The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-12-12
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW.
Careless Papa Brown and the Empty
Basket.

Careless Papa Brown and the Empty
Basket.
wish to tell story about two little
kittens named Sunshine and Shadow.
Sunshine was yellow all over. and
Shadow was all black, and they were the
babies of Mamma Kitty who was vel
low and black and white. and was called
\ .'calico cat but was named by her
little mistress Purr, because she would
sing and purr SO prettily. Now Purr
was very proud Of her children, but
Hero, the big black dog. did not like to
have so many kittens around. He
thought they got too much petting, and
he felt rather hurt about it. He seemed
fond of Purr, and willing to share his
home with her; but when Sunshine and
Shadow were born, he thought there were
too many cats. and he would often growl
il the kittens played too near, or tried
to climb on his back.
So il happened that little Hattie, the
owner Of the family Of pets. decided to
part with tho kittens to Maud and Harry
Brown. who lived on a farm little way
of. Mr.. Brown passed by Hattie's on
his way home from work every evening,
so 1t was decided to let him take the
kittens home in covered basket. Hat
tie put them in the basket and handed
them to Mr.. Brown. Then she started
into the house to get string to tie the
cover to the basket, lest the kittens
should get out. Never mind about the
string said Mr.. Brown, II will keep
my hand pressed down on the cover
So of he started in the growing twi-
light, thankful for the warm ulster that
was wrapped around him. for it was
nearly winter, and warm clothes felt
nice.
but alas! Mr.. Brown. though one Of
the best papas in the world, was very
forgetful, and this time he forgot to
keep his hand on the cover of the basket:
and when he got home, and Maud and
Harry met him with laughs and shouts,
and inquiries about the kittens, he
opened the cover of the basket, and no
kitty was to be found in it.
"Why, they must have got out on the
wayw exclaimed Papa Brown; and then
such noise as there was for few min
utes! Maud began to cry, and Harry de.
clared tho kittens would freeze to death,
while mamma suggested that they light
the lantern and 60 and search for them
So papa took of his big ulster and hung
it up. and put on an old coat that ht
kept to wear around the farm and d.
chores in, and they took the Lantern
and all started of after the missing kit
tens. They hunted up and down thu
road, and even over the walls and int
the woods, and inquired at Hattie,
house TO see il the kittens had found
their way back to their old home. A
last they had to give it up. and 60 home
without them.
"Never mind," said papa. to the nov
sobbing children. will get you som,
more kittens.
but ] want those kittens" sale
Maud. They arc the loseliest kittens
I ever saw
But something very strange happened
when they got home and opened TIT
door, for there was Shadow climbing or
chair, and Sunshine peeping out 0
papa's ulster pocket. So now they knew
that the kittens were not lost, but ha,
only crept into the pocket out Of tn
basket when Mr.. Brown was comm,
home, and here they were, all safe, an
ready for frolic. Maud and Harr,
changed their signs for shrieks Of laugh
ter.-Emma Howard, In Woman's Jour
nal.