The Cat that Walked Alone

Southland Times, Issue 20615, 13 October 1928, Page 23 (Supplement)

The Cat that Walked Alone

—First Prize.— The wind continued to blow, the rain still came down in torrents and everyone went on grumbling about the weather. In fact, everything outside was the same as it had been yesterday and the day before. But, inside, in a basket lined with soft, warm rags, there was the cause of quite an upheaval in a usually peaceful household. Five baby kittens trying to grope their way out of this basket, and being pulled back and carefully washed again by their anxious but happy mother. Five little grey tabbykittens with scarcely a mark by which to distinguish one from its fellows. Five tiny atoms of life with wide-open eyes, daily growing more and more playful and mischievous. It was on the day that they were practising climbing, and in their alarm at someone's approach pulled off the tablecloth together with some cups and plates, and milk jugs on to the floor, that they decreed that five lively kittens were too many. So four of them were quickly disposed of to some of the neighbours, and one remained —the exact replica of its mother—her pale blue eyes, sleek grey body and long thin tail, a tail that was always waving wildly and curling round someone’s ankles. There came the time when the people decided that they did not need any cats, and because they thought that it was far too cruel to drown them they thought of straying them. One day late in spring the motor car set out through the busy streets of the town into the country'. Past country homesteads with apple-trees in bloom and the green fields, to where the houses were very far apart and the only signs of life were the rabbits who started up in alarm at seeing these strange newcomers and then scampered away with white-tails bobbing excitedly up and down. In the sunlight the golden gorse shone brightly and the tussocks, ever restless under the soft cool wind, looked like waves at sea. Here Greymalkin and his mother were deposited while the car sped away, raising a cloud of dust from the dry gritty road as if to shut itself out of this scene. Oh, it is so cruel that people should treat in this way animals that have been used to an easy petted life in town with no need to hunt for food, but it so often happens that the unwanted cat is bundled away into a deserted part of the country', there to die or to become a wild, lonely creature shunning the company of human beings. Greymalkin showed no concern at his new surroundings and, lying down on the sand, playfully patted a stone, and when that showed no sign of animation started in pursuit of a red and gold butterfly. But his mother knew that this was no time for frolic. The keen air had roused her natural instincts, and she started by taking over a deserted rabbit-burrow for a home, then setting out to catch an unwary’ rabbit or bird. Soon the two became expert in the art of hunting and, not lacking food and exercise their coats became more glossy and sleek than would have been possible in the quiet, comfortable life in town. Thus the year passed into autumn and though the cat had grown huge, it was still like a kitten and played and fought with sometimes an old rabbit leg, a tuft of grass, or a stone, but never during all that time did they see any sign of man. With the coming of winter all the rabbits disappeared, the birds also vanished, and food was very difficult to find. An intense cold set in with hail and rain so that neither of the cats ventured out of the warm, safe burrow. Then, partly from the lack of food and because of the unaccustomed life, the little grey mother cat became very weak. Greymalkin’s mother was forever out in search of food, but was very seldom successful, and she finally died on a cold, blusteringly windy day and Greymalkin was left to fend for himself. He was very thin and his tail looked more like whipcord than ever. Also with the continuous rain the burrow was beginning to flood, so that he would do well to go somewhere else. A snow-storm came on so he crept under a tussock to shell er, staying there nearly dead with the cold. • It was there that he was found by a farmer out looking for a strayed cow. He picked up the poor, famished creature, placing it in the folds of his warm overcoat. The warmth soon revived Greymalkin and he began to struggle and fight to get away. But the farmer wrapped his cloak round his head so that it was impossible to bite any more. Then in the warmth of the kitchen with a saucer of warm milk he came to life again, but remembering the cruelty done to his mother and himself, was suspicious of the kindness shown to him; but when that kindness was continued the sincerity’ was so obvious that Greymalkin came to respond to the caresses, rather diffidently at first because he was still a wild cat. He came to like these people and would stay with them until it seemed that he had become domesticated, until a yearning for the wilds would overcome him and for months at a time he would disappear, sometimes being seen among the shadows, himself a pale grey shadow-, the cat that walked alone. —5/- and 4 marks to Cousin Patricia Ward (15), Awama Plains.

