Twink

When a new mother found herself and her kittens on the wrong side of a nasty-looking stream, Twink was there to help.

1815

King George III 1760-1820

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.
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.
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.

Jigsaws

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.

A cat had several kittens. She wanted to cross the farmyard with them. A dirty stream was in the way.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IBar. IIFind. IIIOver.

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