p. 428 | Gratitude

International Tract and Missionary Society · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Jul 15, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 27.

Gratitude.

Cats have the reputation of resembling those men and women whose gratitude is a lively sense of future favors. But the Rev. J. G. Wood, an English naturalist, tells of a cat that he formerly owned whose expressions of gratitude shame human beings who accept a favor without the slightest acknowledgment:—

“He is, with regard to his meals, a most grateful cat, and, however hungry he may be, never thinks of eating until he has purred his thanks and rubbed his head against my hand. This trait of character was once displayed in the most affecting manner.

“One day ‘Pret’ had been shut up in the loft, on account of a lady visitor who had a strange antipathy to cats. I was gone to town that day, and did not return till after midnight.

“As I was going upstairs, I heard ‘Pret’s’ voice calling me in a very anxious manner, and on inquiry I found that the poor cat had been forgotten, and had been shut up the whole day without a morsel of food or a drop of milk.

“Of course I immediately procured some milk and meat for him, and carried it up to him.

“The poor creature was half wild with happiness when he heard my footsteps, and on seeing the plate of meat and saucer of milk, he flew at them like a mad thing.

“But scarcely had he lapped a drop of milk when he left the saucer, came up to me with loud purring, and caressed me, as if to express his thanks.

“Then he went to the plate, but only just touched it with his nose, and again came to thank me for having attended to his wants, both of food and drink.

“It quite brought the moisture to my eyes to see the affectionate creature, though nearly wild with hunger and thirst, refraining from enjoying his food until he had returned thanks.”

—Youth’s Companion.