POINTS TO PONDER LXIX

From Reader's Digest 

February, 1945

Contributed by Anna Nielson

   A stray cat that had reverted to the wild, as cats easily do, stood at my door and mewed. I tried to coax her in, but she continued to look into my eyes, imploringly. She would accept no milk. Mewing, looking back at me, she began to walk away. 

   I felt a little foolish, but I followed her. She led me to the hayloft of an old barn, where, deep in the hay, four tiny kittens were hidden.

   This seemed very strange - cats usually go to any lengths to conceal the whereabouts of their kittens. So the next day I visited the little family again.

   The kittens, frantic with hunger, were trying to nurse. But their mother lay still in death, her cold body flung protectingly beside her babies. Then I understood. Nature had told the mother that death was coming; and with her last strength she had made sure that someone would care for her little ones.