ONE MORE "CONSCIOUS AUTOMATON."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPBOTATOR."]
have two dogs, two cats, and a kitten. Many years of experience have shown me, in the teeth of all proverbs, that cata and dogs, members of the same household, live together quite as amicably as human beings.
Only, like human beings, they have their dislikes and prefer- ences for each other. At the present time, my dog "Snow" is on terms of hearty friendship with my grey cat "Kitty," but of polite indifference with my black cat " Toppy."
" Toppy," for some years back, has been subject to fits, owing, it is considered, to the lodgment of some small shot near her spine, whilst out trespassing (or poaching).
Yesterday, " Snow " rushed into the kitchen, with face so anxious and piteous that my servants both exclaimed that something must have happened ; gave signs, as he can do, that somebody was to go with him, and was followed into the drawing-room, where " Tbppy," left alone, had fallen under the grate in a fit, and was writhing amid the ashes and embers. She was rescued, and beyond a little singeing, does not seem much the worse.
To reach the kitchen, "Snow" must have pushed open a red- baize door, which he has never been known to open before, and
before which he will stay barking for ten minutes at a time to be let through.
If any biped, supposing himself to be endowed with reason, humanity, and articulate speech, tells me that "Snow" is a con- -Below automaton, can I give him any other answer than, "You're
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