or when out for a walk, as well as any cat in the town. Once the trick came near to lose me my life, for as I made a great jump from a house, I lit upon a loose tile, which gave way with me, and I fell from a great height to the street, and should no doubt have met my death, had I not had the luck to drop in a dust cart, by which I got off, though I could scarce gasp for breath.

"In spite of the risk I had run when I slew the bird, I blush to say I did the same thing once more. One night I leapt down from a roof on to the edge of a dove cote, which led to the room in which the birds were kept. I went in and found they all slept, and I made

sad work of all that I could reach, for I did not try to leave till I had had a taste of the blood of not less than twelve of them. I was all but caught here, too, for when I tried to go back, I found it was too high for me to leap up to the place whence I had come, so that I had to wait in great fear in the place where I was till some one came up in the morn to give the doves their food. I made a rush as soon as I saw the door move, and had the good luck to get safe down stairs, and out of doors, but I shall not cast off the dread of that night as long as I live. Let this warn you, my dears, to curb your fierce tastes, and to do no harm to those who, like us, are in

the care of men. We cats have all a bad name, and with shame I must say we earn it but too well. Well, but my breath grows weak, and I must haste to the end. I still dwelt in the same house, when Mrs. Prim, who had lost her Tab, said she would give a great price for a good cat, if it was at all like her dead pet. I was brought to her, and as soon as she saw me she chose me out of all the rest, and bought me. In this house in which we now are I have dwelt since then, and have felt more at home than in any place I have been in. The thing I prize most is that none of you, my dears, have been put to death, but that I have had you all with me up to now. I have not

seen much life here, for though the ape did bite off the last joint of my tail, I have since kept out of the reach of his chain, and no dog dare tease me. My most sad grief was when a whole brood of young ones was put to death by a fat old friend of Mrs. Prim's, who sat down on the chair where they lay, and did not know of it till she rose, though I did all I could to make her see I was in pain. Mrs. Prim took this to heart as much as I did, and that friend came here no more. Both I and mine have met with naught but kind care from Mrs. Prim; too much of it, I fear, for this cold, which will put an end to my life, has been brought on by the good things I have had, and

the baths the nurse would make me take. But I know all was meant well, and with my last breath I charge you to do what you can to show your love to the good dame.

"And now, my dears, good bye. We may meet once more in a land where there are no dogs to kill, or boys to tease us. Fare well!" And as she said this, Floss gave up the ghost, to the great grief of all who knew her.