Lily F. Wesselhoeft

“ CHAPTER XIV. Great was the excitement among the animals when they learned that the little gray kitten was missing.
“She never in this world went off of her own accord,” said the barn-cat to Mrs. Polly; “she always stayed at home and took care of my kittens while I was out hunting. Something has happened to her. We shall never see the dear little thing again, you may be sure;” and the barn-cat gave a deep sigh.
“Don’t be so discouraged,” said the canary hopefully; “all of our plans have gone well so far, and I know this will. It’s always darkest before daylight, you know.” ”

“ Posy went up to the parrot’s cage and looked in.
“How do you do? How’s your mother?” asked the parrot, with her head on one side.
“Pretty well, I thank you, Mrs. Polly,” answered Posy; and she couldn’t resist the temptation of trying to seize the red feathers in Mrs. Polly’s tail and give them a little tweak. Mrs. Polly always resented such liberties, and made sudden dives at the chubby fingers; but Posy had learned to be careful, and drew them out in time.
“You wouldn’t really bite Posy, would you?” asked the canary. ”

“ The poor little mouse gave a squeak of terror, and dropping the silver thimble ran swiftly for her life, closely followed by the house-cat. One pause or misstep and all would have been over with Mrs. Silverskin; [Pg 233] and thinking of her babies at home who were waiting for her, she ran as she never ran before, dreading every moment to feel the house-cat’s cruel claws; but she reached the hole under the shed-door in safety, and had just time to whisk her tail in after her when the house-cat’s claws were at the entrance. ”

“ Polly; “we must wait and see what turns up next. ‘Murder will out,’ you know; and if we keep our ears and eyes open, we shall get some clew to the thief.”
“And meanwhile that poor child Nancy will have to go on with her hard life. She said she sometimes felt as if she couldn’t bear it any longer,” said the sparrow in a despondent tone.
“Make the best of it, my friend,” answered Mrs. Polly. “We’ll do the best we can for her. In the mean time don’t talk about the matter; for if Graywhisker finds out we suspect him, he’ll be on his guard and we shan’t find a clew to the missing ribbon.” ”

“ So when Posy dumped them on the barn-floor by the side of the tiger-kittens, they began to play in earnest.
“Let’s have a tiger-hunt,” said Tom, after watching the kittens at their play; “and the barn-kittens can be the tigers, and the house-kittens can be our hunting-dogs.”
“Oh, splendid!” cried Posy, clapping her hands and jumping up and down.
“First, we’ll make a cave,” said Tom, “because tigers live in caves, you know;” and he began to dig a cave in the side of the hay-mow. Nancy entered into the work with great zest, and soon a fine cave was finished and the tigers were placed in it. ”

“ Here, you Silvertail, you keep a sharp lookout in every direction, and tell me if you see the barn-cat coming.”
The young rat addressed, quickly climbed on the window-sill, whence he could command a fine view of the entrances to the barn.
“Do you see anything of the barn-cat?” asked the old rat.
“Yes, I see her right in front of the dining-room window; and by the way she swishes her tail I know she’s talking pretty fast.”
“Well, let her swish,” answered the old rat; “she’ll find there are some people in the world as smart as she is.” ”

“ The sparrow moves his family over here to-day, and I am very glad of it. I am in hopes he will turn over a new leaf and stay at home more in the future.”
“Seeing is believing,” said the barn-cat dryly; “I haven’t much hope of him myself.”
It was true that the sparrow was about to move. Mrs. Polly’s sharp eyes had discovered a deserted swallow’s nest just under the roof of the piazza, in a position where she could watch what went on; and she proposed that he should put it in order for his family. The plan pleased the sparrow, and he at once set to work to build. ”

“ Soon nothing remained of the gay little collar that had been the barn-cat’s pride, but the plate on which to engrave the name and the padlock that used to tinkle so musically; but after the leather was eaten up, Graywhisker became desperate indeed!
“If I could get hold of one of those tiger-kittens, wouldn’t it be a treat?” he exclaimed, with a horrible grimace. “I will venture out, cost what it may. I don’t know as it would be any worse to be caught by the cats than to die here slowly by inches. ”

“ So it was agreed that these tigers were exceptional tigers, and the hunting-party started out in search of game.
“Dear me!” cried Posy suddenly, “I saw a great ugly rat run across there.”
“It couldn’t have been a rat,” said Tom. “They don’t dare to come out here; they’re afraid of the barn-cat.”
“It was a rat,” persisted Posy; “I know it was. It had a great long tail, and it had long yellow teeth, and one of them was broken off. I do wish the barn-cat were here.”
“No matter,” said Nancy, who was eager to continue the tiger-hunt; “he’s gone now, and I don’t believe he’ll come back.” ”

“ Old Graywhisker felt that his case was becoming desperate. He sat in his house and looked around on his once well-filled larder. Not a crust, or rind of cheese or pork, was left. His last crumb was gone, and where was he to get more? It was now several days since he had dared venture out, and it was evident the cats were bent on his destruction, for there was now never a time when one of them was not about. ”

“ It is too bad to make them think that poor child is a thief. She has a very good heart. I heard them say she used to save crumbs for the mice when she didn’t have enough to eat herself. Posy, too,—she is such a dear child, I hate to make her so unhappy. I believe I will keep it for my babies, and make old Graywhisker think I put it in Nancy’s room. But then if he should ever find out the truth it would be the end of me; and he’d be sure to find it out, for he knows everything. The barn-cat came near getting him the other day,—I’m sure I wish she had. Dear me! ”

