THE

ae) HISTORY OF DAME MITCHELL

ND

HER

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER I.

SHOWING HOW DAME MITCHELL FIRST BECAME ACQUAINTED
WITH HER CAT.

IN the reign of Queen Anne, there lived near London
a venerable countess, named Greenford, who was very
rich, and possessed of large landed estates. She was a
kind, benevolent lady, and delighted in giving alms to the
poor of her own and neighbouring parishes. Her noble
husband, Eustace Geoffry, Earl of Greenford, had fallen
‘ gloriously at the battle of Blenheim, on
5 the 3rd of August, 1704. His afflicted
widow, who, for a long time, had openly
mourned his loss, still wept for him in
secret. As she was without children, and
‘felt very lonely, she indulged in a strange
sort of fancy, but one which, must be
owned, did not at all disparage her
genuine virtues and excellent qualities:
she was passionately fond of animals;
and this passion might well be called a hapless one, since
all her favourites had died in her arms. The most ancient
A