"CATS HAVE NINE LIVES"

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 84, 5 October 1940, Page 19

"CATS HAVE NINE LIVES"

• (Original.) Michael and Vera Brown were arguing heatedly.

"I tell you," said Michael, "it was our cat!" -

"Nonsense," answered Vera, halftearfully. "It couldn't be." She looked as though she was going to burst into tears, and Michael, who always felt embarrassed when Vera cried, plunged into his distressing tale again.

"Well, I was riding along our street and there, lying beside the road, was a ginger cat, just like 4Goldy.' She was as dead as—well as deaa as dead. Some beast must have< run over her " he stopped awkwardly, as his mother appeared upon the scene. "Whatever is the matter, Vera? 1* queried Mrs. Brown, noting Vera'S tears. . ,

"Michael s-says 'G-Goldy's' run over, 1* sobbed Vera.

Mother laughed knowingly. "Why, Vera," she said, "have you ever heard the old sayingT^'Cati have nine lives'?" : :

Vera was not listening. She was gazing out of the open window watch*

ing Goldy, her dear Goldy, nimbly do* ing gymnastics on the fence. "Ooh!" Vera gave one shout and disappeared to give Goldy a bear-hug. But that was not all. Vera thought about her mother's words—"Cats have nine lives!" But still she did not quite believe, it. Then Goldy disappeared! No trace was found of Vera's pet until one day Vera arrived home- from- school, sobbing bitterly. "It's Goldy this time," she cried, "I saw h-her! Oh, my dear Goldy ** she stopped, for, .walking calmly up the garden path, was Goldy, followed by four darling, furry kittens. "Well!" Vera was dumbfounded. As Vera laughed and stroked her five dear pets she whispered to Goldy, "Goldy, I really belieVe cats have nine lives!" Goldy purred understanding^ as she answered "Meo-ow."

"MERRY MASCOT" (1?). Lower Hutt. . •