The Advocate and news., 1898-09-21

| However, he gave Rags nice cage
with soft straw in 1t, and little medal
with number on it to hang round her
neck by scarlet ribbon.
"Now you had better go up stairs and
wait" he said, while l see to what class
she belongs. The show won't be on for
an hour yet, and the judges cannot
award the prizes until then"
Soon tho lady joined her there, and
chatted with her so very delightfully."-
about cats and dolls and Christmas trees,
and all the dearest and loveliest things
that she hardly realized how time was
passing, until suddenly she heard great
crash in the room behind her.
"It's only the band" explained the
lady. "They only play to open the show.
Come, we can go in now"
Oh, wasn't 1t beautiful-all lit up with
'lectrlc light. Row after row of cages
crossed the floor, in each of which
bllnked and stretched and softly purred
lovely, lovely kitty.
In fact, they kept getting more and
more wonderful and beautiful as Maysie
and the lady went on; but in her loyal
little soul Rags mistress would not ad-
nit that any one of them was pretter
or sweeter or half as clever as Rags
"You know" she cried, looking up in
nocently into the ladys face, rags amt
never seen bird, lessen it was spar
rer; and she amt never smelt flower
in all her life, so wouldn't you think
they'd give her prize, JUS to keep her
from feelln' bad?"
Eyes, / would, indeed" said the lady,
heartily, and STOPPING she opened the
door Of the Angora's cage and taking out
the very loveliest bowl of roses gave
them to Maysie. "Well put these roses
in Rags cage when we find it" she said,
so she shan't feel neglected any longer,
poor little thing. It's all right" she
added, as Maysie looked at her in be-
wilderment. "This Angora belongs to
me-"
"Oh / didn't mean that your NangOra
oughtn't to get prize" cried Maysie,
conscience stricken. IL only meant
that she isn't Rags"
81 understand, dearie. OF course, she
isn't Rags. And If they have given her
a prize it will be written on a card and
hung on her cage, where we can see it
in an instant"
ooh, N.Y." said Maysie, trembling with
excitement, "do you suppose everybody
what's got a cat here feels like l do
nOw?"
Il hardly think so much so, DEAR"
smiling as she drew the little figure ten
derby along.
At last they stood before Rags cage.
Maysie put both her hands over her eyes,
and peeped fearfully through her fin
gers.
oh, OH" she cried. 81 believe I see
a card"
EYES," said the lady, "you do"
whats on it," fairly shrieked Maysie.
"Oh! what is on it?"
"P-l-i-z-e, prize" read the lady. "Ten
dollars prize for the ug-for Rags"
"My!" said Maysie, and she burst into
delicious tears of pure joy.
Then the great severe looking judges
came up and congratulated her and
counted out into her two little hands
all the heap of money that was the
prize; and she had to tell the story Of
Rags rescue all over again to them.
"And nOw," said the lady, Il will drive
you home"
80 Sne Olu; ana ulun all the CnllureH
in the neighborh6od run out to see who
was getting out Of the fine carriage that
stopped before the tenement, and weren't
they surprised to find that it was just
Maysie? And didn't Mrs. Williams laugh
and cry and scold and pet her all at
once when she heard the great news?
Dear, dear" sighed Maysie with hap
piness. "What jewel Rags Is"
"Yes," said her mother. Who'd have
thought that shed have brought us such
luck by her very homeliness?"
"Homely?" cried Maysie. why, moth
er, you forget that she's got prize"
$50 | did" said Mrs Williams, start
ing gUiltlly $50 did, of course. Sun
day School Visitor
A City on a Hill.