Copyright, 1901
By George W. Jacobs & Co.

To “Guy”

Preface

In the fall of 1895, while the National Convention of the S. P. C. A. was in session in Cleveland, a group of people stood in the assembly room one day discussing “Black Beauty” and “Beautiful Joe.” One expressed the hope that as the horse and the dog had now secured a public hearing, some one would be willing to undertake the same for the cat. That same evening “Pussy Meow” began writing her story. Its only object is to breathe out the joys, the sorrows and the longings of a misunderstood and much maligned fellow-creature, and to secure for her the consideration which humanity owes to the dumb.

Cleveland, O., 1901.

Contents

CHAP. PAGE
Introduction[ 11]
I. Early Recollections[ 17]
II. Budge and Toddy[ 22]
III. My Reasons for writing this Story[ 28]
IV. A Pleasant Outing[ 34]
V. Some Experiences on the Farm[ 41]
VI. Home Again[ 47]
VII. New Companions[ 52]
VIII. Budge and Toddy the Second[ 59]
IX. A Happy Home[ 64]
X. Our Happiest Days[ 71]
XI. Betsy Whitefoot[ 76]
XII. Sunshine and Shadow[ 84]
XIII. Jack[ 91]
XIV. Christmas[ 96]
XV. Old Blackie[ 102]
XVI. My Great Sorrow[ 109]
XVII. The Kind Providence[ 115]
XVIII. A Welcome Visitor[ 125]
XIX. A Joyful Reunion[ 131]
XX. A New Home[ 137]
XXI. Our Winged Friends[ 143]
XXII. New Neighbors[ 151]
XXIII. Our Summer Outing[ 157]
XXIV. Raising a Family[ 165]
XXV. Breaking Home Ties[ 172]
XXVI. A Friendly Chat[ 178]
XXVII. Another Home[ 185]
XXVIII. Booker T. Washington and Admiral Dewey [ 194]
XXIX. Two Far Journeys[ 203]
XXX. The Burglar Man[ 214]
XXXI. A Friend in Need[ 222]
XXXII. A Kittie Party[ 230]

Illustrations

PAGE
My Name is Meow[ Frontispiece.]
Guy[ 28]
My friend Dennis[ 29]
He crawled in and fell asleep[ 72]
Jack[ 91]
He told me a very interesting story[ 93]
The two were holding a friendly talk in the garden[ 141]
Toddy—Mrs. Smith’s particular friend[ 191]
Booker T. Washington[ 194]
Snowdrop[ 210]
Hiddigeigei, Patsy, and Lady Jane Grey[ 230]

Introduction