The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-02
TWO LITTLE KITTENS.

Two little litt-ns one stormy night,
Began quar-, ell and then 10 hsht;
And that the wa the quarrel begun
"Tuh.ve that mouse" said the biggest cat
~ iii ave that mouse, said the eldest son
rYou shan { nave that mouse" said the lite one.
told Won before twas q stos my night
wSsn rb. q. two httle sittsns began to hght,
The old woman ~ ICED her sweepinR broom
And swept the two kiStens right out OF The room
The ground covered with frost and .now,
and the little XII teos had no ~ here to got
So they Land them d"wn on the mat &C the o% LOT
While the old woman finished sweeping the Aoof'
Then they orept in as quiet as mice
All vet with and as cold as icei a..
For they found it was better that stormy n,Gns
To lie DOWN and sleep THAN 70 quArie ANU nEns'
HOW OLD MARTIN AND WASHINGTON CANE
TO BE FRIENDS.
Bane!-bane!-ban Old Martin Fru
auff ribbed his eyes and pulled off bic
night-cap. >,
he cried. MI wake up meinseelf too early
nit it.n But he laughed as he spoke in the
best of humOrs, aud he got up and set
about preparing his break fast of black cof-
fee and toasted brown bread. Martin was
q cobbler by trade, and his little basement
workshop served also for his bed room,
kitchen, dining room and parlor. He slept
on top of big chest in which he kept his
mattress and pillows by day aud with the
aid of an oil cloth cover and q big napkin
he turned the chest into a dining table. he
was slipping his coffee out OF his gold bound
bowl, when there came a rappiog at the
door-and boy stepped in, wearing a very
shabby pair of shoes.
al want 'em mended," said the boy,
looking at his toes, which protruded from
the shoes.
"An right" said Martin, Il will fix 'em
up zis week."
"But I want to wear 'em to. playwright
off-in an hour" said the boy.
"Vants me to work on de FORT oJuly,"
said Martin, with a droil lock. "Old Mar
tin never works on de- FORT. You dakes
dem soonivere else"
'No.' You might mend 'em. want to
take the eight o'clock boat up to Newbnrgh
and be back time enough to see the Park
fire works."
"Dat is joost vat do meinseelf," said
Martin. ''Who go NIT you7"
al go alone."
"And I go Alone" said Martin, lin de
same boat mitt you, mein bhoy."
Yes, if Quill mend my Shoes" said the
boy, " else l must stay at home. I'd had
'em done before, but I didn't get some
money that was owed me until last night"
"And 30 yon dibks you'll keep de Fort
mitt it" eaid Martin. 81 mends 'em dees
vonce. Coon pack at seven o'clock, meln
bhoy."
The boy nodded and went out, and Mar
tin, after heartily swallowing the rest of his
black coffee, set about mendiDg the shoes.
1t wanted just FIVE minutes of seven when
he finished them.
"Hei ! 30 late "exclaimed Martin, glanc
ing at his big wooden clock. 81 moost pc
quick"
He brushed his boots, and had just put
them on, when the boy came back dressed
very neatly in linen suit.
You COON i'll goot time" said Martin,
sand Won locke DiC0.U
eyes," said the boy, and he sat down
and pulled pair of stockings out of his
pocket, slipped them on, and then put on
his shoes. "How much is it Z" he asked.
-" don't work on de FORT for mooney"
said the old man #" only works for pleas
ure."
eyes," said the boy, surprised. "Well,
I'm obliged to you. Hope you'll have a
grand Fourth" He went toward the door
as he spoke.
"Shtop! exclaimed the old shoemaker,
his face falling. "a links you and me vas
going in de same boat"
"Ohl" answered the boy, starting, al
didn't understand it that way. And you are
not ready at ALL" he added rather imps-
tiently.
Martin glanced down at his faded brown
trousers and rusty old-fashioDed alpaca
coat.
at ish de best I've got," he said. "Do
locke too pad to go along mitt youf"
No." said the boy, slowly, 'you look
well enough"
"Bhoys ish proud, know" said Martin,
with sigh. An, veil, in my own koun-
tree dress ver' fine on de holy days; &c
1 little chiPren all COON to zee me. Veil,
never mind go alone mitt meinseelf al
ready"
"oh, I'd like well enough to go with you,"
said the boy, if you'll only hurry up 80 as
not to be late"
"Yaas Z" said Martin, well pleased
"den will be ready in Won minoot"
He plunged his face and hands in basin
of water, ru bbed himself dry, brushed down
the few gray hairs that surrounded his
bald head, put on broad brimmed straw
hat, yellowed by many seasons wear, took
a stout black cane in one hand, and then
gave the other tO his visitor.
"Now, we will set out like too brinces,"
he said. "All de peoples in de YoOniteed
States ish brluces"
The boy laughed with him, and they
started on their way, walking briskly. As
they went through Canal street toward the