Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-04-26
a Little Hero.

'Marie-e-e! Marie-e-e!" 1t was the
black kitten that said it. At least, it
sounded like the black Kittens voice
to the little girl who had started up
to listen, in her bed upstairs. She was
alone and the house was dark. Ma
rie-e-e! Marie-e-e." came the call
again, plaintively. as the shivering kit
ty sat on the window sill, wondering
why his little mistress had let that
new servant sweep him out on such a
cold night. On other nights little Ma
rie had carried him down cellar to his
nice bed of shavings by the furnace,
and there he had slept. all warm, until
morning. He did not know that little
Marie had hunted for him upstairs and
down, and had gone to bed very un-
happy because she feared that he
might be suffering somewhere out in
the cold. He called again: "Marie-e-e!
Marie-e-e!" 1t may have been only
common meauow. 1t certainly did not
sound like any common meaouw to the
black kittens little mistress. She knew
that he was calling her. and reproach-
Ing her: and as she heard the wind
whistling around the corner of the
house. and thought of her darling little
cat, shivering outside in the cold, she
could stand 1t no longer. She sprang
out of her bed and started down the
hall. She soon found that she could
not go so rapidly; SO carefully waving
one hand In front of her. with the
other she felt her way along until she
came to the stairs. She bravely took
the first step. and then stopped short,
for up and down the hall window some
thing was waving its long black arms.
She turned and went scurrying back
to her bed and drew the bed clothes
over her head. She lay very still for
several minutes; but then there came
plainly through the blankets, the call,
"Marie-e-e! Marie-e-ei" The little
voice was full OF reproach now. She
thought her kitty knew that she had
been a coward. and that she was not
going to come to him, even when she
knew he was suffering in the cold He
called again, again, until little Marie
could endure 1t no longer: "Marie-e-e,
Marie-e-e!" 'Ill Just run past the
window" she whispered to herself and
once more crept out of bed, and felt her
way along the hall. But at the first
stair step she stopped again. Sha
could never, never, never run past that
window, and she stood clinging to the
newell post and shivering. But Ma
rie-e-e! Marie-e-e!" came plaintiyely
up stairs. Marie took another step
slowly. clinging close to the banister.
Her eyes were fastened on the awful
window, as step by step she crept
down. When she came opposite it, she
was afraid no longer; she laughed
softly. for she could see that the "wav-
ing arms" We're the branches of the
apple tree. The rest of the stairs were
quickly past, and she felt her way on
through the library Once she stopped
and kept hold of the back of big
chair for long time, for Just in front
OF her the floor creaked loudly. But it
was only little further now: and
soon, gathering up all her courage, she
went forward. She knew just where to
find her kitty, for he always came to
the same window when he wanted to
come in. She drew up the curtain and
there he was. In moment she raised
the window, ana he sprang into her
arms. She put both paws around her
neck, and together they went up stairs. |
She was not afraid now, for the furry
little body that rested so lovingly in
the hollow of her shoulder, was a com
fort and protection to her. She
could laugh at the waving arms and
the creaking floor. Together they cud-
died down in the bed, and her kitty
sang her a loving song Of praise for |
her courage Together they fell asleep.
and in the morning when Mamma |
found the little cats black head close
to the sunny curls. and heard the
story of his midnight rescue, she won
dered that her little girl had not been |
afraid. II was awfully afraid, Mann
ma" said Marie; but did 1t anyhow"
That's what makes heroes" Mamma |