Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1902-11-21

Mrs Harris cats If they were
out in the yard, and Mrs. Harris Of
ten watched her from the window.
This lady was very fond of cats; she
had four large ones and one kitten
One day She came out i'll the yard
when Bessie was there and. asked. her
If she had a kitten.
mo. | haven't; but I want one very
much, and mamma says l may have
one if can find a pretty one Bessie
replied. :,
DO you think you would take good
care of one all the time?" Mrs. Harris
asked earnestly.
"Oh, yes, indeed; l should love to
take care Of kitten"
We'll, you seem to be good to cats.
and have Joseph and Jane. and Toby
and Peter, and l ought not to keep
any more. I'll tell you what I'll do:
you may take the kitten home With
: you'll haven't named him ,yet-and
keep him two weeks. then bring him
back to me, and if he looks we'll YOU
may keep him; but l shall want to see
him occasionally, for he is an unusually
smart kitten and deserves good
home ,s4
So much delighted little girl car
ried home Mrs. Harris gray kitten cud-
died up close in her arms, aud before
she reached home she had named the
kitten Billy Gray. After a few days
Billy Gray was perfectly contcnted
in his new home, for Bessie gave BIN
the best of, care. &c.
When two weeks had passed Bills
Gray was carried to. Mrs. Harris Z Sef
inspection, and she Nass much please
with his appearance Arolsnd. his ne Z
he Wore bright rel ribbon on which
were two tiny brass bells, .Re;l rib
>bon is most becoming 70 his. coinn.ax-l
ion, think" Bessie said Apt don't
those two little bells Look cunning
right under his dear little chln:''
Mrs. Harris thought they lid. q
Billy soon learned to love Eessie.
and followed her about the house and
out-of-doors. They both enjoyed NAY.
ing in the garden. One s.tlay whea
Bessie was digging idlthe. dirt with her
own small shovel She found snail
Gqearthen doll The doll had lost both
1 arms, and was discoIored with dirt.
! but Bessie and Billy were much inter
ested in it. Billy poked it around with
his paw, and after little took it i'll
his mouth and walked off with it.
Bessie thought that was ! very cute
thing to do
y. Bessie dressed the doll in Il piece. of
soft brown cloth aud tied red ribbon
: around its waist, and always spoke of
it as Billy Ciray's doll. Indeed. Billy
Gray seemed to enjoy that doll very
much; he played with it Il good deal.
and would Garry it i'll his mouth as
dogs carry things. Yes. Billy Gray
was an unusually clever kitten, as Mrs.
Harris had said. ! et w
About the LIST of November, an in,
vltation calne, just rs it always had
come even since Bessie could .renlfn-
Der for papa and mamma and Bess:,,
Allen TO spend Thanksgiving VITA
Grandpa and Grandma Allen OF
course they would go-tEey always did:
usually they went the. day before
Thanksgiving AMI stayed until the
day after. But what should be done
with Billy Gray while tie family were
away? 1t would never do to leave her
alone two nights, and it seemed aspa..
cially cruel to leave him Mt Thanks
giving for il Billy dida't want a good
Thanksgiving dinner who did?
You might leave him with Mrs.
Harris mamma suggested.
I'm afraid that would teach him
to run away Bessie said slowly: and
perhaps Mrs. Harris is going away
too"