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[Illustration: "DAISY." (FROM THE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH.)]




  Daisy

  _The Autobiography of a Cat_

  BY
  MIRANDA ELIOT SWAN

  Boston
  NOYES BROTHERS
  PUBLISHERS




  COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY NOYES BROTHERS.

  Norwood Press
  J.S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith
  Norwood Mass. U.S.A.




INTRODUCTION


This little story of one cat's life has been written during the
intervals of a long and painful illness, when I missed the love and
sympathy of my little four-footed friend of eighteen years, now, alas!
nothing but a memory. Indeed, so vividly did his spirit speak to me,
that I readily acknowledge him the author of this book, being myself his
amanuensis.

From my earliest childhood the love of animals, particularly cats, has
been inherent with me. One tale of cruelty, heard by me when a child,
distressed me and made me ill, and nightly the panorama of the
disgusting crime would haunt my pillow. But I never regret the suffering
it caused me, for it taught me my duty to our dumb friends so dependent
on us.

If the little stories in this book touch the hearts of its readers as
that story touched mine, it will indeed have accomplished its mission.
Just such stories are needed to create interest in the many societies
now forming in aid of dumb animals.

There are cases where one must not spare the knife, even though our
tenderest and most sensitive feelings recoil, for the cure will be sure.
There are crimes perpetrated every day, in the name of Science, that
need just such stories to expose their iniquity. For I believe ignorance
is the cause of cruelty in many instances, and a little story told
attractively, where retribution follows the deed, will have more effect
than reproof. I do not believe there are many hearts so callous, that a
little anecdote of cruelty to these helpless creatures will not touch
them.

There are many who will read this book who have lost dear little pets,
and I would say to them that the dear Father has them all in his care.
In the boundless and beautiful fields of Paradise they will find the
dear little friends they have lost waiting for them.

I trust my readers will pardon the many imperfections of this little
book, believing that an earnest wish to help our dumb animals is my
heart's desire.

                                                    MIRANDA ELIOT SWAN.

    BOSTON,
    December 11, 1899.




CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I                                                 PAGE
  EARLY DAYS                                                   1

  CHAPTER II
  MY MOTHER'S STORY                                            4

  CHAPTER III
  MY HOME                                                     17

  CHAPTER IV
  DAISY'S PARTY                                               21

  CHAPTER V
  REVERSES                                                    28

  CHAPTER VI
  DAISY'S ADVENTURE                                           36

  CHAPTER VII
  CAT MEMORIES                                                46

  CHAPTER VIII
  AN ACCIDENT                                                 50

  CHAPTER IX
  CAT TALES                                                   61

  CHAPTER X
  LITTLE PEARL                                                66

  CHAPTER XI
  REMINISCENCES                                               73

  CHAPTER XII
  CAT TALES                                                   83

  CHAPTER XIII
  MY FIRST THEFT                                              90

  CHAPTER XIV
  RELIGIOUS ASPIRATIONS                                       96

  CHAPTER XV
  CAT ANECDOTES                                              106

  CHAPTER XVI
  CAT PRANKS                                                 115

  CHAPTER XVII
  THE STORY OF FREIDA                                        132

  CHAPTER XVIII
  THANKSGIVING                                               145

  CHAPTER XIX
  MEWS AND PURRS                                             165

  CHAPTER XX
  HEADS AND TALES                                            187

  CHAPTER XXI
  JETT                                                       195

  CHAPTER XXII
  WATCH AND CHLOE                                            216

  CHAPTER XXIII
  THE STORY OF BLACKIE                                       235

  CHAPTER XXIV
  RETRIBUTION                                                249

  CHAPTER XXV
  EVENTIDE                                                   261




DAISY

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CAT




DAISY

_AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY_




I

EARLY DAYS


I have no doubt people will wonder that a Cat should write a story. Of
course, fighting is more in their line.

However pleased I might have been to help my fellow-sufferers, and use
my natural weapons in their defence, a remark I heard made by a very
learned man decided me to use my brains instead of my claws.

He quoted:--

    "The _pen_ is mightier than the _sword_."

Taking this quotation for my text, I have written my own story, hoping
it will benefit the poor cats who are made the victims of great cruelty.
No other animal has to suffer like the household pet, the cat.

I am a Boston boy, born eighteen years ago, in one of the nice
old-fashioned houses for which our quiet