There are cases where one must not spare the knife, even though our tenderest and most sensitive feelings recoil, for the cure will be sure. There are crimes perpetrated every day, in the name of Science, that need just such stories to expose their iniquity. For I believe ignorance is the cause of cruelty in many instances, and a little story told attractively, where retribution follows the deed, will have more effect than reproof. I do not believe there are many hearts so callous, that a little anecdote of cruelty to these helpless creatures will not touch them.
There are many who will read this book who have lost dear little pets, and I would say to them that the dear Father has them all in his care. In the boundless and beautiful fields of Paradise they will find the dear little friends they have lost waiting for them.
I trust my readers will pardon the many imperfections of this little book, believing that an earnest wish to help our dumb animals is my heart's desire.
MIRANDA ELIOT SWAN.
Boston,
December 11, 1899.
CONTENTS
| [CHAPTER I] | PAGE | |
| Early Days | 1 | |
| [CHAPTER II] | ||
| My Mother's Story | 4 | |
| [CHAPTER III] | ||
| My Home | 17 | |
| [CHAPTER IV] | ||
| Daisy's Party | 21 | |
| [CHAPTER V] | ||
| Reverses | 28 | |
| [CHAPTER VI] | ||
| Daisy's Adventure | 36 | |
| [CHAPTER VII] | ||
| Cat Memories | 46 | |
| [CHAPTER VIII] | ||
| An Accident | 50 | |
| [CHAPTER IX] | ||
| Cat Tales | 61 | |
| [CHAPTER X] | ||
| Little Pearl | 66 | |
| [CHAPTER XI] | ||
| Reminiscences | 73 | |
| [CHAPTER XII] | ||
| Cat Tales | 83 | |
| [CHAPTER XIII] | ||
| My First Theft | 90 | |
| [CHAPTER XIV] | ||
| Religious Aspirations | 96 | |
| [CHAPTER XV] | ||
| Cat Anecdotes | 106 | |
| [CHAPTER XVI] | ||
| Cat Pranks | 115 | |
| [CHAPTER XVII] | ||
| The Story of Freida | 132 | |
| [CHAPTER XVIII] | ||
| Thanksgiving | 145 | |
| [CHAPTER XIX] | ||
| Mews and Purrs | 165 | |
| [CHAPTER XX] | ||
| Heads and Tales | 187 | |
| [CHAPTER XXI] | ||
| Jett | 195 | |
| [CHAPTER XXII] | ||
| Watch and Chloe | 216 | |
| [CHAPTER XXIII] | ||
| The Story of Blackie | 235 | |
| [CHAPTER XXIV] | ||
| Retribution | 249 | |
| [CHAPTER XXV] | ||
| Eventide | 261 |