Tim Kat kins lived with several brothe: *His life was not a happy one as he was al ing things when it wasn’t him at all. would go walking in the moonlight, but s< Tim finally decided that from that time oi One very fine afternoon he strolled away along the road. Nearby were big ir girl with fair curls and beautiful blue eya coming towards her. “What a lovely Mack pussy,” she cri But Tim strolled on and the little « friendly with the child and both wandered and the child lay down and dropped off to In a mansion sat a mother and fathi been playing about and had disappeared, 1 perhaps gypsies had stolen her, and servs in every possible place for her. It was gr aided by lanterns were crossing a meadcn cat in the dirtance. It became more pit; it was caught in a trap one of the serva there lay the child asleep tightly clasping watch beside her. What joy for the fathei and Tim were taken home and cared foi given the best he wandered away, eviden —2/6 and 3 mark' to Cousin Gladys Rc Invercargill. —Highly Commended.— ‘Tabby, Kitty, Flossie, Wake up! Wake up!” "What’s the matter?” sleepily mumbled the three cats. "Matter! Why it's time to get up!” said a voice behind them. Three pretty grey and white rats turned round and looked at their friend Topey with questioning eyes. “I don’t know what ails her,” said Tabby, “but she seems very excited over something." ■>o will you be when you hear the news. I want you all to trim your whiskers, curl your tails and wear your best smile.” ’‘Why all the fuss Topsy?” asked playful Kitty. "Well if you want to know there is to be a coronation at two o’clock to-day in Happy Alley. They say that the new Queen is very much like me and I am feeling rather flattered.” “Let us hope she will be as good a friend a’ you Topsy,” said the cats. “Flatterers,” said Topsy, but she showed her delight by helping them to get ready. On the way to Happy Valley they were stopped by a huge grey witch cat who said, “I fear my good friends we are going to have trouble in this happy land of ours. The new Queen is a very proud cat and boasts that there is not another cat in the world as good as she is and that she always walks by hepseif. Now this is bound to cause trouble so I have thought of a good plan. If you find that she is not all a Queen should be blow this powder into the air and wish.” she shared the powder between them and then walked off leaving the friends to finish their journey. They arrived at Happy Alley at two o’clock. The place was crowded with hundreds of good natured and friendly cats all happy and contented looking. Suddenly a bugle was heard and along came the White cat brigade. Then came the future Queen looking very haughty and walking by herself. “Long live the future Queen,” went up from hundreds of voices. Then silence reigned for the beautiful black cat who, instead of gfiracefully bowing her acknowledgements to the crowd kept a stately tread and glanced neither to right nor left. This did not please the crowd and a voice was heard to say. “We will not have such a Queen. Drive her away from our land.” The Queen overheard this remark. She looked round to see who had passed it and noticed her double, Topsy, smiling at her. This infuriated her and forgetting her dignity she cried: “There is no cat in the world as good as I and I always walk by myself.” Now Tabby, Kitty and Flossie were very indignant and knew that the Queen was jealous of Topsy. Each said she would have their wish and see what happened. Puff! Hying unseen through the air went Tabby’s powder. She wished for something that would make the Queen look ridiculous. Hop! Down went the Queen onto some sticky flypaper.

