WHISKERS’ REVENGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 17 October 1891, Page 499

WHISKERS’ REVENGE.

I.D WHISKERS lay on the top of a sunny $-1 V garden wall, blinking his eyes in the bright h light, but showing no other sign that he heard the rude conversation of three young Angora TO® kittens in the garden below. Very beautiful were the kittens, with their long, delicate fur and small paws. One of them, named Flufl', was as white as snow, and always had a bright blue ribbon tied round her neck, on which hung a silver-bell that went .tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, wherever she went. Flufl' was very vain, for she was accustomed to hear herself admired so much that she thought no one could be so lovely as herself, so she did what a great many children do who are spoiled by over indulgence and foolish petting. She gave herself airs, and behaved in a manner that quite spoilt her good looks, and made people dislike and laugh at her. Looking up she saw old Whiskers on the garden wall, and began to speak in her usually silly manner. * Look,’ she said to the other two kittens, ‘ at that stupid great Whiskers. What a fright he is ! He has lost the best pait of his ears, and one eye is smaller than the other, because he will fight the great rats, and says it is his duty, as they destroy his master’s property. What shall we do to tease him ?’ Then these three kittens put their heads together ami began to whisper and giggle. What rude kittens they were ! Presently they climbed up a high cherry tree that grew in the garden and hung just over the place where Whiskers was lying. Whiskers was sound asleep by this time. He had felt very much hurt by the words of Flufl’, for he had been very kind to her always ; but he dozed off just before the kittens climbed the tree, being very tired from a fierce fight he had had with a rat, and wishing to rest himself before going to the corn-loft to look for a larger and fiercer rat which he knew lived there, and did much damage in his master’s corn-bins. Up in the tree the kittens watched the good old cat, and then all at once down came Fluff, right on his back. Whiskers was very angry for a moment, but when he saw it was Fluff he moved quietly away without speaking, for he could not bear to speak unkindly to a little delicate thing like her. Flufl knew why Whiskers did not speak, and the knowledge should have taught her to love and respect him, but she thought only of amusing herself. So she followed him until he found another sunny seat, and then she rudely pushed against him and said, * I want to sit there. ’ ‘ Very well,’ said Whiskers, and walked away again, and this time he went to the corn-loft. ‘ Come along I’ said Fluff to the other kittens, ‘ let us follow him.’ But the other kittens were busy running after their own tails, and did not answer her, so she followed by herself. Up in the corn-loft Flufl'had never been before, and she felt half afraid to go, for she had heard her mother speak of the great battles that had been fought there between the cats and rats for many years. But as she looked round she saw nothing that would alarm her. The sun shone in brightly, and the floor was quite warm ; the loft door was open, ami there sat Whiskers washing his face, and looking happy and contented. ‘ Ah I’ cried naughty little Fluff, * now I havr caught yon sir. I thought all your tales about the rat were mad* up ; and now I see you come here to enjoy the sunshine and sleep.’ Directly Whiskers heard Fluff he got up and said : ‘ Do not come here ; if a rat were to catch a tiny kitten like you, he would kill you.’ ‘ I don’t believe there are any rats,’ said Flufl'. Then she began her old game of wanting to sit wherever Whiskers was, until at last the old cat was i eally angry, and said : • Very well, I will leave you in the loft alone,’ and away be went. Fluff sat in the warm sunshine and washed her face, and played with a piece of straw, and was just beginning to think she would fetch the other kittens, when she heard a strange noise, and looking up she saw close to her a great grey old rat! Oh ! how her heart beat. She set up her back and spat at the rat, who only grinned, and said, •Ah I ah ! I have caught you, have I,’ and was just about to spring upon her, when something dark came between them, and there was dear old Whiskers, holding the rat in his mouth. A dreadful fight they had, for the rat was very strong, and no cat had been able to kill him. He hit Whiskers dreadfully, and Fluff screamed with flight. .Soon the great rat was dead, and Whiskers stood growling over it, looking so fierce that Fluff was quite afraid of him. At last she went up to him and said : ‘ Oh ! Whiskers, dear, brave Whiskers, can you forgive me ? lam so sorry for being so rude to you, and so thankful to you for saving my life.’ Then she rubbed her nose against Whiskers and licked his face, and the good, brave, old cat forgave her, and from that day Fluff learned that, good looks are nothing compared to brave hearts and kind actions. It is no merit to be pretty if we are made so. But there is great merit in conquering a wayward or fearful spirit, and becoming gentle, brave, loving.— Exchange.