He threw out his paw so nimbly, that he scratched me in the left eye, and burst it

"One of our neighbours had a Tom-Cat, whose whiskers were as long as my finger. I amused myself by pulling the hairs, &c.; for, as I have already told you, I was then as naughty as you are. My mother never ceased repeating to me, 'Simon, the cat will scratch you, if you do not let him alone.' I took no notice of what she said, but went on my own way. One day, when the Tom-cat was in a worse humour than usual, and determined to defend his whiskers, he threw out his paw so nimbly, that he scratched me in the left eye, and burst it. Thus, for not having paid attention to the commands of my mother, God punished me with the loss of an eye."