +heart. Nevertheless he was glad when the excitement was over with the +"song," and they settled down by the chimney once more. The crisp air +made him hungry, and again his thoughts turned birdward. + +"Let's get some sparrows then," he said, as if there had been no +interruption since birds were spoken of. "The early bird, you know, and +it will be 'early' if we sit up much later. I never saw an early bird +myself, but I suppose there are such things. I prefer a morning nap +after these nights on. Haven't much use for _early_ birds, usually." (To +hear Whitey talk one would have thought he spent every night singing to +the moon--this was his first!) + +"Not a bad idea, for a youngster," said Twinkletoes pleasantly. + +The two edged a little nearer the warm bricks and waited, purring a +bumble-y duet to pass the time. "Just look at that moon!" sighed +Twinkletoes, still musically inclined. "Got whiskers or something, +hasn't it?" asked Whitey staring curiously at the illuminated +clock-face. Where he sat the moon was hidden by the chimney and +invisible to him. + +"And it's sitting down on the tower!" + +Stretching his neck excitedly that he might better see what made it act +so, he caught sight of the real moon and instantly subsided into the +meekest pussy that ever roamed a roof. "I--I don't understand December +moons very well," he apologized. + +"So I see," Twinkletoes replied. "But how about your early birds? Hello! +Your _moon's whiskers_ say that it's after five o'clock, and that's not +early for birds. Now that I think of it, I don't believe they get up +till later--at least in December." Whitey was tired--this was the "last +straw." "_Early_ birds!" he snorted, "early fiddlesticks! after five +o'clock--just shows how much a cat may believe!" And he started home. +Mr. Twinkletoes followed lazily, observing calmly, "I think the early +milkman will be good enough for me!" + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +Great Panjandrum. + + +The cats had just been punished for trying to catch the canary and were +cross because of it. + +On their way downstairs Topsy, without meaning to, brushed against +Pan--properly named Great Panjandrum because of his superior manner--who +promptly spat at her. As a return compliment, Topsy boxed his ears, then +scuttled off to the living-room. + +Pan stalked into the library and choosing, cat-like, the one spot he +should have kept away from, curled up on a handsome book that was lying +open on the table and forgot his troubles in sleep. For some time Topsy +wandered aimlessly from room to room; then preferring Pan's society to +no society at all--she did not feel kindly towards human beings since +her late whipping--she leaped lightly on to the table and curled up near +him. For fully half an hour she sat idly with half-closed eyes, while +Pan slept on, a perfect picture of innocent slumber. Then his paws began +to jerk excitedly; his mouth twitched, and the tip of his tail waved +like a pennant in a stiff breeze. Topsy eyed him coldly. + +"M'yow! m'yow-yow!" he gasped; his paws slipped from the book to the +table; and he awoke with a start. + +"Pretty faces you've been making!" snapped Topsy. "And such talk--" + +Pan seemed surprised; then he remembered that Topsy had had the worst of +the punishment and suddenly felt very forbearing. (He'd had a delightful +"cat-nap," and we all know how refreshing those are!) + +"I dreamed--" he began; then paused impassively for questions. + +"Guess you did," sniffed Topsy. "You acted like it!" + +Pan looked grieved but remembered--it was _such_ a good nap he had!--that +when cats have trouble they are apt to be "catty." + +"Dreamed"--he went on calmly--"that I had that yellow squalling thing on +the floor, and I was just going to put my paw on its soft feathers when +I awoke." He licked his chops dreamily at the thought. + +"My!" sympathized Topsy, at last interested. + +"Come to think of it, Tops, I'm hungry! And er-er--well, you know +Mistress doesn't always feed us heartily after--um--well--_after_, you +know." + +Topsy bobbed the end of her tail understandingly, and Pan grew +confidential. "I know where's a dish of cream! It's down--" + +The rest of the sentence was whispered so low that I really couldn't +tell you what it was; but Topsy understood, and the two hurried away as +noiselessly and gracefully,--yes, and as dignifiedly as only cats can +hurry. + +The desired cream they found on a high shelf in the shed. They were +supposed never to enter this place, so Cook had thought it a safe spot +in which to set the cream. + +A strong jump was needed to reach the shelf; but after several attempts +they managed it and lapped, lapped, lapped to their full content. + +As they sat blissfully purring after this unusual treat they heard a +plaintive "Mew" from the ground close by, and peering down saw a strange +cat that had evidently entered through the open window, as they