--- title: How the Dog and Cat Came to Be Enemies — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees description: How the Dog and Cat Came to Be Enemies, «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Of the thousand and one stories the old women of China love to tell their children and grandchildren, none is so gr --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/14/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/) / How the Dog and Cat Came to Be Enemies # How the Dog and Cat Came to Be Enemies How the Dog and Cat Came to Be Enemies of «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole text, 85 sentences and 1898 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Of the thousand and one stories the old women of China love to tell their children and grandchildren, none is so great a favourite as the one, “How the dog and cat came to be enemies for all time.”[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The little black eyes grow bright as diamonds as they listen, and no bedtime story of Mother Goose of Western lands is more treasured.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Let me tell you the story, and as you listen possibly you can see the dear little children of the great flowery kingdom, many of them looking like little flowers gathered about some old grandma who loves and pets them as do the grandmas of all lands.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") In the long, long ago there lived in the country a poor widow who had only one son; but he was very kind and good to her, working early and late to support her.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") She was his one thought, but with all his efforts it was but a poor living that he could give her, and it was a great sorrow to him.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") One day the gods said, “Such a son must be helped;” so after talking the matter over, one of them, dressed as a temple priest, went to their gate and knocked.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The widow came and opened the gate, but seeing the guest, she said, “Too bad, too bad.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") I am so poor I cannot give you any help to-day.”[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") To this the priest replied, “I have not come to get your help but to help you.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") When the woman heard this, she said, “I never heard of such a thing.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The priest said, “It is a fact, and I now give you this gold ornament.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") When you wish to cook a meal you put this in the kettle, put on the cover, light your fire, and then repeat to the kettle several times what you want to eat.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") When the water boils the food is ready; take off the cover and eat, and you and your son be happy.”[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") With his joyful but incredible news he was gone.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The old lady looked at the gold ornament in her hand, thought of what had been said to her, and wondered if she was asleep and it was all a dream.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") To make sure, she said, “I will try this charm and see if it will work or if the priest has lied to me; I want some meat dumplings for supper.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") She put on her kettle, lighted her fire, and then repeated over and over again till the water boiled, “I want dumplings, meat dumplings.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Come, dumplings, come.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") When the water boiled she took off the cover, and behold the kettle was full of the most delicious-looking dumplings.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah,” she said, “what good fortune is mine, what good fortune is mine!”[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Never had she tasted such food in all her poor life.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") After eating all she could, she fed the cat and dog, and they, too, were wild with delight.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") How their sides filled out, and they jumped upon her to express their thanks.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now,” said she, “I will get my son a good supper,” and again she repeated the process.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") When he came home looking so tired, she said, “I have a good supper for you to-night, my son; all you want and more.”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") “A good supper,” thought he; “how can that be, since all we ever have is millet and cornmeal?”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") But to his mother he said, “Nothing you make is bad; it all tastes good.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") When she took the cover off and told him to look, he could hardly believe his eyes.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") He had seen such food but never tasted it.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The mother said, “Son, eat, and I will tell you all about our good luck.”[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") When she had concluded her story she showed him the golden ornament.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is from the gods, my mother, and they have taken pity on you.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") I am indeed a happy son.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") After this, day by day, the mother and son and the household cat and dog had plenty to eat and all was happiness in the little family.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") One day some relatives came to call, and the old lady urged them to stay and eat with them.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") They refused at first, as they thought they could not provide anything worth eating, but finally, at the old lady’s most earnest request, they consented.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Such a feast of good things as she prepared for them; how surprised they were\![37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") They exclaimed again and again at the delicate flavour of everything, and the quick time in which she had prepared them.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") At last one of them asked how she could afford to provide such expensive food, and the old lady in pride of heart brought forth her treasure and told her secret to the guests.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") They were filled with envy, and later on, one day when the old lady was away from home, one of them went into her room and stole the precious charm.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Only the dog was in the room, and though he saw, he did not know how great the loss was.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") When the mistress came home and went to get her son’s supper, she discovered her loss.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") She was filled with great sorrow and distress.