The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-01-11

she was aSClf, ana III ner plalutlVe little
''mcww-w" failed to cali attention to her
wants she would resort to sterner means,
scratching her mothers nose with her
pretty, velvet-sheathed claws, that could
be sharp as needles on occasion.
AS she grew older even her morning
lunch failed to keep her quiet for any
length of time. She gave her mother a
box on the ear, with or without the small
est PROPAGATION, played football with her
| else to annoy her, would dance airily
upon the threshold of the back door, roll
ing over and over close to the dangerous
verge, pretending not to hear poor puss'
distressed calls for her to return to the
safe shelter of their comfortable basket.
The only discipline that she ever adj
ministercd was hasty pat now and then,
friendly challenges, for she invariably paid
them back with interest, boxing her re-
spectcd O. parents ears with vigor and
heartiness that would not have disgraced
a professional boxer.
As the weeks wore on, however, :and
little Miss Kitty began to claim the larger
share of her mammals saucer of milk,
the best bits of meat. and one day even
took forcible possession OF a robin that
that relative had killed for her own din
ncr, matters began gradually to assume
Il new phase-nladam grew touchy, and
at last decidedly cross. 1t was evident
that this thing had gone on quite long
enough, and a change of some kind was
in contemplation.
Perhaps she had taken counsel with
some older and more experienced mother
cat; at any rate. Mrs. Siky's face like
Sauls, was not toward her interesting
progeny, as heretofore. She snubbcd her
on the slightest proyocation, grow:lcd
threateningly if poor little puss approached
In mil hofnro
had been appeased; and if she SO far
forgot herself as to put 4 few motherly
touches to her child's toilet, she invaria-
bly, atoned for that weakness by an extra
growl and slap. ::
At first Furry seemed incredu!ous. 1t
was impossible that her, easy-gong, dar"
ling, mamma should really mean any I'm,
kindness to her, and she frisked and played
about her as boldly as ever, returning
growl for growl, pat for pat, with the
old mir of saucy, audacity that had hereto
fore been regarded with such evident COM
placency.
But, as the hostile demonstrations con-
tinued, poor Duss' self-confidence began to
be shaken. She was evidently getting ap-
prehensve, and sometimes, instead of lift
ing an aggressive paw against her moth
er, she would lay her sharp ears back
close to her head, close her eyes with IN
air of touching humility, and crouch quiet
|
natural animal would permit her to do.
Finally, and rs a parting indignity, Mad
anne Puss took to spending her nights out,
leaving her poor baby solitary, cold and
lonely, to get along us best she could
through the long hours of darkness and
solitude.
Percie was so angry that he cried.
"Silky ought to have q good whipping
for treating her kitty sor' he sobbcd.
But his mother only laughed.
"Silzy is only wcaning her baby, she
said, soothingly. She thinks that Furry
is getting old enough to, catch her own
any longer"
"Shc needn't be SO cross about, it,,
urged the child, still in tears. II should
think she'd feel too bad for. poor little
Furry to be so hateful to her"
But nobody heard this little bit of wis
dom, for the heads of the household were
busily discussing far more important
subject.
Il think, myself" asserted mamma,
with something like a sigh, that he is get
ting too large for frocks. Winnie Smith
is three months younger ind he has worn
pants and jacket all winter I'll engage
suit right off,
Who "hc" was, Percic very well knew,
and he Strengthened himself up very
proudly at the mention of that impending
'suit." ....
liz longcd to ask something more about
it, but papa was talking, and he had been
taught never to interrupt" So he sat
and listened in blissful silence.
Il suppose, toe, if he. is going to be-
gin school next term, that he ought to
be taught his letters beforehand: L
don't believe he knows single one
"Oh, yes, dor interrupted the boy,
engerly. II know 90 and Il just rs good
as anybody -. -! - ~
His parents laughed, rather derisiyely
Percie thought, and it made him feel
uncomfortable. Why, only the. day be.
fore, his mamma had praised him ten
derly. for. this very bit of what seemed
now undervalued knowledge. What did
it mean? s@s.<*.s. -, ,--se.s.s ..... -.
Breakfast over, he was going for his
cap and sled rs usual, when his mother
suddenly interfered. S..s..-. =.
NO. she said, very firmly, ''you must
learn your lesson first-work before play,
always. After you have learned the first
six letters of the alphabet you may go
out and slide until dinner time.''
How provoking! It was just the per-.
lection Of winters morning, clear and
crisp, md cold, while the snow that u
few hours later would be trampled anl