Part 3 (1/2)

IV

DAISY'S PARTY

Great preparation was made for my party. I was truly a fortunate cat. I could not help them work, but rushed to and fro from one to the other, knocking down spools of cotton and everything I could get at, jumping up in their arms, disarranging their work, and trying in every way to amuse myself; but when I was wanted to try on my clothes, I would rush under the bed and elude even the longest arm. Then Will would crawl under the bed, and, after a good frolic, would land me where I was needed.

Mrs. Rice made a tall black hat with a c.o.c.kade on it. She had to tie it on with strings, for as soon as she put it on I jerked it just as I had seen monkeys do.

Miss Eleanor made me a pair of red pants, leaving a good slit for my tail, for I was to represent a monkey, and the tail was very important, though, as my mistress said, no monkey ever had such a beautiful tail as mine.

Miss Milly made me a dress-coat, with white ruffles at the neck and wrists, bra.s.s b.u.t.tons, and a white s.h.i.+rt front.

They covered a large pasteboard box with green cloth, for the organ.

Will and his friend Josie were to be the organ-players.

The long-looked-for day came at last. I had raved up stairs and down, as Miss Milly said, ”just like a maniac.” I superintended all the preparations, walked over the tree that they were to decorate in my honor, and scratched it well, as they said, sharpening my claws for the evening. I was too busy to take a cat-nap or one of my ”forty winks.”

We had before this eventful day rehea.r.s.ed our parts, and I had provoked them with my stupidity. I did make fun enough with that hat. I hitched it on the back of my head, getting out first one ear, then the other; for they had tucked my ears in, saying my face looked so innocent without them. It was all mischief, for I intended to do my best.

Mrs. Knight threw open her nice rooms, and in the hall room off the back parlor the tree was placed.

They were obliged in the afternoon to keep me prisoner upstairs. I was disgusted, for I wanted to be in the thick of it all. I could not sleep, and I kept pretty near the door, ready to run out if I could get a chance.

At seven o'clock they dressed me in all my finery, and before eight all our guests had arrived: Madam A., a lovely woman, and one of our best friends, with her three n.o.ble boys, and a sweet-faced little bit of a woman whom every one who knew her called cousin; then Madam M., with her daughter and granddaughter,--charming people, and all my dear friends.

These, with Mr. and Mrs. Knight and their son Stacy, with ourselves, made a party of (reckoning myself) seventeen,--quite a roomful.

I thought (and I can a.s.sure you a cat's opinion is of some value) that the Queen might be proud to see such beautiful, refined, and highly educated people at her drawing-room. To be sure, there were no decollete toilets, but then it was a proof of the good sense of the people. Of course the Queen would not admit cats to her receptions; it would not be safe. The bones would be a temptation, and I fear cats would not respect even elderly bones, or spare them though decked with diamonds. I am happy to say that my party was purely democratic; they were really all my equals.

The back parlor door was thrown open, and we were in full view of them all. The three boys in ragged clothes, bare legs, old shoes, were as hard a looking crew as ever accompanied a hand-organ. Will had the organ strapped to his back, and I sat upright on it. I was tied to Will's arm, and Josie held another string, for they could not trust me, fearing I would run under the sofa, at the expense of my tall hat and my dignity.

We were greeted with a burst of applause. The boys so successfully a.s.sumed the street gamin air, and looked so thoroughly demoralized, as they pulled their forelocks in recognition of the greeting, that no wonder they brought down the house, and for a short time obscured my august self. Stacy and Will gave a song in nasal style, pretending all the while to grind the organ, while I was mounted on Will's shoulder, swelling with importance.

Then they began ”Yankee Doodle.” Josie shook the castanets, Stacy beat the drum, Will ground the organ and sang, while they all danced like street Arabs.

I was perfectly beside myself. Oh, if I had only been Balaam's a.s.s, wouldn't I have made a speech! I ran to and fro on the organ, then rolled over and over, my hat on one ear, my coat up my back, around my neck, and my tail wagging from the red pants, in fine style.

The boys looked on in wonder, for it is needless to say that this act was not on the programme, but an impromptu act of my own--and it was the crown of the performance.

There were a few songs after this, but nothing like our ”national air.”

We could rest our laurels on that. I was handed around, kissed, and admired to my heart's content. My clothes were p.r.o.nounced perfect; and then, when the boys went upstairs to change their clothes, my mistress removed my finery, much against my will, and I made it very hard for her by sticking my claws into the clothes as she tried to take them off.

Chester and Henry A., with Karl, were the ushers, and they opened the door of the hall room, where the tree was displayed in all its beauties.

Mrs. Rice made a little speech, while Miss Milly held me tight, for, regardless of etiquette, I was eager to rush for the tree.

As soon as she released me I made one jump on the table, and discovered what my sense of smell had led me to expect,--three little fishes tied with a red ribbon. I soon had them off the tree and on the floor, and made inroads into them before I could be prevented.

Karl read the labels on the articles, while Chester and Henry distributed them, for I was pleased to see that my dear friends had been remembered as well as myself.

Miss Milly had a book of ”Familiar Quotations.” On the fly-leaf was written in Madam A.'s lovely handwriting:--