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") When her son returned she told him, and together they looked everywhere.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The old lady wept most bitterly and refused to be comforted.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") The cat and dog came and begged for their supper, but she paid no attention to them.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") After that they had to eat millet and cornmeal again, and hard indeed it was, as they had become used to good food.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") The cat and dog grew thin and refused the poor food.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Finally the dog concluded that the reason was because the bright, pretty ornament their mistress always put in the kettle was no longer used and must be lost, and that was why the mistress cried so much.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he remembered the neighbour who came and went into the closet, and came out after a while with the treasure in his hand, and how he saw him put it in his pocket.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") The dog then called the cat and told her all, but said, “Alas\![51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") I am but a dog.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") I cannot get it, but you can, for you are able to get on the roofs of houses and crawl in windows, and you must get it.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") When the cat heard where it was, she said, “But the river, how can I get across the river?” to which he replied, “I can swim, and when you come to the bank you get on my back and I will take you across.”[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") So together they went.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") When they reached the river the cat jumped on the dog’s back and he took her over safely.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he said, “I will wait here for you while you go to the house for our mistress’ treasure.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Over the roofs and along fences the cat went till she came to the right house; then she found a window open, and walking in she curled down in a warm place to take note of what was going on and to make her plans.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") After a time she spied a rathole, and going over to it she waited patiently till a big mouse came out; then she sprang upon it and held it fast.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") How the poor thing plead for its life\![60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") The cat said, “Mouse, I will save your life if you will do me a favour.”[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") The mouse promised gladly, and the cat told of the lost treasure and that it was in the house.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") The mouse said, “I know about that; every day the family eat good food; let me go and I will get it for you.”[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") “No,” said the cat, “I cannot let you go, for you would not come back.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") I will hold you closely, but you call your companions and tell them where it is, and when they bring it I will let you go.”[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the mouse called out and all the mice came running, and when told what to do, away they went in search of the gold ornament.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") After a time they came back with it and the poor mouse was allowed to go, while the cat made her way back to the riverside with the ornament in her mouth.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") She found the dog waiting for her, and when he saw the treasure in her mouth he barked and jumped for joy.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Before she got on his back he said to her, “We are both very hungry; now, if in going over the river you see a fish or anything good to eat, don’t try to get it, for if you do you will drop the treasure.”[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") This he repeated once and again and they started for the other side.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Just before reaching the other side a fish jumped up in the cat’s face, and before she thought, she made a grab for it and so lost the ornament in the river.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") How the dog did scold and howl then; he was so hungry, and such visions of a good supper had filled his eyes all the way over.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") The cat was so sorry, and promised she would think of a way to get it if only he would not bark so loudly.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") Looking around she saw a big frog who looked very friendly, and to her she told all her troubles and said, “I know you like to do good deeds of mercy, so please help me.”[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") The frog agreed and jumped into the river, and after a little returned with the lost charm.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Then after thanking the frog, the cat and dog started home; so happy were they they could not get over the ground fast enough.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") The cat mewed at the door, and when the old lady opened it and saw her with the lost treasure, she caught her up, made a big fuss over her, took her in the house, and shut the door, thus leaving the dog out in the court; as she did not know how much he had helped the cat, she did not pay any attention to him.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon a big supper was ready, and once again the mother and son were happy.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") This time in their gratitude they fed the cat first, all she could eat, but forgot the dog, so absorbed were they in their own supper and in planning a good, safe hiding-place for the most precious charm.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") After a little the cat went out into the yard, and seeing the poor, hungry dog, she told him with great pride of all the good things she had had to eat, and the nice things the family had promised her.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") “There is nothing left for you,” said the cat, “and if you are hungry you had better fly around and find a bone.”[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") When the dog heard this he sprang upon her and bit her so she died immediately.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went and told all the dogs about it.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") When they heard the story they were most indignant at such ingratitude, and then and there took a solemn vow of eternal enmity to the cats for all time to come.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus they have kept their vow, and to this day in all lands the dog is the enemy of the cat.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Literary Glory](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/13/) - next →: [A Daughter of the Present](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/15/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)