D is for Dickens and Duke!

 Well, I’m back! BobbieSue can have watching those birdies! It’s hard work!  Here’s what I have for you today:  D is for Dickens and Duke

Famous author Charles Dickens had a cat named Willamena that gave birth to a litter of kittens in his study. He was determined not to keep any of them but one little white kitten won his heart. She was known as Master’s Cat and stayed with him when he wrote, supposedly snuffing out his candle when she wanted attention. I looked at several different biographies of Charles Dickens but couldn’t find any mention of the white cat, nor any photographs of her. So maybe she’s a figment of someone’s imagination, but I like to think she was real.

This is from one of the books in the Bibliography – 

The closest I came to a photograph of the Dicken’s cat, is his daughter with an unnamed kitten. But it is obvious from the quote that he was a definite feline fancier!! (Click on the photo to biggify!)

 

Duke wasn’t a famous or even well-known dog; but he was well-loved by my mom. He was a German Shepherd her family had back when she was 3 or 4, maybe 5. I’ve included a photo of her and Duke but she tells me she has one personal memory of him and one memory given to her by her mother. Mom says she remembers sitting on the back steps one day eating handfuls of Frosted Flakes cereal straight out of the box. She ate a handful and then gave Duke a handful; then she had a handful, then Duke had one. The memory from her mother was that she, Auntie, their friends and Duke were all playing in the back yard one afternoon when one of the parents of the friends came to get their child. Well, apparently, Duke didn’t know this person and stood between the parent and the child, barking and growling. Mom’s mother had to call her father home from work to get Duke out of the way because, to his mind, the parent was a threat to one of his pack. When it was time for mom’s family to move to Florida, Duke couldn’t go with them so he was given to some friends. Duke was her friend for only a short time but mom still loves German Shepherds – and horror of horrors – she says she still wants one – but at least not until she retires!!

Thanks for stopping by! Tomorrow is Thursday – “E”-day!!! See you then!

Love, Toby