Early Life

I was born on a warm summer day. T'was a happy time, so it seemed. Much rejoicing on the part of the servants, but alas I was to find that their rejoicing was a base sham to fool mother. Mother doted over us, especially my sister, Mary Elin, and me. Oh, the warm mother's milk, the frequent caresses, the lazy days of that summer now past! Deep in the stilly night, I often think back fondly to mother, my brothers, and Mary Elin. Alas, I suspect we shall not meet again in these nine lives. Oh, one must enjoy the simple times of kittenhood! Their memory provides me much joy to this day.

I never met my father. Mother said he was a dandy of a Tom, a denizen of Charleston, who, in the way of dandies, convinced Mother of his desire to find a gentle country lass and settle away from the bustle and alleys of the "Holy" city. No sooner than we were expected, though, father disappeared. Whether the responsibilities of fatherhood proved too great, the call of seaport fish markets too alluring, or misfortune on the highways too catastrophic, I suspect we will never know.

By and by, my brothers began to leave the litter. It seemed that many servants needed young masters. With each parting, there was much sadness....but happiness, too, as my brothers seemed destined to take over comfortable estates. Nevertheless, it was with some uneasiness that Mary Elin and I noted that servants looking for young masters, paid us scant attention. Mother assured us that it was because our own servants refused to part with us. One morning, in early fall, I recall, mother decided to take a walk for her constitution. Mother had begun to walk regularly, in an attempt to regain her kittenish figure. Mary Elin and I were napping on the couch, listening to fowl sing, and thinking about lunch. I noticed things a bit out of the ordinary as the oldest servant, the one with the shortest hair, came into the room carrying a brown paper box. He displayed an unusual desire to hold us, and I must say that I thought this most unusual. Of all the servants, I always suspected that his servitude had more of the slave than the lover. My suspects proved correct! This scoundrel seized us both, casting us into the box, and covering us with a old brown rag! Oh the fear that struck Mary Elin and me as we were jostled and cast about. In the dark, we were, sensing movement, strange noises and smells. But the worst was yet to come. We mewed pittifully for our dear mother, but without compense. This blackheart had taken the opportunity of mother's walk to steal us away. Undoubtedly he told her dispicable lies to prevent his dismissal, upon her return. Shortly, the movement stopped. The old rascal grabbed us up, and before we could regain our senses, we found ourselves in a squalid prison. Numerous cats, were in cells surrounding us. The stench was nauseous, and the food unbearable. But the worst was the fear, compouned by the hideous howling and shrieking of vicious canines emanating from the room next door. Mary Elin could not control her crying as she was convinced that we were to serve as fodder for those base creatures. This is the situation we found ourselves in after barely nine weeks of life...alone, unloved, and imprisoned.

About Me

My name is Eliza Mischiefcat, and I am the proprietess of a grande old country estate located in Carolina Del Sud. My properties are extensive and well endowed with all variety of game, such as mice, rats, snakes, and fowl, but I no longer trouble myself with hunting sports. Rather, I spend my time in the management of the rambling old manse for which the property is known. The age of the old edifice is almost indecipherable, but it has served as a home to tens of generations of felines and a half dozen generations of their human servants. Indeed, not infrequently, in the still of a quiet evening I sense the presence of a long forgotten kitten, or hear their mews and cries in the wind and thunder of a stormy night. But enough of this gothic gibble, we won't dwell upon the long past. I intend to tell you a bit about my life and adventures.