Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-10
THE BRAVE KITTENS.


Every child you know.
May Morgan in st. Nicholas.
THE BRAVE KITTENS.
Mrs. Brown kissed each of her chill
dren in turn, and, stretching herself
in luxurious contentment, began a
gentle purring. She was warm and
well fed and her darlings were gath
cred about her, so what cared she
that the snow fell and the wind howl
ed without? When she was just drop
ping into comfortable dose, Tom, the
Oldest of the kittens, asked, sleepily:
Mother, is the story about Dick
Wilmington and His Cat true, and
did cat ever really go to London
to visit the Queen?"
Mrs. Brown was wide awake in an
instant. my dear" she answered re-
proachfully, have not told you those
stories since you were two days old,
as my mother told them to me and
| my grandmother to her? How can
you doubt that they are true?"
And did 'Puss in Boots live, too?"
queried Frisk, the next in age, with
great eagerness.
Surely, surely; and it is only a
few years since he died, killed by the
monster Fieryface, half-cat, half-tiger
and terribly ferocious. He now wears
the wonderful boots. Poor 'Puss in
Boots!' He was valiant knight"
replied Mrs. Brown and sighed dis
| consolately.
Frisk's eyes flashed fire. He drew
himself up till he was fully eight
inches tall and cried out: when 1
am grown up and am large and strong
i will search the world for the dread
Iful Fieryface and kill him to ayenge
poor sPuss in Bootsl Everything will
lgive way before my strength. !" ~ 4,
AID, Y. 3 ,;'sas- was
fully as brave and fearless as his
brother, will go through the world
killing all the rats and mice in the
country. Then all the cats will cry
All hail to dauntless Toni And the
king will give me great treasures and
call me hero"
After this speech Tom and Frisk
instead of quarrelling as kittens not
so well behaved might have done, re
garded each other admiringly and
looked at their mother for approval
She smiled indulgently and praised
their bravery. Then, turning to Kit.
ten Katten, the youngest and her spe
cial pride and pet, she playfully
tweaked his ear and said affectionate
/ ly:
And you, my darling, will you also
grow up into a brave, strong cat and
go into the world to seek adyen'
tures?"
81, mother?" asked little Kitten
Katten, shyly. mo, l don't think
will go out into the world. will stay
with you always and protect you when
you are old and cannot take care OF
yourself, dear mamma"
Mrs. Brown poked at the black
and white morsel of kitten and then
at her own splendid, muscular body,
and hid smile behind her paw. But
the next moment she Rugged Kitten
Katten and kissed him many times
saying, THAT is right, my DEAR" for
his ambition pleased her best of all.
Suddenly small. scratching sound
reached Toms sharp ears.
Listen, mother, dear; hear a
noise," he cried in tiny, weak voice
not at all like the one he had used
before.
Yes, it is coming nearer. 1 am SO
frightened Mother, dear, take care
Of mel" walled Frisk in voice as
tiny and weak as Toms.
Little Kitten Katten now took up
the wall New! mew!" she sobbed
piteously. 81 really think it is a
great big rat O-o-oh! Mother, he
will eat mel"
"Hush!" whispered Mrs. Brown,
springing up with a 1.-THE, graceful
movement, while the kittens lay
.whimpering in a forlorn heap. Quick.
ly and stealthily she moved across
the oaken floor, nearer and nearer
her hapless prey, that all unconscious
of his peril, was peacefully nibbling a
4 AoL &c plOCS vi .SACSoC. L uCI0 was d
spring, a squeal, and Mrs. Brown
emerged triumphant from the pantry,
carrying limp black form In her
mouth. She laid her burden down
near her now shamefaced children,
one powerful paw resting on the black
body, but the kittens shrank back
in fear and could not be induced to
touch it.
For fully an hour, Mrs. Brown play.
ed with her captive. while Tom, Frisk
and Kitten Katten looked on in terri.
fed amazement When the luckless
rat was dead beyond the shadow Of a
doubt she carefully put him in cor.
ner and. returning to the kittens,
said:
Now, my loves, tell me why you
were so frightened at the. sight OF
Mr.. Rat there. You saw how easily
disposed of him. Surely, kittens
that intend to grow up into such
great heroes should not be afraid OF
a raft"
The three kittens hung their heads
abashed and said nothing. They were
too much ashamed.
At last Tom plucked up the cour.
age to falter: But he was so very
big, mother"
and SO terribly black!" shuddered
Frisk.
"And had such fierce whiskers!"
added Kitten Katten with SILVER.
But Mrs. Brown answered, trying
to speak severely, though her eyes
were twinkling:
1T was only your fear that made
him seem SO. He is nothing compar-
ed with the monsters you intend to
combat when you grow up, Had you
facaI him hovdl,, tnetnod -