“It would take too long to tell you all the wonderful things Dinah did, but I am sure you all agree with me that she was a remarkable cat. She came out in a new character when I was ill with an attack of fever. She would not be kept from me. Again and again she was driven from the room where I lay, but she would patiently watch her opportunity and steal in, and when my mother found that she was perfectly quiet and that it distressed me to have her shut out, she was allowed to remain. She would lie for hours at the foot of my bed watching me, hardly taking time to eat her meals, and giving up her dearly loved rambles out of doors to stay in my darkened room. I have thought some times if I had died then Dinah would have died too of grief at my loss. But I didn’t die; and when I was getting well we had the best of times, for I shared with her all the dainty dishes prepared for me, and every day gave her my undivided attention for hours. It was about this time that I composed some verses in her praise, half-printing and half-writing them on a sheet of foolscap paper. They ran thus:—
’Who is it that I love
so well?
I love her more than words
can tell.
And who of all cats is the
belle?
My
Dinah.
Whose silky fur is dark as
night?
Whose diamond is so snowy
white?
Whose yellow eyes are big
and bright?
Black
Dinah.
Who broke the lamp, and in
the gloom
A ball of fire flew round
the room,
And just escaped an awful
doom?
Poor
Dinah.
Who, to defend her kittens
twain,
Flew at big dogs with might
and main,
And scratched them till they
howled with pain?
Brave
Dinah.
Who at the table takes her
seat
With all the family to eat,
And picks up every scrap of
meat?
My
Dinah.
Who watched beside me every
day,
As on my feverish couch I
lay,
And whiled the tedious hours
away?
Dear
Dinah.
And when thou art no longer
here,
Over thy grave I’ll
shed a tear,
For thou to me wast very dear,
Black
Dinah.’
“Did you really used to set a chair for her at the table and let her eat with the folks?” Fanny Eldridge asked.
“Well, Fannie, that statement must be taken with some allowance. Occasionally when there was plenty of room she was allowed to sit by me, and I assure you she behaved with perfect propriety. I kept a fork on purpose for her, and when I held it out with a bit of meat on it she would guide it to her mouth with one paw and eat it as daintily as possible. I never knew her to drop a crumb on the carpet. Indeed, I know several boys and girls whose table manners are not as good as Dinah Diamond’s.”
“I suppose you mean me, Auntie,” said Mollie. “Mamma is always telling me I eat too fast, and I know I scatter the bread about sometimes when I’m in a hurry.”