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February 7, 1812

 

Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812. It is easy to believe that the man who wrote so sympathetically of the plight of England's poor was fond of cats. One of these, Williamina, insisted on carrying her kittens out of the kitchen and into Dicken's study. One of Williamina's kittens was deaf, and Dickens singled that one out for special treatment, naming it Master's Cat. Or so the story goes.

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