The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-02-18
soB's FIND.

v,
would pet 1t for hours, for it was very
we'll behaved, as all kittens that have
good homes ought to be. Although
kitty loved her little mistress very dear.
~, she would often, when Daisy'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, out on the
sidewalk, Of course, kitty ran. As she
did so she happened to spy large but
terHy that went sailing by, and away
she scampered after it.
Now, pretty soon it began to rain; not
q little, fine rain, but great big drops,
which struck poor kitty in dozen diff.
ferent 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
swered 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 of 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 for
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, fr, the minute they saw the
kitten, and 6misefable 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,
''let's play ball with it."
"No," said another, ''let's hold it
under that spout and let the water run
on it,"
"I'll tell you what we will do, said a
third, throw 1t up in the air and see II
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 ia
try the experiment again, when round
the corner came big dog with mar.
ket basket in his mouth. This dog was
Bob, and he was owned by Daisy's
mother, and he went every day to the
butchers with . 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 respec,
for cats in general, but this particula,
cat, he knew, belonged to the house
hold. and, letting his basket drop, hs
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 a 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 cheeks, as she held kitty in hel
arms again, but they were tears Of Joy
and Bob got an extra allowance o.
meat for his dinner as reward for hi
kindness and sagacity.-Mandie G.
Gaswell, in Detroit Free Press.