The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-07-25
POLITE AND KIND.
How Sport Saved the Kittens-A Stor.
for Very Little Ones.

NOW sport saved inc hlJtenS-A STORY
for Very Little Ones.
On large farm there was an old cat
with five little kittens. One of the kit
tens was gray, like its mother; another
was black, with one white paw; third
was black all over; while the other two
looked just alike.
The mother cat told her kittens to be
kind and polite to every one, and to
be very kind to dogs, and each night,
before goirg to sic p, she made them
repeat these words: LET dogs delight
to bark and bite, but little kittens
never"
One day, big dog named Sport
came to live OH the farm. Sport was
full of fun, and he thought that chas-
ing cats was grear fun. Near the barn
in which the cat and kittens lived grew
five large apple-trees; and when Sport
first saw the cat family he thought
what fun it would be to brighten the
mother into the hay-mow, and chase
each one of the five kittens up a tree.
So he gave a loud bark, and sprang
in upon the happy brood. To his great
surprise the kittens, instead of arching
their backs up to twice their size, and
Kissing in an ill-bred way, all sat quite
still, and looked quietly at the stranger,
to see what he was going to do next.
Then there was a long pause, followed
by two short paws which the gray kit
ten put out toward the dog, as though
she would like to shake hands with him
if she only knew how. This so amused
Sport that he tapped the kitten very
gently on the back, and then the cat,
dog and kittens were soon rolling and
tumbling about the barn floor in a
frolic. From that moment Sport and
the cat family were great friends.
Not many days after this the five kit
tens were playing along the bank of a
small river which ran behind the barn,
and, spying piece of board which lay
with one end on the ground and the
other in the water, they all jumped upon
it. But they were no sooner upon it
than the board broke loose from the
shore, and started down the stream!
The kittens were badly frightened and
cried aloud for help, and though the
old cat hurried out of the barn she could
not do anything for them. She could
only rush up and down the bank, and
she was afraid that all the kittens would
be carried down to the mill-pond and
over the dam. But suddenly she heard
well-known bark and the next moment
Sport dear old Sport-was at her side!
The good dog saw what the trouble
was at once, and the thought came to
him that, if he should bark Just as loud
as he could, some one might run down
to the river to see what was the matter
and then the kittens would be saved.
So Sport began at once. How he did
bark!
In less than two minutes one of the
men came running toward them.
1t was the farmerhimself He thought
from the great noise Sport was making
that the dog must have found a family
of wood-ehucks, and so when he caught
sight of the kittens he began to laugh.
But then he took long pole, and
very slowly and carefully pulled the
kittens ashore. Then, he picked them
up in his arms and carried them toward
I the barn; while the old cat and Sport
walked on behind
That night, the old cat asked her kit
tens what or who had saved their lives
that day.
" And we mustn't count yonP said
two or three in one breath.
A smile Lit up the face of the happy
mother as her little ones said this, bu
she only said quietly: mo, YOU
needn't count me.
q" Them" said the all-black kitten
ait must have been the farmer"
"Or the long pole" said the kittel
which had one white paw.
at was SPORT" cried the little gra,
kitten.
I'VE owe a great deal to Sport
said their mother; g but most of all t
the fact that you have always tried t.
be polite aud kind to every ono abou
1 you Sport would never have come t,
save you if you had been cross, ugl,
kittens, anu l hope you will always re
member the lesson of this day-wil
your
81 WILL" said the one white-pawe,
black kitten. Il WILL said the all
over black kitten. ave will remen
ber," said the two that looked jus
alike. 81 will re-mem-b" began tn
little gray kitten, but before she coul
finish the sentence she was SCUM
asleep!-St Nicholas.