A KIND-HEARTED Physician sitting at the bedside of a patient
afflicted1 with an incurable2 and painful disease, heard a noise
behind him, and turning saw a cat laughing at the feeble efforts of
a wounded mouse to drag itself out of the room.
"You cruel beast!" cried he. "Why don't you kill it at once, like
a lady?"
Rising, he kicked the cat out of the door, and picking up the mouse
compassionately3 put it out of its misery4 by pulling off its head.
Recalled to the bedside by the moans of his patient, the Kind-
hearted Physician administered a stimulant5, a tonic6, and a
nutrient7, and went away.
