his cat: for whom he himself used to go out and buy oysters, lest
the servants having that trouble should take a dislike to the
poor creature. I am, unluckily, one of those who have an
antipathy to a cat, so that I am uneasy when in the room with
one; and I own, I frequently suffered a good deal from the
presence of this same Hodge. I recollect him one day scrambling
up Dr. Johnson's breast, apparently with much satisfaction, while
my friend smiling and half-whistling, rubbed down his back, and
pulled him by the tail; and when I observed he was a fine cat,
saying, 'Why yes, Sir, but I have had cats whom I liked better
than this;' and then as if perceiving Hodge to be out of
countenance, adding, 'but he is a very fine cat, a very fine cat
indeed.'"
- James Boswell, on Samuel Johnson. (from Life of Johnson, Volume
4)
Submitted by: Terry Labach
Feb. 27, 2005
