Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-09-25
STORY OF THE BRAVE KITTENS.

gentle purring. She was warm dnd
we'll 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 a comfortable doze Tom,
the oldest of the kittens, asked, sleep
lily: 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,
reproachfully, 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 q
few years since he died, killed by tho
monster Fieryface, half-cat, half-tiger
and terribly ferocious. He now wears
the wonderful boots. Poor 'Puss In
Boots!' He was a valiant knight"
replied Mrs. Brown. and sighed dis
consolately, as told by the New York
Tribune.
Frisk's eyes flashed fire. He drew
himself up till he was fully eight in
ches tall and cried out: when I am
grown up and am large and strong ]
will search the world for the dread
full Fieryface and kill him to avenge
poor 'Puss in Boots!" Everything
will give way before my strength"
"And L." spoke up Tom, who was
fully as brave and fearless as his
brother, Twill 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 a hero"
After this speech Tom and Frisk.
instead of quarreling 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 affection.
ately:
and you, my darling, will YOU also
grow up into a brave, strong cat and
go into the world to seek advent
ures?"
81, mother?" asked little Kitten Kat.
ten, shyly. mo, 1 don't think / will
20 out into the world. / will stay
with you always and protect you
when you are old and can not take
care of yourself, dear mamma"
Mrs. Brown looked at the black and
white morsel of a kitten and then at
her own splendid, muscular body, and
hid smile behind her paw. But the
next moment she Rugged Kitten Kat
ten and kissed him many times, say
ing. "That is right, my dear" for
his ambition pleased her best of all
Suddenly a 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.
Eyes, it is coming nearer am so
frightened! Mother, dear, take care
of mel" walled Frisk in a voice as
tiny and weak as TOMS.
Little Kitten Katten now took up
the wall. New! newt" she sobbed
piteously. II really think 1t 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 forlorn heap. Quickly
and stealthily she moved across the
oaken floor. nearer and nearer her
hapless prey, that, all unconscious OF
his peril, was peacefully nibbling a
large piece of cheese. There was a
spring, a squeal and Mrs. Brown
emerged triumphant from the pantry,
carrying a 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 the captive, while Tom, Frisk
and Kitten Katten looked on in terri.
fled amazement. When the luckless
rate was dead beyond the shadow OF
doubt she carefully put him in a
corner and, returning to the kittens,
said
Now, my loves, tell me why yoa
were SO frightened at the sight of Mr.
Rat. You saw how easily l disposed
of him. Surely, kittens that intend
to grow up into such great heroes
should not be afraid of a rat!"
The three kittens hung their heads,
abashed, and said nothing. They were
tao much ashamed.
AT last Tom plucked up the cour-
age to falter: "But he was SO very
big, mother"
"And SO terribly black!" shudder-