The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-08-23

oner still more firmly. The result,
was another louder new.
| Her mother turned to her: i
"Iake that kitten away directiy,"i
she commanded, sternly, ''and walk
about outside until we come
| At any time Polly would not have
liked to 90 down the long. aisle during
service, but, now, when she had that
great mutf she had begun to hate, the
struggling kitten inside of it, with first
her head and then her tail at its OBJ
posite ends, and when all the people.
were looking at her, it was dreadful
But she got up. She could not hold
the ends of the muff quite so we'll
standing; kitty took advantage of this
in q moment and was on the floor bel
side her little mistress. Mrs. Batch
ley STOPPED quietly; but kitty slipped
past her. The next moment ME-
Bfatchley made the same attempt ahd
succeeded in touching kitty's tail, asl
she slipped along to the entrance of the
pew. Polly glided after, hoping to-
clutch her favorite.
But kitty was a sprite sometimes
When she didn' want to be caught no.
body conld catch her. All ready tor a.
frolic, she cooked her head and watched
the child coming up to her. Polly
moved very cautiously; she was deter
mined to get hold of kitty. The little1
creature stood still as if to let her do it. !
Polly bent down, her hand touched the
little furry back; it was all right now.
Was it, thought
In an instant kitty whisked off into.
the broad aisle, Then, seeing her play,
mate didn't follow, she arched her back, l
waved her tail like q plume, and in the
drollest way pranced almost up to her
again.
Poor Polly! She tried a second time
to seize this pet who was coaxing to be
played with. Kitty ran farther up the
aisle, looking back in Il way that showed
it was quite useless to follow. Polly's
mother signed to her to take her seat.
The kitten walked up and down the
aisle examining the different pews, and
sometimes darling into one in way
that set Polly, who was responsible for
it all, in an agony. One lady was sit,
ting alone listening attentively to the
minister. She moved her arm and kit
ty made a dart at the swinging fringe
of her shawl, and sprang into her lap.
Polly longed to call out: "Catch her."
but before the astOnished lady could
move, kitty was off'again.
The sexton tiptoed along, hoping to.
catch the little intruder, but she frisked'
away a good deal faster than he could
tptoe, and all the children enjoyed the
fun so much, to say nothing of the
grown people, that he soon gave up try
ing.
After a while the kitten was seen
walking slowly up the pull pit stairs.
Poor little Polly's face grew crimson,
and she began to cry quietly.
Kitty liked the soft carpet; she
worked her little paws into it, and soon
curled herself down. Then she jumped
up again, and after turning arOundi
several times settled herself for nap. .
"Oh,' thought Polly, 'if she'll only
stay asleep"
At last the service was over. The
child was sure it had been three tines
as long as ever before.
Nearly everybody had gone, She
walked softly up to the stairs. Kitty
Weakened by the general movement, was
sitting looking about her. Just asI
Polly stretched out her hand she heard
a laugh behind her. 1t was the sexton.
THAT cats a real imp, little girl, +"
he said. Il just saw it shut up one eye
and wink at you in the cutest way. It
knows the fuss its been making, can
tell you"
Polly" said Mr.. Blatchley as they
drove home, what punishment do you
think you ought to have for doing such
a naughty thing as this?'
a thought | could keep her very
still, papa, and, You know, mamma
said Just now, it was great mortilica-
ton to me. Think the modification is
all need. Don't you, papa?"-- Widc
1aOdke.