The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-08
MUFFS PLAYTHIS6.

MUFF'S PLAYTHIN6.
1t was merry morning enough out OF
doors. The golden sunbeams chased
each other over the crisp, sparkling
snow; there were sleighbells for music
in the wind, and Jack Frost, who had
been abroad all night, had touched the
spire.tops into such a twinkle, and had
made such fantastic pictures on all the
windowpanes But it was dreary as
dreary could be in the great bare room
where little Julie sat disconsolately by
the bedside of her sick mother. There
wasn't fire enough on the hearth to keep
Jack Frost from nipping the poor little
toes which crept out of her tattered boots;
for he was about still, especially in the
dark, narrow streets where the sunshine
could not find its way. jules little
black kitten, Muff, was trying to be merry
over ball of yarn which his mistress
had given him to keep up his spirits; but
he played in a listless sort of way, as If
he were thinking all the how much he
would give toldip his greedy little tongue
into a saucer Of nice, warm milk, and
have nice, warm, bright fire to blink
at and dream before. There was not the
least sign of mouse in all the house,
except the mouse holes where they once
had been. Muff had poked his sharp
little nose into every one of them, over
and over again, that morning, he was so
terribly hungry. But, dear me what
was the use? He knew by the smell
that there hadn't been nouse's foot
there for weeks. Then he ran and told
Julie, in his way, that he was nearly
starving.
poor Muff !" said she, stroking his
silky head. And Muff understood that
she hadn't anything to give him, and
tried to forget his sorrows in little nap.
When he woke up again, she found the
ball for him. Julie was hungry, too,
and there wasn't so much as a crust of
bread in the closet; she had eaten
the only remaining one for her
supper last night; but she was deter
mined not to let her mother know it, it
would worry her so-her poor sick
mother, who had been sick so long and
suffered so much! And how could she
think of herself when she looked at that
poor mother lying there in the cold, who,
now the fever had left her, was really
suffering for the want of nourishing
food? A kind neighbor had sent her a
bowl OF nice broth for her breakfast, but
what Julie should got for her
dinner she did not know.
There WIS prospect of star
walton before them. for their last penny
had been spent They might freeze too,
for there was now only the least bit of
coal left, and Julie dared use only
enough to keep the fire alive lest the
weather should grow suddenly colder
and they be entirely without fuel.
She had very wise little head, and a
very brave as we'll as tender little
heart, this wee julie but she was quite
discouraged now. The tears would
came into her eyes in spite of all her
efforts to keep them back, though she
tried to look very smiling and cheerful.
''1s the coal most gone, Julie?" said
Nher mother, shivering, though Julie had
tucked the bed-ciothes around her so
carefully.
care you cold, mammal said Julie,
fire little"
She made great hustle about
the hearth, famed the few
smoldering Goals into bright
glow, then piled everything else she
COulu uuu Ou W tuc Ocu, uutii
mother was nearly smothered. The poor
woman raid nothing more; but l think
she understood everything; and Julie
crept into the window, where little ray
Of sunshine was just creeping in, touch
ing with something like warmth her
poor, benumbed hands. Muff came, and
after making piteous attempt to purring.
with his little, twinkling eyes fixed i'm
ploringly ON her face, he uttered two or
three such doleful little cries that quite
wrung the heart OF his poor mistress.
Then he ran to the closet door, jumped
up to touch the latch with his paw, as
she had taught him to do, looking back
at Julie, as much as to say:
"Do come here and see il you can't
find something for me. I'm so hungry
julio got up aud opened the door, and
the kitten up in her arms, showed him
the bare shelves. at which sight Mufrs
face took . still more dolorous OK.
preston.
500 and find a mouse, Muff," said she,
putting him down at great rat-hole
; which had been at corner Of one Of the
shelves ever since she could remember.
II was stuffed full OF rags, but she
pulled them out, aud Muff, with very
intent, business-like air, sat down beside
il to watch; for though he was small
kitten and had never caught but one