Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-06-25

ANiAN AON nNMs wv ANNAN1 WV ~ y ~ |
box,-much larger than was necessary for
the contents she thought-and there espiod
four little kittens.
90, what funny little thingsw she exclaim-
ed; III wish mamma would buy some"
Mrs. Smalley told Eta that she was going
to move away, their goods then were nearly
all packed; and she did not know what to
do with the kittens.
"You might have ono to carry home, if
you thought you could make IL live"
Eta had no fears on that point, 80 she ex-
changed her violets for the kitty and carried
1t home, TO the great establishment Of her
mother, who thought it impossible to bring
up kitty from so small a beginning. without
the help of the old mother cat. But Eta put
it in a basket and covered It with warm
flannel. BY and by she warmed some milk
and offered it TO kitty, but it only cried NEW.
NEW. kitty did not know how to drink and
thought If it kept saying NEW, Eta would
carry il back TO its old home in the box; but
no such thought entered her little head. She
kept trying to feed it, and made out to wet
Its throat sometimes; but 1t cried mow,
NEW, most all of the time that day and
night. The next morning kitty happened to
remember, that by curling up the tongue
like n spoon, cats could drink all Of the milk
or cream they wished; so thought she would
try it; and kitty had no more trouble in get
ting her food, and Eta was never troubled
any more with moving; kitty even became
noted for this good quality OF not mewing.
Eta now had enough to attend to, and talk
about. A blue ribbon was hunted up and
tied around kitty's neck, and then it was
named Rosabell. The next thing to be done
was-"Helen must know all about it." and
as Eta did not know much about letter
writing, she went to her older sister and
asked her to write q letter for her, to her
little friend Helen.
"Why don't you go and see her and tell her
about ftp" asked the sister.
80, 1 rather send a letter" said Eta.
"Well, l will see If l can write one; you
may come for it by and by"
Here is the letter that was sent to Helen.
"Dsar Helen.
have Il Maltese kitten,
It's name is Rosabell;
IT'S no larger than your mitten
think you'd like 1t well.
Its fur is very soG and fine.
Its eyes, like diamonds rare;
o, come and see this kit Of mine,
So beautiful and fair.
Little Mary loves it too,
And all who see II, say
1t is the prettest kitten
That ever they saw play.
From
Eta
After this epistle was sent, these little girl
made each other II great many visits, and nj
ways carried their kittens. They had some
little tin teapots; they were tin, catnip tea
pots, and the kittens had 10 drink n grea
deal of catnip tea; enough to cure them, and
almost TO make them sick again, the kitten
thought sometimes.
Little Rosabell proved to be very bright
and would do II great many cunning tricks
that pleased Eta and made her laugh; sh'
became famous for her extraordinary play
fitness; she would run round and round al
ter an apple tied to the end off string. fast
er than other kittens could, and would rul
after Eta and bite her heels, more like n pup
Ply than q kitten. Rosabell always wore
ribbon around her neck and would Away
come when called by name if within hear
ing distance. One day Eta went to tn
door and called her, and looked all aroun'
expecting to see a blue ribbon peeping on
from behind some board, or bush; but n
ribbon, or little Maltese with q white star oil
its throat appeared. The call was repeate
many days and many times q day, and wit
many tears: aner n while Eta ceased [
call, but would sit on the doorstep an
, watch and wait for her pet, but she neve
h saw her again. After about n year from tina
time she heard the story of n stray kittel
6 being on the fence of one of the neighbor
answering the description of RosabolD whe
. a gentleman drove up one day, noticed /
and asked for 'that pretty Kitten" carrie
it home where there were no children an
: he thought he never saw such u cunning XII
. ten. or ever had n pet that he had liked S
well; he allowed it to climb upon his shou
, der at meal time. and feed from his ow
l plate. But by and by kitty sickened an
}, died its death was probably caused by pre-
= cocity. Tho gentleman grieved about q
much rs Eta did, for he thought he coul
. never love another pet as well; and as fC
Eta she never had another kitten, nor eve
4 wanted one.