THE ADVENTURES OF A BLACK CAT

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 31, 17 February 1928, Page 15

THE ADVENTURES OF A BLACK CAT

It was midnight as I stole down the stair-way of my mistress’s house in the town. [I leapt through the epen kitchen-window, chuckling as I thought how cook had forgotten to close it. The night was dark and wild, with a few stars faintly striving ‘to show their light, while the moon was like "a ghostly galleon tossed on cloudy seas." 1 crawled under the backyard gate. There was no one in the ‘stréet save the night policeman and the yawning lamp-lighter whe was returning wearily from his rounds. Now I was free! All fishmongers’ stalls were now open to invasion; even the dairies I had so often attempted to raid, and never sueceeded, were now my prey. There was no mistress to stop me now! As soon as the sun was up, I was away at the fishshop, awaiting my prey. The fishmonger was opening the windows when I, from concealment, surveyed my favourite fish. "A nice morning, Mr. Brown," he said to his neighbour, the baker. Now was my chance! I was on the counter in a second; I had captured my fish in another; and in another I was down at the bottom of the street, with the enraged apprentice panting after me. I was smacking my lips behind a milk-kit at the dairy, observing that there was a pail of delicious, creamy milk within reach. The dairyman was supervising the loading of the milkeart when 1, cyes agog with excitement, dodged behind an eggbox to drink the refreshing stuff, "How creamy!" I splutered. By the time Mr. Jones had come _ back, I had whisked my tail and disappeared round the corner. Grrr! I was on the top of a corner~ stone, with my back arched, my hairs bristling, and my _ tail waving, while a_ biting, yapping, snap. ping, leaping and bounding cur danced around me. Snap! Scratch! Spit! Snarl!-we went, that disturber of the peace gaining all the time. Round and round we went, leaping, bounding, snapping, Spitting, growling, and biting. My breath was coming in short gasps, my proud tail drooping heavily, my ear bleeding, my silky fur ruffled ter.ribly, so I gave up hope and fled, a bedraggled specimen of eat-life, How I longed for my old comfortable home, and the cosy place on the hearthrug, with the fire blazing merrily, and my mistress stroking my fur. But, finding none of these things, I fell asleep. When I awoke, I found myself in a bright room, with gaily-coloured wallpaper; a fine fire was crackling in a polished grate, and by my side Was a saucer of milk, After I had been awake about five minutes, a pretty little girl came into the room. "Poor puss!" she exclaimed, stroking me gently. "We’ll take you home when you’re better, and you'll be happy." I had lived here about a week when they took me to my old home, the warm hearthrug.