The Dentist and the Cat

The cat that owned the false teeth had lost his own, and had his jaw broken besides by a drunken wretch who beat him with a cobble-stone. With great care the poor animal finally recovered but he had to be fed with a little spoon for a long time. When able to pursue his ordinary business of catching rats and mice, he could not eat them, because he had no teeth to chew with. Something must be done for him, for life supported on 'spoon vittles' was a burden; and a young dentist in the neighborhood, who had become greatly interested in the unfortunate cat, resolved to try the experiment of making him a set of false teeth. Taking the cast for the plate was a terrible piece of work, as Captain objected to it with all his might; but it was nothing to what followed when the teeth were fairly in. If the animal had plunged and scratched while the plate was being filled, he acted like a mad thing when it was firmly attached to his jaw—although it was well made and fitted perfectly. He could not understand that it would enable him to continue the luxurious feasts to which he had been accustomed; and for several days he was furious over it. Every possible and impossible scheme was tried to get the uncomfortable thing out of his mouth; he tore at it with his claws, he shook his head violently to make it drop out, he butted against heavy pieces of furniture, and if anyone came near him, he growled and scratched at them. There seemed to be danger of his going mad, and his friends were sorely puzzled to know what to do with him when, greatly to their relief, he calmed down, and appeared to have come to the conclusion that his possession was after all, a blessing in disguise. He was once more gentle and affectionate, as he had been previous to his misfortune; and the plate was now often taken out between meals and put back again. In this way it was worn comfortably for over a year.