Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/267

Rh John. "Tell me what she says that I may find out whether it is true." "She says, master, there is a dish of fowls placed up in the bedroom." The master got up, went there and found as the cat had told John. He took the dish with him, and they both eat abundantly of the food. Then the master became aware that the cat had the gift of knowing.

Not long after the mistress came in. She went where the dish was and did not find it there, for the food had been prepared by her to be taken by her in the night to the landlord. She became extremely angry against the servants, saying she could not keep a single thing without its being stolen, and at the same time she was grieved that she could not go to the landlord. The master asked her why she was troubled. She replied it was food she had for them, and that the girls had stolen it. "Don't blame them," said the master, "for the cat told John where it was; I took it away with me, and we have eaten it." "I am satisfied," said the mistress, though she was not satisfied, for she was unable to go to the landlord.

Next day the master and John went ploughing, and were so till evening, when they went home and John put the horses into the stable. Then he sat himself down and took the cat in his lap the second night. John told the master the dish was in the milk-room and full to the brim. The master went and brought it with him. They both eat plenty, and, when the mistress had a mind to be going, she went where the dish was and there was nothing in it at all. She was annoyed, but however she did not say a word. She knew the cat told John the place where the dish was.

That night past, in the morning they went ploughing the third day. When they had left the house the mistress went to the landlord and narrated to him that what with the lad and the cat she could do nothing at all. The landlord told her to tie the cat to a tree outside and she would not be able to talk with the lad at night. She did so. She tied the cat to a tree early in the day, and prepared another meal to be carried to the landlord.

When John had put the horses into the stable he went where the cat was tied and loosed her. He went in and sat down. After a while he took up the cat, spoke to her, and she purred. The master