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

She had been III her new home nearly
six months, and had grown so her own
mother wouldn't have known her, and
was great pet and favorite with every
body, when one day she happened to
spy tiny brown bird hopping around
the garden in the most fearless way,
perching its head first on one side and
then on the other, and looking, oh, so
wise and cunning out OF his little bits
of eyes.
"Why, it's mouse" purred the kit
ten to herself, and pretended her eye
sight was poor. "And it oughtn't to
be there, and I'll just lie in wait and
pounce down on it the first chance l
get"
Now, the kitten knew what it was as
we'll as you and L, but she meant to kill
it, and so tried to excuse herself in this
way. I'm sorry to say there are some
people like her, who are as blind as
bats when their own interests are in
volved, and often find it convenient to
mistake wrong for right. Children are
more clear-sighted, and mouse to them
is n mouse, and bird bird, and they
don't try to make one seem the other.
The kitten crept along guilty and
peered all around to see if any one was
looking, and didn't act bit as if she
were about to catch mouse. For at
such times she delighted in spectators,
and instead of sneaking to her work as
if ashamed of it, went Mt it boldly. Oh,
if men and kittens would only learn that
it is best to call things by their right
names, and that we don't deceive any
body by doing otherwise !
Katie's father was at work, as it hap
pened, in the garden behind clump of
bushes, and noticed the kittens strange
behavior, and was watching her all this
while. But he had no suspicion of what
she intended to do, and SO before he
could interfere she had the bird in her
clutches, and had torn the poor thing
all to pieces. For it was but the work
of an instant, and oh, it was dreadful to
see how bloodthirsty she looked after
ward, and what fierce light was in her
eyes. You'd have been afraid of her
and thought her some wild animal, in
stead of n tame little kitten I'm sure
of it.
Katie's father was great lover OF
birds, and his blood fairly boiled at the
sight. He at once resolved to kill the
kitten then and there, and rushed into
the house for his gun. She was still
gloating over her victim when he
brought it out and leveled it at her
then came a binding flash, quick re-
port, and she was stretched out as life
less as the bird.
I'm not going to say he did exactly
right, for we don't expect kittens to be
as moral rs little boys and girls and to
tell you the truth, I'm afraid she
couldn't help her appetite for birds. Ii
had come down to her from countless
generations of forefathers or fore
mothers and though she didn't control
it as she might, yet it is well to remem-
Der that animals have instinct only, and
not conscience.
Katie shed a great many tears ovel
the kittens sad fate, and was only com.
forted at last by the promise of another
But the blow fell hardest upon Daisy
and it was she who took the bereave
ment most to heart, and mOurned alike
for slaughtered kitten and bird, ant
the disgrace that had come to her owl
Tabby.
AS for Tabby herself, she heart
the news somehow, and was SC
overcome she never showed any life o.
spirit afterward, but died in few
weeks.
I've often thought it curious how cats
keep track of their families without ;
knowledge of figures, and wondered i
they do. But Tabby's conduct didn'
solve the question, for, of course, 'twa.
easy enough to remember her last chill
dren, and she never alluded to any
others.
L will close this little sketch with wha
may be called her dying speech.
/" If only the young were less head
strong" she purred-oh so family ant
sorrowfully :" and wouldbe guided b,
those who are older and wiser, it woul,
be better for them, for us and tn,
world. tile Children's Hour.