Courtenay wrote: ↑23 Feb 2024, 23:01The Two Cats sounded familiar as I started reading it, and I see from the notes above the scanned page that it was reprinted in Five O'Clock Tales, which I bought years ago and still have. As you say, Anita, a simple story but with a strong message. I know when I was growing up, I was always saddened that there seemed to be so much more pressure on people (girls especially) to match up to certain standards of "beauty", rather than to focus on what one could do to help others and to make the world a better place, even in small ways, and I'm afraid that's still pretty much the case today, so that short story is still a relevant one.
Yes, it's still as relevant as ever. I like the fact that it's the "old cook" in 'The Two Cats' who points out to her mistress what's really valuable. Years of hard work and experience have taught her what matters in life. She reminds me of the cook at Mistletoe Farm in the Six Cousins books (Dorcas). When Dorcas's mistress, Linnie, says, "Oh, Dorcas! Mrs. Rose is prettier than ever - she looks years younger than I do! How does she do it?" Dorcas's answer shows how wise and perceptive she is: "She does it by looking after herself so carefully and lovingly, Mam, that she hasn't time to look after anybody else, not even her own children. There's more beauty in your face, seems to me, than there ever was in Mrs. David's - and I'm not talking about skin and eyes and nose now, Mam. I'm talking about character. Your nature's writ plain in your face and makes it beautiful to all your family - yes, and to me too. But you'll look in vain for that kind of beauty in Mrs. David's face."
I wonder if Enid Blyton modelled these cooks on a cook/housekeeper that she knew?
Lovely touch at the end to have even the headmaster join in with the fun.
My mum used to read Wordsworth's poem when I was little — actually, I think she could quote it by heart from her own school days. Of course, though, that was back in Australia, and our daffodils there won't be flowering till September! 