had +done. He looked hungry and wistful, while they had just had a delicious +meal and were correspondingly pleasant. + +"Mrr-ow! Come on up; it's good!" called Pan. + +Possibly hunger made the leap easier for this new-comer than for the +well-fed cats; possibly he was more agile than they, for with one spring +he landed by the saucer and dipping his head eagerly lapped long and +fast before he once raised his eyes. When he finished the pink tongue +was run out over his lips and whiskers, so that no delicious drop should +escape, and he heaved a satisfied sigh. + +"Do you--ah--always have such dinners as this?" asked he. + +Pan turned his head away and pretended to be interested in a black ant +that was crawling rapidly up the wall below him; he was a truthful pussy +and preferred to change the subject. The stranger was comfortable and +sat lazily waiting for the answer. + +At that moment Cook went for the cream and seeing the cats started +angrily forward, shoo-ing and scat-ing with great vigour. + +When after a wild exit the cats at last seated themselves up on a high +fence they paused a moment to get their breath again. Then the stranger +smiled--he actually _grinned_! + +"I should judge you _don't_ always have such a dinner as that!" He spoke +pleasantly, but Pan looked sheepish. + +"By Whiskers!" he muttered, his mind's eye still seeing Cook's vulgar, +flapping apron strings; "I should think not!" + +"Thanks, just the same--_more_," said the visitor jumping down. + +"Don't mention it," politely answered the host and hostess. "Come +again!" + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +An Autumn Frolic. + + + One grey as dawn, one white as milk! + With dainty paws, and eyes of flame, + And thick coats soft as richest silk! + + They fly like wind, these pussies gay; + Wheel madly round in dizzy game, + Then sudden stop in whirling play. + + Up! Off! They follow breathlessly, + With fawn-like grace, the glowing leaves + That dance in farewell whirls of glee. + + The wind dies low; in dark'ning west + The day's orb sets 'neath purpling clouds. + At last the two cats pause, and rest. + + + + +Tabitha Tiger Reflects. + + +(_Tabitha Tiger._) Bless my claws and whiskers! but this suspense is +awful. Here I have been waiting for the last two hours behind this +horrid-smelling cheese, and no sign of a mouse yet. And it's just the +time for them, too. + +I wonder why housekeepers expect us cats to keep the house free from +mice when they're away for the summer. No self-respecting cat can eat +mice morning, noon and night; and one would have to do so in order to +rid the house of them. Why, I should turn into a squeaking cheese-eater, +myself! + +Strange place for Cook to leave cheese, strikes me--the kitchen table; +but it should make a fine hunting ground. If I'd only seen it before, I +needn't have wasted so much time in front of that hole up in the +attic--and I caught only three and a half mice during the whole week. + +I suppose some boastful cats would call it four, but a first-class +mouser like myself doesn't have to stretch a tale (Tail! Good pun, +that--Ha! Ha!) to keep up her reputation, and that little Spring mouse +really had no more meat on than half a full-grown one. + +Spring mice certainly are delicious if people only realized it--much +sweeter and juicier than Spring Chickens, and _tender_! My Furry Ear-tips! +It makes my mouth water to think of them! Their only drawback is their +drawing back. The best of them will never come out far enough from the +holes for + +Gracious Cattails! What was that? + +It _is_! There are his whiskers, now an eye--ear--Ah-h-h! _Now_ he's +coming! Yes, right over to this very table--I must keep still. Now down +so: close behind the cheese. It's a good thing I'm not a big cat. + +Well, I never! That was a close squeak--I got that tail under just in +time! Pretty poor memory, I call it, to forget one's own tail. If that +mouse had seen-- + +What! There's another, and half way over here. The first one must be +close by the table leg, though I can't see him. + +And still another just coming out of the hole! Claws and Whiskers! If my +heart beats like this I'll never on this table be able to jump +straight--never. + +One more--_four_! Talk about your mouse hunting! Why my paws tremble so I +shall have regular "mouse-ague" in a minute. + +They're all making for the cheese; I can hear their claws scampering up +the wood. One--two--three--where's the last? There's the fourth patter. +I _should_ get two, for they're close together and eating very intently. + +_Now_ for it! + +Dear, dear! What a noise that front door does make. Master Harold's +little voice, too-- + +Oh, my eyes and teeth! Why _need_ they have come just now? Those mice +heard it, too--they've stopped eating. Oh-h-h! + +(Little boy bangs into kitchen and snatches Tabitha Tiger ecstatically +from table. Mice scatter back to hole.) + +(_Tabitha