Laura Lee Hope 
Story Of A China Cat 

The Story of a China Cat is a children’s book by Laura Lee Hope, published in 1920. The story is about a China cat named Minerva who lives in the house of two little girls named Gwendolyn and Cecily. Minerva is a very delicate cat who spends most of her time on the mantelpiece. One day, while the girls are away, a new dog named Rover comes to live in the house. Rover is a playful and energetic dog who accidentally knocks Minerva off the mantelpiece, causing her to break into many pieces. The girls are heartbroken to see their beloved China cat in pieces, and their mother tries to fix her, but Minerva is too delicate to be restored to her former glory. However, the girls do not give up hope and they come up with a plan to create a new China cat that looks just like Minerva. They collect the broken pieces of Minerva and use them to create a new cat with the help of a toy maker. Finally, the new China cat is ready, and the girls are thrilled to see it. They name her Minerva II and place her on the mantelpiece where the original Minerva used to sit. From that day on, Minerva II becomes an integral part of their lives, and the story ends with the girls happily playing with their new China cat.