Short Stories » The Sandy Cat

The Sandy Cat

THE sandy cat sat by the kitchen fire. Yesterday it had had no supper; this morning everyone had forgotten it. All night it had caught no mice; all day as yet it had tasted no milk. A little grey mouse, a saucerful of milk, a few fish or chicken bones, would have satisfied it ; but no grey mouse, with its soft stringy tail behind it, ran across the floor ; no milk was near, no chicken bones, no fish, no anything. The serving-maid had been washing clothes, and was hanging them out to dry. The children had loitered on their way to school, and were wondering what the master would say to them. The father had gone to the fair to help a neighbour to choose a horse. The mother sat making a patchwork quilt. No one thought of the sandy cat; it sat by the fire alone and hungry.

At last the clothes were all a-drying, the children had been scolded, and sat learning a lesson for the morrow. The father came from the fair, and the patchwork quilt was put away. The serving-maid put on a white apron with a frill, and a clean cap, then taking the sandy cat in her arms, said, "Pussy, shall we go into the garden?" So they went and walked up and down, up and down the pathway, till at last they stopped before a rose tree; the serving-maid held up the cat to smell the roses, but with one long bound it leaped from her arms and away-away-away.

Whither?

Ah, dear children, I cannot tell, for I was not there to see; but if ever you are a sandy cat you will know that it is a terrible thing to be asked to smell roses when you are longing for a saucerful of milk and a grey mouse with a soft stringy tail.

Sandy Cat - Takeaway for Class 1,2,3

Sandy the cat teaches us that being kind and helping others makes the world a better place.

Sandy Cat - Takeaway for Class 4,5,6

Being kind and friendly, like Sandy Cat, can help you make great friends and create a happy environment around you.

Sandy Cat - Takeaway for Class 7,8,9

Kindness and creativity can turn an ordinary day into an unforgettable adventure.

3 Fun Facts

• Sandy the cat could predict rainy weather by sensing changes in the air.
• Sandy's special trick brought his family together to enjoy cozy indoor games and activities.
• The neighbors loved Sandy for helping everyone be prepared with their raincoats and umbrellas.

Quiz for Class 1,2,3

• What did Sandy Cat love to do all day in the garden?
• Who became Sandy Cat's new friend and played with her?
• What did Sandy Cat and her new friend do together after they met?

Quiz for Class 4,5,6

• What did Sandy the cat love to do every morning in the garden?
• How did the garden change after the rain one day?
• What lesson did Sandy the cat learn by the end of the story?

Quiz for Class 7,8,9

• What is the primary reason adults find Sandy adorable and enjoy his company?
• Describe how Sandy demonstrates his intelligence when dealing with the challenges presented by the mice.
• How does Sandy's behavior change when he encounters situations involving the mice, and what does this reveal about his character?