Charles Dickens.
he was a keen observer of mourning customs.
He was also an animal lover, as his daughter, Mamie noted in My Father as I Recall Him:
Source:
he was a keen observer of mourning customs.
He was also an animal lover, as his daughter, Mamie noted in My Father as I Recall Him:
On account of our birds, cats were not
allowed in the house; but from a friend in London I received a present
of a white kitten — Williamina — and she and her numerous offspring had a
happy home at “Gad’s Hill.” … As the kittens grow older they became
more and more frolicsome, swarming up the curtains, playing about on the
writing table and scampering behind the bookshelves. But they were
never complained of and lived happily in the study until the time came
for finding them other homes. One of these kittens was kept, who, as he
was quite deaf, was left unnamed, and became known by servants as “the
master’s cat,” because of his devotion to my father. He was always with
him, and used to follow him about the garden like a dog, and sit with
him while he wrote. One evening we were all, except father, going to a
ball, and when we started, left “the master” and his cat in the
drawing-room together. “The master” was reading at a small table, on
which a lighted candle was placed. Suddenly the candle went out. My
father, who was much interested in his book, relighted the candle,
stroked the cat, who was looking at him pathetically he noticed, and
continued his reading. A few minutes later, as the light became dim, he
looked up just in time to see puss deliberately put out the candle with
his paw, and then look appealingly towards him. This second and
unmistakable hint was not disregarded, and puss was given the petting he
craved. Father was full of this anecdote when all met at breakfast the
next morning.
Source:
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