The floral decorations consisted of catnip, lavender, grasses, and bright flowers. The cats, placed on their respective stools, and attended by their mistresses, partook of the good cheer set before them. Their behavior was quite correct. With their fore-paws on the table, they lapped the milk with becoming propriety. When all were satisfied, there was a comical sight. Each pussy began making her toilet, and the face-washing was decorous in the extreme. After leaving the table a spray of catnip was given each kitty, and the feline happiness was complete. These sprigs were tossed in the air, caught, and lovingly caressed. As each kitty departed, it was presented with its ball or toy mouse as a memento of the party.”
“Before we separate,” said Mr. Graham, glancing at the clock as a hint that it was time to bring the conference upon felines to an end, “let me tell you of a cat that saved a house from being burned. His name was Dan, and he was the property of a little boy who was very kind to his furry pet.
The time came at last when Dan could repay this kindness; and he did so. One cold winter night all had gone upstairs to bed, and were sleeping soundly. Dan was cosily rolled up on his nice warm mat behind the kitchen stove, when all at once the room became very light. Dan awoke; and what should he see but the broom, which had been left standing a little too near the stove, all on fire. In a few moments the house would have been ablaze, but Dan thought of his master; so away he trotted upstairs to his room.
“Dan called with a very loud voice, 'Mew, mew, mew'; but his master did not hear him. Then he said, 'Mew, mew, mew,' still louder; but that did not awake him. Then he jumped upon the bed, pulling back the bed-clothes with his paw, and gently struck his master in the face. This aroused the sleepy boy, and he very soon learned the meaning of Dan's strange actions. He jumped out of bed, ran downstairs, and put out the fire before it had got under very great headway. The story was told afterward in the local newspaper and Dan became a hero in the place where he lived.”
A few more cat stories were told in spite of the lateness of the hour, and it was agreed in conclusion that cats greatly resemble dogs, horses and children, too, in being influenced by their surroundings, training and teaching. A child taught to be cruel, or to lie and steal in early life, is not likely to be a good or useful member of society. Horses and dogs are made vicious by bad treatment or gentle by kindness, and a cat's conduct will depend very largely upon its surroundings and education.