Sitting at my window , I saw a very handsome puss come walking down the street in the most composed and dignified manner . I watched him with interest , wondering where he was going . Pausing now and then , he examined the houses as he passed , as if looking for a particular number , till , coming to our gate , he pushed it open , and walked in . Straight up to the door he came , and finding it shut sat down to wait till some one opened it for him . Much amused , I went at once , and he came directly in , after a long stare at me , and a few wavings of his plumy tail . It was evidently the right place , and , following me into the parlor , he perched himself on the rug , blinked at the fire , looked round the room , washed his face , and then , lying down in a comfortable sprawl , he burst into a cheerful purr , as if to say , -- `` It 's all right ; the place suits me , and I 'm going to stay . '' His coolness amused me very much , and his beauty made me glad to keep him . He was not a common cat , but , as we afterward discovered , a Russian puss . His fur was very long , black , and glossy as satin ; his tail like a graceful plume , and his eyes as round and yellow as two little moons . His paws were very dainty , and white socks and gloves , with a neat collar and shirt-bosom , gave him the appearance of an elegant young beau , in full evening dress . His face was white , with black hair parted in the middle ; and whiskers , fiercely curled up at the end , gave him a martial look . Every one admired him , and a vainer puss never caught a mouse . If he saw us looking at him , he instantly took an attitude ; gazed pensively at the fire , as if unconscious of our praises ; crouched like a tiger about to spring , and glared , and beat the floor with his tail ; or lay luxuriously outstretched , rolling up his yellow eyes with a sentimental expression that was very funny . We named him the Czar , and no tyrannical emperor of Russia ever carried greater desolation and terror to the souls of his serfs , than this royal cat did to the hearts and homes of the rats and mice over whom he ruled . The dear little mice who used to come out to play so confidingly in my room , live in my best bonnet-box , and bring up their interesting young families in the storeroom , now fell an easy prey to the Czar , who made nothing of catching half a dozen a day . Brazen-faced old rats , gray in sin , who used to walk boldly in and out of the front door , ravage our closets , and racket about the walls by night , now paused in their revels , and felt that their day was over . Czar did not know what fear was , and flew at the biggest , fiercest rat that dared to show his long tail on the premises . He fought many a gallant fight , and slew his thousands , always bringing his dead foe to display him to us , and receive our thanks . It was sometimes rather startling to find a large rat reposing in the middle of your parlor ; not always agreeable to have an excited cat bounce into your lap , lugging a half-dead rat in his mouth ; or to have visitors received by the Czar , tossing a mouse on the door-steps , like a playful child with its cup and ball . He was not fond of petting , but allowed one or two honored beings to cuddle him .
My work-basket was his favorite bed , for a certain fat cushion suited him for a pillow , and , having coolly pulled out all the pins , the rascal would lay his handsome head on the red mound , and wink at me with an irresistibly saucy expression that XXXXX it impossible to scold .
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