The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-23
The DisObedient Kitten.


beware of dogs - purred an old
cat who was sending her three little
kittens out into the world. "They're
our natural enemies, and I've no doubt
were created on purpose to worry us.
But for all that, they're better disposed
than you think and when you've lived
rs long as L, you'll find out that they
bark and buster more to make noise
than anything else. And this is why
men call dogs almost human and talk
about their wonderful instincts. For
my part, I'm glad that cats are cats, and
scratch and claw without being ikened
to men"
How the kitten stared at her queer
way of purTing, for they were very
young as yet, and hardly understood
what she meant.
"Of course L needn't impress upon
youthe duty OF catching mice, continued
the cat, " for no kitten brought up by
me would ever neglect that. When it
comes to rats, it's best to use discretion,
and only attack the smallest. But there's
one temptation against which l wish to
warn you emphatically, and that is birds.
They're good eating enough, but for
some reason are specially protected by
man. L was once thrown out of q Sec
ond-story window for having caught a
robin. 1t nearly broke every bone in
my body, and cured me entirely of eat
ing birds. Let it serve as warning to
you as well.
But men eat birds, and why can't
we?" mewed little white kitten.
"Cook was broiling some quails the
other day, and she gave me taste, and
twas much better than mouse"
"Never look into the why's and where
fores, my children, but remember that
l have had great deal of experience.
and have learned many things of which
you are ignorant. Believe me, then,
birds are diet that will bring you into
trouble"
The little white kitten arched hc1
back and looked very mischievous, and
wasn't much impressed. I'm afraid, by
what her mother said, she was more adj.
venturous than the other two, and he
had always been willful and disobedient
and determined to have her own way.
"Nobody'd throw me out of the win
dow, if 1 caught n dozen robins" she
thought, a." cause I'd do it so sly as not
to be seen, and hide away somewhere
till I'd eaten them up"
She was bad, wicked kitten, and as
much mistaken as those little boys anC
girls who think they can do wrong and
escape detection. Our evil deeds
always find us out and come to light
even though hid in darkness.
The old cat would have liked to give
hn, nh,1lr alx,,aa I,,@ 4.
four little girls came up, one of whom
was her mistress, Daisy, and she knew
it was too late.
"Oh, oh, such dear little kittens !" ant
they all clapped their hands with delight
But moment afterward, Daisy looked
sorrowful for hadn't she promised tC
give the kittens away, and chosen ratheI
to keep the old cat instead? He
mother didn't like such family around
and had told her to pick out the one sh,
preferred and find homes for the others
She couldn't part with Tabby, and 81
Tabby's children had to be sacrificed.
"You member what you said," criet
one of the girls, little yellow-hairet
fairy who could hardly talk plain.
eyes, yes" answered the others
"Take your choice, Katie.
They tried TO say it bravely, but O
course any one could see the whit
kitten was the prettiest and if Kat
hadn't been the youngest-well, the,
might have quarreled perhaps, though
hope not.
Twas well the white kitten couldn'
know what they thought, for she wa
vain enough already, and indeed locke,
with contempt on her two little sister
ia their gray fur coats. But she didn'
ut all like Katie for mistress, for tn
little girl squeezed her so tightly sh
was nearly suffocated, and then pulle
her by the tail if she tried to get away
"Wonder how she'd like to have he
breath stopped this way ?" thought tn
kitten, Indignantly. If she doesn
let me alone, I'll show my claws, an
scratch.
Her gray-coated sisters were handle
more tenderly, and thankful enough sh
was when Katie finally grew tired an
transferred her to Daisy's arms.
Soon afterward all three were take
to their future homes, and our stor
henceforth concerns the white one alon,
She, as we know, hadn't needed he
mothers advice, and thought that if on
was sly enough one might catch birds an