Dogs and cats, reflects our photographer, are everywhere enemies, but his photograph (taken in India) shows that just as with Twink and her feline friend, wonders never cease. See also The Mischief-Maker, where a maharajah must give judgment as to which of the two started all the trouble.
Introduction
A pamphlet published in 1815 sought to satisfy the public’s increasing thirst for information about matters of science. The anonymous authors chose as their overall subject the Quadrupeds of the British Isles, and the traditional enmity between Dog and Cat was noted, of course. But there was also this heartwarming little tale.
A GENTLEMAN, well known to the writer, witnessed a most singular act of kindness in a greyhound towards a cat and her kittens. Twink had long shown a partiality for this cat, and when basking before the fire, would suffer the cat to lie upon her: if Twink was tied up at her kennel, she was generally attended by puss.
The latter having kittened in a barn about thirty yards from the house, brought out her young family, and endeavoured to convey them across the yard, but her progress being arrested by a hollow drain for water, about four feet wide, she exhibited strong symptoms of distress.
These did not pass unobserved by Twink; having attentively considered the situation of poor puss, she walked through the water, and carefully taking up the kittens, in her month, one by one, laid them without injury in a dry place, on the side next the house. The cat now followed, and expressed her gratitude in the most extravagant manner, standing on her hind legs, purring, and licking the face of the greyhound. Twink was not less pleased, and showed her satisfaction much in the same way.
From ‘Recreations in natural history, or, Popular sketches of British quadrupeds’ (1815). It was published by William Clark, and the illustrations were by Luke Clennell (1781-1840); however, no author’s name was given.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
One day, a greyhound called Twink spotted her special friend, the cat, struggling to get home with her new litter of kittens, thanks to a flooded water channel in the yard. Twink bounded up, and gently carried over each kitten and the mother too, for which she received a flurry of rubs and purrs and licks to warm the heart. (60 / 60 words)
One day, a greyhound called Twink spotted her special friend, the cat, struggling to get home with her new litter of kittens, thanks to a flooded water channel in the yard. Twink bounded up, and gently carried over each kitten and the mother too, for which she received a flurry of rubs and purrs and licks to warm the heart.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, if, may, must, not, ought, unless, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Gentleman. Kind. Purr.
2 Through. Way. Young.
3 Four. Kindness. Toward.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Long. 2. Show. 3. Hind. 4. Tie. 5. Pass. 6. General. 7. Yard. 8. Kind. 9. Fire.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
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Your Words ()
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