The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-01-28

'She hasn't discovered the difference
yet" said mamma ''If she does she
may not be so motherly."
BY and by, after Bonnie had taken
dinner along with the kittens and had
q sound nap, he crept out and made a
tour OF the room. Pussy heard him as
he climbed here and there, and the
noise suggested the presence of mouse.
She crOuched behind box and waited
for it to come in sight. But imagine her
look OF perplexed wonder when, instead
OF a mouse, Bonnie ran up to her in a
most trustful manner, asking her in his
own cunning way for food and protec-
ton. Pussy stared at him in open-eyed
establishment. One moment she seemed
quite sure he was a rat, and the next
Just as sure he was one of her babies.
Then she would be in doubt again
and pounce upon him with the evident
intention of making a meal of him, but
he looked so beseechingly at her that
she hesitated, and ended by taking him
in among her brood once more. She
kept this sort of thing up for two or
three days, when she concluded that he
really belonged to her family, and from
that he was her especial favorite.
"Oh, mamma, mamma" exclaimed
little Tom one day, ''tum in ere wight
quick, and see what Bonnie do to he
mamma He DIES bitin' her an wunned
all ODER her, an she des ack like she
fink it funny, she do"
Sure enough, there sat Pussy, evil
IDENTIFY no less amused than Tommy,
while Bonnie romped over her, bit her
ears, scratched her nose and gnawed
her tail in the most fearless manner
Bonnie soon outgrew his mates and
his agile movements surprised them
very much and vexed them no little
sometimes. Often when they were sure
they had him down and that he could
not get up without their permission, the
first thing they knew he would be sauci-
ly cycling them from his perch on the
bed, or peeping at them from under the
SOFA But he was like some boys and
girls / know. His love of fun often
caused him to be unmindful of his play
fellows, and frequently he hit them so
hard, and scratched them SO unmerci-
fully, that they would cry out with
pain. This always brought Pussy to
the scene, and though Bonnie was the
offender and did not deserve it he in
variably received her sympathy, while
the others were scolded. And she is
like some mothers l know.
Pussy and her children soon came to
look upon the adopted member of the
family as very dear creature, and Tom
my and Homer, of course, shared in this
opinion. He had the freedom of the
house from the kitchen to the bedroom,
and, if he chose to take nap, crept un.
der the cover with mamma when she
was lying down, curled himself at her
feet and slept as long as he liked; or, il
he wished to play hide and seek while
the family were at dinner, he was wei.
come to do So since every one enjoyed
seeing him race under the table, pop
ping up into this ones lap, then that
ones lap, leaping over papa's head, and
frequently ending his play by stealing
a lump Of sugar from the bowl, and
seating himself wherever it came
handiest to eat it, in the most cunning
and captivating way.
Like most boys and girls who are in
dulged too much, Bonnie was saucy
andA exacting at times. One day
i. he picked a quarrel with Dan, q
grandfatherly old cat who had oc
cupied place in the household long be
fore the frisky squirrel had made itsap
pearance there Dan objected to the
liberties taken with him by this spoiled
pet, and with good intentions, no doubt
dealt him a smart cuff on the ear. This
so enraged Bonnie that he flew at hi.
would-be instructor in manners, and {
very lively battle ensued. Pussy heart
the tumult, and thinking from Bonnie!
angry squeals that the old gentleman
was unduly severe, rushed to the spo
and defended her willful and rebelious
child. Such behavior on her part caused
a rupture in the family, which, l am sor
ry to say, never healed. And from tina
time, as long as Bonnie remained there
Dan never entered the house withou
being assaulted With the return o
summer Bonnic's Unborn love for thu
woods led him away from his adopte,
home, and the little boys have neve
ceased to mourn his absence. n
A. Montfort, in Detroit Free Press.