Georgiana M. Craik

“ To tell the truth, Mew-Mew did not care about getting away, as Bow-Wow did.
She liked to stay at home.
And on this night she felt that she must have a long sleep.
So she said, "We must not start yet, for I have not given my coat a good wash."
"Cannot you live one night without giving your coat a wash?" said Bow-Wow, in a rage.
"I should think not. Would you have me to go out into the world with dust and dirt on my coat? ”

“ Then Mew-Mew, with her kind heart, said, "I am sure I did not mean to hurt you, Bow-Wow!"
And Bow-Wow said, "Let us not think or say any more about it.
It is very sad that we cannot live without cross words and bad blows.
But what are we to do? How are we to live?" ”

“ Mew-Mew was so put out with the [43] thought of Bow-Wow going away, that for a time she could not speak.
At last she said, "Oh, Bow-Wow, you would not leave me, would you?"
"Would you not come with me?" he asked.
"Yes, that I would, anywhere, to the end of the world."
"Then we will go," said Bow-Wow. "It must be a good change, that is clear; in no place can we be as badly off as we are here."
"Yes, that is quite clear," said the cat. "When shall we set off?"
"Now, at once," said Bow-Wow. ”

“ IN THE FIELDS
"Have you had a rest now, Mew-Mew?" said Bow-Wow.
"Oh yes," said the cat, as she got on her legs again. "We will not go quite so fast now, will we?"
"As you please. If the men from the farm come after us, and take us back, it will not be I that am to blame."
They set off once more.
They did not keep to the road, for fear of those who might be on the lookout for them.
Some fields were much more easy to cross than others. The best of all were those of nice soft short grass. ”

“ Bow-Wow was just able to walk to a tree, the same tree that Mew-Mew had used to hide in. The rain did not come so hard, close up to the trunk of the tree.
It would take too long to tell you of all this little dog and cat had to bear, for many days.
Often without food, in the wind and the rain, and on the cold ground at night, what a change after the good home they had left!
Day by day they grew more thin and weak. ”

“ The ultimate objects of any story can only be effected through the love for a story. The prominent point in this story is development of good character, which may well be regarded as the highest purpose of education. The transformation from bad to good traits in the dog and cat cannot but have a desirable effect on every child that reads the story. Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew become dissatisfied with their home and their surroundings, and ungrateful toward their benefactress. ”

“ To-day he only gave a great groan.
"We had such a good home!" said Mew-Mew.
"We had!" said Bow-Wow.
"There was food for us at all times."
"There was!"
"We had a fire all the year round to keep us warm."
"It got too warm sometimes."
"It never was too warm for me."
"There were the chicks in the yard, that we did not like."
"Yes, and the pigs."
"And the ducks, and the horse, and [84] the cow. Yet they did us no harm."
"Well, no! I cannot say they did; that is, if we left them alone."
Bow-Wow did not forget how the pigs trod on him in the sty. ”

“ The lady ran out to see why Bow-Wow cried so loud. She took the wood off him.
Then she found that the bone of one leg was hurt.
A man was sent for to dress the leg, and Bow-Wow was put to bed.
[18]
VI
BOW-WOW IN BED
As soon as Bow-Wow was in bed, Mew-Mew came into the room.
She was as glad as she could be to see poor Bow-Wow in pain.
"Well, you are a fine sort of dog, you are," she said; "why could you not leave the chicks alone?
It is a pity you did not break all your legs. ”

“ And they did look odd, for they were as big again as they ought to be, and quite black.
"Have you some thorns in them?" asked Bow-Wow. "You must put them into water and wash them."
"Put my paws in water! I would not do such a thing for the world."
"What will you do with them, then?"
"I mean to lick them."
"It will take you a long time to lick those paws white. But if you mean to do it you had better begin, for we shall not walk any more to-night.
Let us creep under this corn in the [59] field. You will not mind if I go to sleep, will you, Mew-Mew?"
"Oh dear, no," said the cat. ”

“ But after running away and suffering hunger, neglect, and bad treatment, their characters begin to change. They naturally come to reflect their mistress's goodness. They learn the value of companionship and friendship, and the appreciation of a home. ”