rs and sisters in a cottage in Kirkwood Lane, ways blamed for starting quarrels and stealSome times he and his sisters and brothers ddom did their walk end without a quarrel, i he would walk by himself. it when everything was quiet, and wandered on gates and outside these a beautiful little s was playing. On looking up she saw Tim ed. “Do play with me.” rirl toddled on too. He soon became very on heedless of the time until darkness set in > sleep with Tim beside her. sr nearly distracted for their only child had they knew not how. They were afraid that mts and men of the village were searching owing dark and the father and two servants r when they heard a pitiful meowing of a iful as they neared it, so, thinking perhaps nts went to investigate, and to his surprise in her hand a bunch of daisies, Tim keeping • to find his child safe from harm. Both she ■, but although be was made much of and tly preferring to walk by himself. ibertson (11), 110 Chelmsford street, North Oh! what a laugh went up from the crowd as she tried to get the paper off herself. All in vain. The flies came to life and buzzed in her ears. Then came Topsy’s wish. Topsy felt very sorry for the Queen and she blew her powder into the air with a kind wish. Immediately the flies flew away and the paper fell off. Instead of feeling grateful the spiteful cat. started to scratch Topsy. Now Flossie did not like this so she blew her powder into the air wishing that the future Queen would lose her stately walk and would not be crowned Queen. Immediately the cat gave one jump into the air. She landed down with both feet into a pair of hobnail boots which were lying near. Try as she would she could not shake the boots off. A meeting was then called and Topsy was crowned Queen. Topsy’s double was ever after alluded to as the cat that walked by itself. The once haughty and overbearing cat is always to be seen in cat-land with two boots on its feet walking by itself. —2 marks to Cousin Winnie Harper (13), 152 Nith Street, Invercargill. —Highly Commended.— Primrose the cat was a very proud cat. He belonged to a rich maiden, who lived in a fine house. Indeed that was something to be proud of; but you will hear later about its effects. He would not piay with any other cats, save the ones that played about the fine house. The cat was called Primrose because the little girl’s name was that also. Primrose was a black and white cat, with hazel eyes and a coat of lovely warm fur. He was rather proud of himself, because all the other pussies had not such a lovely home. Now the fairies, who are very generous were feeling very sad, because the beautiful cat was behaving in a naughty way. Fairy Bluebell, after having a long talk with the other fairies decided that she would tell the Fairy Queen. Going up to her, Bluebell told her tale to the Queen. After a long pause of silence, she ordered all the fairies to come to her at once. She told them to weave a spell over the cat so that it would not be able to walk with any other cat. Just as it was going over to some cats one day, Primrose found that he was walking the opposite way. Feeling very angry he said that he would pay them back. After thinking for a while, he found a good idea to play on his outcast playmates. When he met them one day he asked them to go out into the bush for the afternoon. AU the cats agreed and when they had all met, they started off for the bush. When they had gone so far, Primrose started teasing the other cats, saying that they were all jealous of him. All at once something happened and the cat found that he was walking by himself. Just behind him came a noise and turning round, Primrose saw a little fairy sitting on a mushroom singing. W’hat was that? It was singing, “Oh! Selfish, proud cat, I have never seen before, you will al-

ways walk by yourself and with nobody any more.” Primrose having heard all this at once realized how selfisn he had been; but it was too late now. Although the cat wonders how he cannot walk with any other cat, the fairies know. —2 marks to Cousin Mons Allison (11), Frederick Street, South Invercargill. —Highly Commended.— “Why is that big cat so disdainful?” This was the question asked by Spot, a fluffy young kitten. “Old Meg is the only cat who knows the answer to your question,” said Fluff. So Spot went to Meg’s home, and when he asked her if she would tell him why Queen Bess was so disdainful, she said that she would, adding that she hoped the story would be a lesson to Fluff. This is what she told: When Queen Bess was quite a kitten, she lived with her mother in a pretty little home. But Queen Bess had one failing; she was a very cruel little kitten. We all know that, nowadays, most cats kill little birds and mice, but at this time the cats did not do this. One day, Queen Bess’s mother saw her with a pretty little bird in her mouth. The poor mother did not know what to do, but she scolded Queen Bess and told her never to do it again. Then one day she saw their ruler, who was a wise old cat, coming up the road, and he was leading Queen Bess. The ruler said that Queen Bess had been seen killing mice and birds, and she would have to be punished. He said that if Queen Bess killed any more birds or mice, she would, from that time, not be allowed to look at or speak to any other cat, and that all other cats would disregard her. But Queen Bess did not take this warning, and consequently the punishment was given. “So that is why we disregard Queen Bess and why we do not allow mice or birds to be killed if it can be prevented,” said Meg. “We know that in other parts the cats are often cruel, but in this colony it is not allowed.” —2 marks to Cousin Jean Anderson (14), 9 Kirkwood Lane, Leet Street, Invercargill.