The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-02-19

/ ~, Sne would often, when Dafsy's back
was turned. scamper out among the rose
bushes that grew along the garden
walks.
One morning the kittens wild spirits
led her further away than usual, in
deed as far as the garden gate, and some
one having left the gate open, ont on the
sidewalk. OF course, kitty ran. As she
did SO she happened TO spy a large butt
tcrfiy that went sailing by, and away
she scampered after it.
Now. pretty soon it began to rain: not
| little, fine rain, but great big drops.
which struck poor kitty in dozen diff
| fcrent places all at once. and frightened
her SO much that she ran as fast as she
could down the street.
Daisy was helping her mamma shell
the pease for dinner when it began to
rain, and her first thought when she
heard it was whether kitty was safe in
the house or not: SO she started to
search, but no trace of kitty could she
| find.
She looked all over. from parlor to
garnet, calling kitty all the time as loud
| as she could but no small meow" an
swcred her, for kitty was out of reach
| of the sweet voice of her little mistress.
At last Daisy gave the search up in de-
| spair. and stood almost heart broken at
the front window, watching the rain as
| it poured down.
Mamma tried to console her by say
ing that kitty would surely come back,
but Daisy would not be consoled.
Meanwhile kitty had scampered off as
fast her little feet could carry her, and
| at the corner Of the street she saw a
crowd of boys standing under an avn
ing. and thinking in her innocence flor
She was very young. remember), that
| they would be kind to her. she ran to
them. asking to share their shelter.
But am sorry to say they were not
good boys. for the minute they saw the
kitten, and a miserable looking little
creature she was just then. with her
pretty fur all wet, they determined to
have what they called "some fun" with
her.
''Oh. look at the cat" shouted one,
lets play ball with it"
NO" said another '.let's hold it
under that spout and let the water run
on it,
1"I'll tell you what we will do" said
third. throw it up in the air and see it
come down on its feet" and. Selling
poor kitty. he tossed her up and she
came down very hard on the wet
pavement. They were just going to
try the experiment again. when round
the corner came big dog with mar
ket basket in his mouth. This dog was
mother. and he went every day to the
butchers with a basket for the meat.
and he was on his way home when he
came upon the boys with the cat.
Now, Bob did not have much respect
for cats In general. but this particular
cat. he knew. belonged to the house
hold. and. letting his basket drop. he
made for the boys, who fed in all di-
rections. leaving poor kitty half dead
with fright on the sidewalk.
Bob picked her up carefully and
dropped her gently into the basket.
Then taking it in his mouth. again he
started for home on brisk trot.
Daisy S mother was waiting on the porch
for him. and great was her wonder and
delight when he laid the basket de-
murely at her feet to find kitty repos-
ing cozily on the roast of beef.
Two big tears rolled down Daisy's
rosy checks, as she held kitty in her
arms again, but they were tears of joy.
and Bob got an extra allowance of
meat for his dinner as reward for his
kindness and sagacity.-Mandie G..
Gaswell, in Detroit Free Press.