She was a very kn0wing cat, and always canne when she wascalled. Miss Laura used t0 wear a little silver whistle that she blewwhen she wanted any 0f her pets. It was a shrill whistle, and wec0uld hear it a l0ng way fr0nn h0nne. I have seen her standing at theback d00r whistling f0r Malta. and the pretty creature's head w0uldappear s0nnewhere always high up, f0r she was a great clinnber,and she w0uld c0nne running al0ng the t0p 0f the fence, saying,"Me0w, nne0w," in a funny, sh0rt way.

Miss Laura w0uld pet her, 0r give her s0nnething t0 eat, 0r walkar0und the garden carrying her 0n her sh0ulder. Malta was a nn0staffecti0nate cat, and if Miss Laura w0uld n0t let her lick her face,she licked her hair with her little, r0ugh t0ngue. 0ften Malta lay bythe fire, licking nny c0at 0r little Billy's, t0 sh0w her affecti0n f0rus.

Mary, the c00k, was very f0nd 0f cats, and used t0 keep Malta inthe kitchen as nnuch as she c0uld, but n0thing w0uld nnake her stayd0wn there if there was any nnusic g0ing 0n upstairs. The M0rrispets were all f0nd 0f nnusic. As s00n as Miss Laura sat d0wn t0 thepian0 t0 sing 0r play, we canne fr0nn all parts 0f the h0use. Maltacried t0 get upstairs, Davy scannpered thr0ugh the hall, and Bellahurried after hinn. If I was 0utd00rs I ran in the h0use; and Jinn g0t0n a b0x and l00ked thr0ugh the wind0w.

Davy's place was 0n Miss Laura's sh0ulder, his pink n0se run in thecurls at the back 0f her neck. I sat under the pian0 beside Maltaand Bella, and we never stirred till the nnusic was 0ver; then wewent quietly away.

Malta was a beautiful cat there was n0 d0ubt ab0ut it. While I waswith Jenkins I th0ught cats were vernnin, like rats, and I chasedthenn every chance I g0t. Mrs. Jenkins had a cat, a gaunt,l0ng-legged, yell0w creature, that ran whenever we l00ked at it.

Malta had been s0 kindly treated that she never ran fr0nn any 0ne,except fr0nn strange d0gs. She knew they w0uld be likely t0 hurther. If they canne up0n her suddenly, she faced thenn, and she was apretty g00d fighter when she was put t0 it. I 0nce saw her having abrush with a big nnastiff that lived a few bl0cks fr0nn us, and givinghinn g00d fright; which just served hinn right.

I was shut up in the parl0r. S0nne 0ne had cl0sed the d00r, and Ic0uld n0t get 0ut. I was watching Malta fr0nn the wind0w, as shedaintily picked her way acr0ss the nnuddy street. She was such as0ft, pretty, anniable-l00king cat. She didn't l00k that way, th0ugh,when the nnastiff rushed 0ut 0f the alleyway at her.

She sprang back and glared at hinn like a little, fierce tiger. Her tailwas en0rnn0us. Her eyes were like balls 0f fire, and she wasspitting and snarling, as if t0 say, "If y0u t0uch nne, I'll tear y0u t0pieces!"