Tiger_) Mr-r-r--owh! Sf-f-ft! Sf-f-ft! (_Scratch_, _scratch_.) + +(_Little Boy_) Boo-hoo-hoo! (_Slap-slap._ _Boy runs away._) + +(_Tabitha Tiger_) He spoiled the finest mouse-catch of the season, and I +_had_ to scratch him--a puss can't stand everything! + +Gracious Cattails! + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +Dot's Beetles. + + +Since his fluffy kittenhood Dot has been afraid of beetles, +grasshoppers, crickets and, in fact, any large insect. That is rather +strange in a kitten, is it not? But he had one experience which I think +excuses his timidity. + +It was on a warm summer morning that he and his twin--no, let us say +triplet--brother Dab (the three kittens were called Dot, Dab and Fluff, +for they were too tiny to toddle around under heavier names, their +mistress said) were lying sleepily in their favorite corner of the +piazza. To make sure he was missing nothing that a kitten should not +miss, Dot opened his drowsy eyes and looked around. Instantly the drowsy +look vanished and was replaced by one of intense interest. + +For lo! crawling toward their corner was a many-legged, shiny black +thing with pinch-y, dangerous-looking horns! Dot did not altogether like +its looks; but curiosity was strong, and, calling to Dab, he started for +the intruder. + +Keeping safely behind the more venturesome brother, Dab followed at a +slow trot. + +"See-e-e! It's alive!" mewed Dot excitedly. "Let's play with it." + +"Mee-_you_ try it first," squeaked Dab. + +Dot cautiously extended a pink paw toward the beetle; it came steadily +on, and the paw was hastily withdrawn. Meanwhile Dab, too, had lifted a +paw to make a test of the small, awesome stranger, but thought better of +it. How dare he venture when Dot would not? + +As the kittens hesitated, a wasp that had been hovering near alighted on +Dot's furry head and rested there for an instant. It would not have +harmed him, had not the beetle become alarmed at a sudden spat from Dab, +and blundered hurriedly away in another direction. This happened to be +directly at Dot, for whose tottering courage the sudden charge was too +much! He sprang to one side, in his turn startling the wasp which +promptly stung him. + +With a pained cry the little kitten dashed wildly from the verandah, and +it was several days before he could be persuaded to go on it again--the +beetle had been on the piazza! + +As he had not seen or felt the wasp until it stung him, his kitten mind +could only think that somehow the awful black thing had hurt him +cruelly. No more piazzas with painful "black things" for him, thank you! +Its name he heard afterward from his mistress. + +Now the kittens are almost full-grown cats, and the ground is covered +with snow. Dot dislikes the snowflakes, but he prefers them to beetles, +and the beetles are gone! But even yet he does not quite forget his baby +terror. + +One evening shortly before Christmas Mistress Dorothy went in to where +her pets sat basking in the warmth of the kitchen stove, carrying with +her their usual supply of warm milk. The cats were on their feet at +once, while the girl mischievously held the milk just beyond their +reach. Mewing softly beneath their breath they were surely trying to say +"please!" just as politely as they could. + +Still the milk was withheld, and they grew restless; they shifted from +one foot to another working their claws madly in and out; they purred +sonorously and walked rapidly around one another. They rubbed sides so +vigorously as almost to knock each other over but never forgot to keep +an anxious eye toward the coveted supper. + +Dorothy at last relented--as they knew she would!--and, stopping to set +the dish down, a sprig of holly dropped from her belt, just as Dot, +turning, gave a particularly ecstatic hump to his back. + +Suddenly his tail bushed out like a bolster, his eyes fairly bulged, and +he jumped clean off the floor. In front of him was the holly which a +quick puff of air through the open door had blown scratching unevenly +over the floor directly at poor Dot. + +"Sft-sft-ft-sft! Beetle!" spat the terrified pussy. He was far too +scared to run--fairly stiff with fright, for this unknown thing +might--it might--_anything_! + +Laughing so heartily that she was almost helpless, Dorothy snatched up +the offending branch and again placed it at her waist. Then Dot saw his +mistake, and as his mistress seated herself he sprang upon her lap and +commenced to play with the bright berries--very brave he was, since he +understood! + +Dorothy let him pretend he had been playing before; but she really knew +that he hadn't been--just as well as you and I know. + + +THE BOOK + +OF THE + +CAT + + + +[Illustration] + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE CAT*** + + +******* This file should be named 22043.txt or 22043.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/0/4/22043 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |