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food；Cats do not do that way much；but recognizing each other
as entitled to special friendly privileges。
V
September had gone。 October's shortening days were on when an
event took place in the old cracker…box。 If Orange Billy had come
he would have seen five little Kittens curled up in the embrace
of their mother； the little Slum Cat。 It was a wonderful thing
for her。 She felt all the elation an animal mother can feel； all
the delight； and she loved them and licked them with a tenderness
that must have been a surprise to herself； had she had the power
to think of such things。
She had added a joy to her joyless life； but she had also added a
care and a heavy weight to her heavy load。 All her strength was
taken now to find food。 The burden increased as the offspring
grew up big enough to scramble about the boxes； which they did
daily during her absence after they were six weeks old。 That
troubles go in flocks and luck in streaks； is well known in
Slumland。 Kitty had had three encounters with Dogs； and had been
stoned by Malee's negro during a two days' starve。 Then the tide
turned。 The very next morning she found a full milk…can without a
lid； successfully robbed a barrow pensioner； and found a big
fish…head； all within two hours。 She had just returned with that
perfect peace which comes only of a full stomach； when she saw a
little brown creature in her junk…yard。 Hunting memories came
back in strength； she didn't know what it was； but she had killed
and eaten several Mice； and this was evidently a big Mouse with
bob…tail and large ears。 Kitty stalked it with elaborate but
unnecessary caution； the little Rabbit simply sat up and looked
faintly amused。 He did not try to run； and Kitty sprang on him
and bore him off。 As she was not hungry； she carried him to the
cracker…box and dropped him among the Kittens。 He was not much
hurt。 He got over his fright； and since he could not get out of
the box； he snuggled among the Kittens； and when they began to
take their evening meal he very soon decided to join them。 The
old Cat was puzzled。 The hunter instinct had been dominant； but
absence of hunger had saved the Rabbit and given the maternal
instinct a chance to appear。 The result was that the Rabbit
became a member of the family； and was thenceforth guarded and
fed with the Kittens。
Two weeks went by。 The Kittens romped much among the boxes during
their mother's absence。 The Rabbit could not get out of the box。
Jap Malee； seeing the Kittens about the back yard； told the negro
to shoot them。 This he was doing one morning with a 22…calibre
rifle。 He had shot one after another and seen them drop from
sight into the crannies of the lumber…pile； when the old Cat came
running along the wall from the dock； carrying a small Wharf Rat。
He had been ready to shoot her； too； but the sight of that Rat
changed his plans： a rat…catching Cat was worthy to live。 It
happened to be the very first one she had ever caught； but it
saved her life。 She threaded the lumber…maze to the cracker…box
and was probably puzzled to find that there were no Kittens to
come at her call； and the Rabbit would not partake of the Rat。
Pussy curled up to nurse the Rabbit； but she called from time to
time to summon the Kittens。 Guided by that call； the negro
crawled quietly to the place； and peering down into the
cracker…box； saw； to his intense surprise； that it contained the
old Cat； a live Rabbit； and a dead Rat。
The mother Cat laid back her ears and snarled。 The negro
withdrew； but a minute later a board was dropped on the opening
of the cracker…box； and the den with its tenants； dead and alive；
was lifted into the bird…cellar。
〃Say； boss； look a…hyarhyar's where de
little Rabbit got to wot we lost。 Yo' sho t'ought Ah stoled him
for de 'tater…bake。〃
Kitty and Bunny were carefully put in a large wire cage and
exhibited as a happy family till a few days later； when the
Rabbit took sick and died。
Pussy had never been happy in the cage。 She had enough to eat and
drink； but she
craved her freedomwould likely have gotten 'death or liberty'
now； but that during the four days' captivity she had so cleaned
and slicked her fur that her unusual coloring was seen； and Jap
decided to keep her。
LIFE II
VI
Jap Malee was as disreputable a little Cockney bantam as ever
sold cheap Canary…birds in a cellar。 He was extremely poor； and
the negro lived with him because the 'Henglish…man' was willing
to share bed and board； and otherwise admit a perfect equality
that few Americans conceded。 Jap was perfectly honest according
to his lights； but he hadn't any lights； and it was well known
that his chief revenue was derived from storing and restoring
stolen Dogs and Cats。 The half…dozen Canaries were mere blinds。
Yet Jap believed in himself。 〃Hi tell you； Sammy； me boy； you'll
see me with 'orses of my own yet；〃 he would say； when some
trifling success inflated his dirty little chest。 He was not
without ambition； in a weak； flabby； once…in…a…while way； and he
sometimes wished to be known as a fancier。 Indeed； he had once
gone the wild length of offering a Cat for exhibition at the
Knickerbocker High Society Cat and Pet Show； with three not
over…clear objects： first； to gratify his ambition； second； to
secure the exhibitor's free pass； and； third； 〃well； you kneow；
one 'as to kneow the valuable Cats； you kneow； when one goes
a…catting。〃 But this was a society show； the exhibitor had to be
introduced； and his miserable alleged half…Persian was scornfully
rejected。 The 'Lost and Found' columns of the papers were the
only ones of interest to Jap； but he had noticed and saved a
clipping about 'breeding for fur。' This was stuck on the wall of
his den； and under its influence he set about what seemed a cruel
experiment with the Slum Cat。 First； he soaked her dirty fur with
stuff to kill the two or three kinds of creepers she wore； and；
when it had done its work； he washed her thoroughly in soap and
warm water； in spite of her teeth； claws； and yowls。 Kitty was
savagely indignant； but a warm and happy glow spread over her as
she dried off in a cage near the stove； and her fur began to
fluff out with wonderful softness and whiteness。 Jap and his
assistant were much pleased with the result； and Kitty ought to
have been。 But this was preparatory： now for the experiment。
〃Nothing is so good for growing fur as plenty of oily food and
continued exposure to cold weather；〃 said the clipping。 Winter
was at hand； and Jap Malee put Kitty's cage out in the yard；
protected only from the rain and the direct wind； and fed her
with all the oil…cake and fish…heads she could eat。 In a week a
change began to show。 She was rapidly getting fat and sleekshe
had nothing to do but get fat and dress her fur。 Her cage was
kept clean； and nature responded to the chill weather and the
oily food by making Kitty's coat thicker and glossier every day；
so that by midwinter she was an unusually beautiful Cat in the
fullest and finest of fur； with markings that were at least a
rarity。 Jap was much pleased with the result of the experiment；
and as a very little success had a wonderful effect on him； he
began to dream of the paths of glory。 Why not send the Slum Cat
to the show now coming on？ The failure of the year before made
him more careful as to details。 〃'T won't do； ye kneow； Sammy； to
henter 'er as a tramp Cat； ye kneow；〃 he observed to his help；
〃but it kin be arranged to suit the Knickerbockers。 Nothink like
a good noime； ye kneow。 Ye see now it had orter be 'Royal'
somethink or othernothink goes with the Knickerbockers like
'Royal' anythink。 Now 'Royal Dick；' or 'Royal Sam；' 'ow's that？
But 'owld on； them's Tom names。 Oi say； Sammy； wot's the noime of
that island where ye wuz born？〃
〃Analostan Island； sah； was my native vicinity； sah。〃
〃Oi say； now； that's good； ye kneow。 'Royal Analostan；' by Jove！
The onliest pedigreed 'Royal Analostan' in the 'ole sheow； ye
kneow。 Ain't that foine？〃 and they mingled their cackles。
〃But we'll 'ave to 'ave a pedigree； ye kneow。〃 So a very long
fake pedigree on the recognized lines was prepared。 One dark
afternoon Sam； in a borrowed silk hat； delivered the Cat and the
pedigree at the show door。 The darkey did the honors。 He had been
a Sixth Avenue barber； and he could put on more pomp and lofty
hauteur in five minutes than Jap Malee could have displayed in a
lifetime； and this； doubtless； was one reason for the respectful
reception awarded the Royal Analostan at the Cat Show。
Jap was very proud to be an exhibitor； but he had all a Cockney's
reverence for the upper class； and when on the opening day he
went to the door； he was overpowered to see the array of
carriages and silk hats。 The gate…man looked at him sharply； but
passed him on his ticket； doubtless taking him for stable…boy to
some exhibitor。 The hall had velvet carpets before the long rows
of cages。 Jap； in his small cunning； was sneaking down the side
rows； glancing at the Cats of all kinds； noting the blue ribbons
and the reds； peering about but not daring to ask for his own
exhibit； inly trembling to think what the gorgeous gathering of
fashion would say if they