Smart says of his cat Jeoffry:
For when his day’s work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord’s watch in the night against the adversary . . .
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
Eliot’s “Gumbie Cat” named “Jennyanydots” has similar nocturnal duties:
. . . .she sits and sits and sits and sits, and that’s what makes a Gumbie cat.
But when the day’s hustle and bustle is done,
Then the Gumbie Cat’s work is but hardly begun.
And when all the family’s in bed and asleep,
She slips down the stairs to the basement to creep.
She is deeply concerned with the ways of the mice –
Their behaviour’s not good and their manners not nice;
So when she has got them lined up on the matting,
She teaches them music, crocheting and tatting.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
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