Чорний кіт

           Tothosewhohavecherishedanaffectionforafaithfulandsagaciousdog,Ineedhardlybeatthetroubleofexplainingthenatureortheintensityofthegratificationthusderivable. Thereissomethingintheunselfishandself-sacrificingloveofabrute,whichgoesdirectlytotheheartofhimwhohashadfrequentoccasiontotestthepaltryfriendshipandgossamerfidelityofmereMan. 

           Imarriedearly,andwashappytofindinmywifeadispositionnotuncongenialwithmyown. Observingmypartialityfordomesticpets,shelostnoopportunityofprocuringthoseofthemostagreeablekind. Wehadbirds,goldfish,afinedog,rabbits,asmallmonkey,andacat. 

           Thislatterwasaremarkablylargeandbeautifulanimal,entirelyblack,andsagacioustoanastonishingdegree. Inspeakingofhisintelligence,mywife,whoatheartwasnotalittletincturedwithsuperstition,madefrequentallusiontotheancientpopularnotion,whichregardedallblackcatsaswitchesindisguise. Notthatshewaseverseriousuponthispoint —andImentionthematteratallfornobetterreasonthanthatithappens,justnow,toberemembered. 

           Pluto—thiswasthecat’sname—wasmyfavoritepetandplaymate. Ialonefedhim,andheattendedmewhereverIwentaboutthehouse. ItwasevenwithdifficultythatIcouldpreventhimfromfollowingmethroughthestreets.