Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-06-06
A Funny Little Story.

Baby Bessie was four years old, and the
queerest birthday present ever little girl
had was sent her from her Uncle Fred, far
over the blue water. Now what was it A
kitty without any tail, that had left all her
brothers and sisters in the Isle Of Man with
out any tails TO come and live with Bessie
Bessie loved the kitty, but felt so bad about
that little stump of a tail She named 1t
Kitty Pink; and the very first night ii
came, Aunt Jenny going up stairs on tip.
toe, heard her saying her little prayer, and
what do you think she added to it :" Dear
bod, please b'ess my Kitty Pink, aud let her
have tail, good long one"
A few days after kitty had come mamma
and auntie put on their garden hats, and
with spades and trowels went out to the
garden TO set out the pretty plants that had
bloomed all winter in the conservatory. Bes-
sic was there with Kitty Pink tucked under
her arm, all ready for dozen pieces OF
mischief at once. Kitty played hide-and-
seek among the boxes, scattering the earth
all over the clean floor, and BABY Bess
trotted about pulling the bright flowers off
their stems, till mamma had to stop her
work, and give her little bit of scolding.
Baby had listened with a sober face, and
the next moment was deep in another piece
Of mischief, Kitty Pink capering gayly at
her heels.
ats no use,' auntie said to mamma.
awe shan't do anything, at this rate. o
baby, baby, why won't you keep out Of mis-
chief 2" And Bessie meekly responded,
"Yis IN !" with a naughty little culver of
her long eyesshes. Mamma finally selected
little hower.pot from the big heap, and a
little trowel, and coming to Bessie, said,
Don't you want to go and get some earth
from under the big phlox bush, to plant
your little rosebush in ?" AT important lit
tie voice reMied, Yes deed !" and very
important little person trotted away TO the
big bush by the gate.
"What can you be thinking of ?" said
auntie. {" She will get it all over her hands,
to say nothing of her bonnet and apron"
"Never mind" said mamma. 1T will
keep her out of mischief, at any rate" a
very dirty little pair of hands brought back
the flow er-pot full to the brim, and pair OF
very observing little eyes watched it poured
into a larger pot and the rosebush taken up
and planted.
ave will keep this on the piazza" said
mamma, "and you shall water it every day.
"What for makes you put it in the box
mamma ?" said Bessie. Mamma told hel
how the plant was put in the ground and a
first dropped and withered, then little white
roots shot down, and green leaves shot up
and by.and-by little flower would come
Bessie looked, and listened, and finally said
"Um; dess knows and trotted off agar
| tn fiji the nower-pot, with much enduriul
Kitty Pink tucked under her arm.
Mamma, working away, soon forgot bot
Bessie and kitty, and only when the sui
was high in the sky did she remember Their
were such little objects. Dropping he
towel, she ran to the door. Baby Bdby
Here" answered little voice.
"Where 2" said mamma.
"Why, here is" said the little voic,
and going behind the big lilac mamma SAY
such sight There sat Bessie on tn
ground, intent on making mud pies face
hands and apron covered with dirt, Will
out from the red rim of the ilower-pot jus
showing above the ground, peeped tw
muddy little ears and eyes. Every few mo
ments she made a tiny hole with her ia
forefinger and peered anxiously down.
Baby r. exclaimed mamma, and no
stopping TO say more, ran for n spade t
dig the poor kitty out, Bessie watching will
big eyes, as poor kitty emerged from the
hower.pot covered with mud.
Snow" said mamma, sorrowiully, VIVA
made my little girl put kitty in the gronndT
A pair Of solemn blue eyes met hers, and
with a little voice shrill in the effort to keel
hack the tears, b s,ie said, ." only PLANTED
kitty so't her tail would grow, aud lv'
waited an waited, and peeked ever so man!
times, and now you've dug her up fore
even had chance to root r. And all Bes
sizes pent-up woe concerning that uniortu
nate tail burst forth in flood OF tears.
What was mamma to do with such
baby2 What she dill do was to pick u
both baby and kitty, and carry them int
the bathroom, and when both were swe'
and clean, she took Bessie on her lap an
told her how God loved her kitty just as we
as if she had good long tail.
Bessie listened, and then sliding o
mammals knee, went to the table, got IL
big shears and approached unsuspectir
puss, now fast asleep on the red cushion
81 have planted it, and watered it," 81
said, "and now sail have to cut it down
How auntie laughed when mamma tol
her this /" She came this morning when
was clipping rose bush, and asked me VIII
| was doing it for; and told her to max
it grow out better. What baby F-Cel
Ray in Boston Wdchman.