Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-08-03
K1rr1Es 1MpoL1rE VISITOR.

L
Kittie was very lonely. The two
little girls that she liked best to play
with had gone away together to spend
the entire afternoon, and there were
no other littla girls living In her
block. Her mother had a headache
and was lying down, and Molly, the
cook, was scrubbing the kitchen moor
and was cross, besides-so there
was really no one but fat, buzzing
bumblebee for Kittie to invite to nerf
party The bee looked SO very much
like the one that had stung her little
inquisitive hose the day she had
poked it into his hiding place in
great scarlet tulip that she considered
him far worse than no guest at all,
and was glad when he left the garden
20 dear" said Kittie, who was sit
ting on the doorstep, with a saucer
of ripe huckleberries, a slice of bread
and cup of water beside her. 81 do
wish somebody would happen in!
There isn't a bit of fun in having a
tea party all alone. Why! What's
that?"
Kittie's blue eyes got ronnder and
rounder, and for a moment she was
almost as frightened as she was sur
prised, for such strange visitor was
coming In at the gate-and walking
with slow, careful steps straight to-
ward Kittie's saucer of huckleberfies.
The visitor stopped about three feet
away from kittie, and turning his
black head from side to side, looked
at her as if he were wondering If 1t
would be safe to go any closer. Kit
tie dropped large black berry on
the stone near her feet. The visitor,
still keeping watchful eye on Kit
tie, hoped sideways stretched his
neck as far as possible, made sud-
den dive for the berry and darted
back to the gate. II
II think you must be somebody's
tame crow" said Kittie. holding out
another berry. 1t was very nice Of
you to come to my party. Come. this
berry is for you. Don't be afraid"
This visitor, still little doubtful
about his new friend, nopped slowly
closer, snatched the berry from the
little girls fingers, and then jumped
backward out of Kittie's reach. Kit
tie wanrcd to laugh because he was
such funny visitor and had such
queer tea party manners; but she
was polite little maid and did not
want to hurt his feelings. He looked
SO wise that she was sure he would
not like to be laughed at.
Presently the crow made up his
mind that Kittie was safe person to
visit, and he was soon standing quiet
ly on the step beside her, eating ber-
ries out of the little box cover that
Kittie gave him for plate. He liked
the bread and butter, too, and Kittie
gave him the larger half. When that
was gone, he looked longingly at the
cup of water. There was only one
cup. and Kittie did not quite see how
she was to divide the water into two
equal portions; but the crow was not
at all troubled about the matter
Without waiting to be invited, he
hoped to the cup. drank all he want
ed, and then-0n, I'm sure you canno
guess what he did then. He stood Oh
one foot, and with the other he care
fully tipped the cup over sidewise ant
spilled the rest of the water, SO tina
Kittie had to move away to .drie
spot.
But that was not all he did. HI
picked that bright new tin cup RICH
up by the handle and tried to fl.
away with it. He meant, withou
doubt, to take 1t home with him, BIZ
it was too heavy.
When he reached the gate he chang
ed Ais mind about 1t. He glanced a
Kittie to see IL she were looking, AM
then, quick rs q flash. down he leV
l 81 " .