“ The children had been watching this play with the greatest interest, and often laughed aloud, when all at once Posy exclaimed,—
“Why, there is a little girl without any shoes and stockings on, and her’s got a basket on her arm. What do you suppose her wants, Tom?”
The little barefooted girl was Nancy, whom the sparrow had succeeded in enticing by means of the red ribbon with gold figures on it. She had stood watching the kittens play for some minutes before Posy saw her. ”

“ So Posy and Tom ran after the little girl and brought her back just as Mamma appeared at the kitchen door.
[Pg 165]
“Come in, little girl,” said Mamma kindly, “and sit down. You look tired.”
The child did indeed look tired, and seated herself wearily; but the instant she touched the chair her head fell forward on her breast, and she would have fallen to the floor if Hannah had not caught her in time.
“Bring her into the dining-room where it is cool,” said Mrs. Winton, “and lay her on the sofa.” ”

“ To be almost caught by the house-cat, pounced on by Graywhisker, and then chased by the barn-cat! Graywhisker is certainly the worst of the three! What will he do to me for losing the thimble? I shan’t dare to stir out of my house till the affair has blown over.”
The next morning the house-kittens were busily playing.
“What has got into those kittens? They act as if they were crazy,” said Hannah, when she had nearly fallen over them for the fifth time before breakfast. “Here, you run out of doors and play there,” she continued, driving them out; “I don’t care to break my neck just yet!” ”

“ Her has lost it.”
“No,” answered Hannah, “I haven’t seen it, and what’s more I don’t expect to. I guess it won’t be the last thing that you’ll find missing. You’d better look after your things a little sharper, for I don’t trust that Nancy too fur.”
“Nancy is a good little girl, Hannah. Her doesn’t steal. It’s very mean to say such things,” said Posy angrily.
“Well, it won’t do no harm to keep your things locked up,” replied Hannah.
Nancy came in from the barn, where she had been to feed the kittens. ”

“ So Mamma put down her sewing, and went with Posy to look at the little gray kitten, who all this time had been purring away contentedly in Tom’s lap.
“Oh no,” said Mamma, “she isn’t wholly blind, she can see out of one eye; and we will bathe her eyes with some warm water and a soft sponge, and she will feel as comfortable as possible.”
“I knew how it would be,” said the parrot to the canary, as the kitten was carried off to the kitchen to be fed.
“Kind people, every one of them,” answered [Pg 55] the canary, hopping about for joy. “Hallo! what’s the barn-cat up to? Do look at her!” ”

“ Some of them brought their young families, as they couldn’t trust them alone.
“I don’t see any of our friends the mice,” said Graywhisker, looking about with his sharp old eyes. “Some of you young fellows run over to Mrs. Silverskin, and tell her I want to see her at once; and be quick about it too.”
Two young rats started off, and began to climb to the hay-mow, playing tag on the way.
“Here, none of your fooling!” called out the old rat sharply, as one of them gave a loud squeak.
This squeak awoke Major from his nap, and hearing voices his curiosity was aroused. ”

“ Polly, “that we mustn’t be too hard on his peculiarities. We all know that if his manner is sometimes frivolous, he has proved to us that he has a warm heart and is devoted to our service.”
“His heart’s warm enough and he is brave enough too,” said the barn-cat, who had a strong sense of justice; “but I do wish he was a little steadier in his ways.”
“We must take people as we find them,” answered Mrs. Polly. “Now, Mrs. Barn-cat, when did you see the gray kitten last?”
“I left her yesterday afternoon to watch my kittens while I was out, and when I came back she was gone. ”

“ Polly in an irritable tone, “how they can be so stupid. Here they know that the rats steal Major’s oats, and that it is the habit of rats to steal anything that attracts their attention, and yet it never occurs to them that they are the ones that take the sugar and raisins! If the barn-cat and the house-cat were not so jealous of each other and didn’t quarrel all the time, they might catch old Graywhisker, for he is the one that makes all the trouble; but no, they can’t work together, and while one is at one end of the hole, he slips out of the other. ”

“ The barn-cat came nearer still, and crouched in the way she always did before she sprang, and Posy couldn’t bear it any longer.
“Go away, you naughty kitty!” cried Posy, dropping her work; and running towards the barn-cat she caught her up in her arms.
“You mustn’t catch the dear little birdies; I’ve told you so a great many times,” said Posy, walking towards the barn with her. “You go and stay with your babies, and try to catch some of the ugly old rats. ”

“ Hannah put the thimble in her pocket without a word; but this didn’t satisfy Posy, who liked to see justice done, and [Pg 237] always felt distressed if people were not harmonious in their relations to each other.
“Now you know her isn’t a thief, don’t you, Hannah?” said Posy in her most winning tones.
“I suppose she didn’t take the thimble,” replied Hannah; “but the necklace and the cat’s collar haven’t turned up yet.”
“Hannah!” cried Posy indignantly, “I think you are a very mean girl, and I shan’t ever come and help you cook any more!” ”

“ It is the story of children whose lives are put in pleasant places, where the modern possessions of our day contribute freely to the general happiness; where the comradeship of elders gives no undue sense of parental authority, but, rather, a friendly sharing of mutual guiding; where liberal instincts and thoughtful living create an atmosphere of growth and of personal privilege, wherein young lives may unconsciously expand toward a noble future.—Unity. ”

“ Her looks like her didn’t have any home at all.”
“Yes,” said Mamma, “you may ask Hannah to give you a saucer of milk for her.”
“Her’s blind of both eyes,” cried Posy, bursting into tears; “but I thought you wouldn’t let me keep her if you knew it.”
“Why, my dear little girl,” answered Mamma, drawing Posy to her side, “I love to have you kind to animals, and particularly so to those that are helpless and can’t take care of themselves. Don’t cry, my darling, you shall give this poor little [Pg 54] kitten a comfortable home, and make her as happy as if she were not blind.” ”