Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
The Friends Of Buttons.

Hida was in the kitchen cooking Buttons
dinner.
Buttons was a beautiful black cat. with
lustrous golden eyes and tiny dash OF
white upon his breast. A very dainty puss
was he, and In the matter of eating sadly
spoiled He would eat nothing but liver
and canned salmon-liver one day, salmon
the next.
This was his day for liver. and he sat in
front of the stove, patiently waiting till 1t
was done to just the turn that suited his
catship Hilda opened the oven door anx-
iously.
Dear me, this fire is so Slow she
sighed. Buttons. you're the sweetest little
kitty-boy in the whole world Of kitty-boys,
but 1 do wish you could cook your own
meat"
Just then Buttons saw fly. His wh!s-
kers quivered. A fly in January was an
unexpected luxury. Buttons sprang after
1t, followed 1t across the room, from
chair to a table. from the table to a shelf
and from the shelf with a flying leap to the
top of the open pantry door. There he
perched and watched the fly crawling just
out Of reach upon the ceiling.
Upon the table was a large kettle Of mo-
lasses. Hilda looked at 1t affectionately
Her sister Ruth was going to have candy
pull that evening.
We'll have lots of fun tonight, Buttons
said Hilda.
Buttons cleaning eyes were fastened
upon the fly. Suddenly a sizzling sound
came from the oven.
The liver is burning! The liver IS burn
ing!'' cried Hida.
In her headlong rush for the stove she
knocked over a chair. which fell with
thump against the pantry door. Buttons
lost his balance. slipped from his narrow
seat. clawed wildly at the shelf, turned an
agitated somersault and fell-Oh. poor, poor
Buttons!-right into the kettle Of molasses
Hlda's shrieks brought the entire family
to the kitchen, as Buttons. his heavy fur
soaked through and through with molasses,
leaped from the kettle and whirled madly
round the room. leaving sticky footprints
everywhere.
"Oh, he's spoiled He's Spoiledv' walled
Hilda.
Before I'd have such looking cat!
jeered Brother New.
1T will never come off, declared Ruth.
Put him out in the yard" said mamma.
He'll never be fit to come into the house
again.
Some one must wash him." said Hida.
Sure. and I'll niver touch the cratur"
declared Norah.
I'm busy. Miss Hilda,' remarked the
housekeeper
Then Josephus must" cried Hilda.
Josephus was queer old soldier WITH one
eye and a wooden Leg He took care of
lawns and paths and furnaces for a living.
Hilda could see him now. shoveling path
at the Dudleys', just opposite. She threw
open q window.
"Oh, Josephus. Josephus!' she cried.
Come quick! Something dreadful has hap
pened!"
Josephus dropped his shovel and came as
quickly as his wooden leg would let him.
Whats the matter, Miss Hilda?' he
asked.
"Oh. It's Buttons. my dear. dear But
tons!' walled Hilda. He fell into kettle
of molasses-and. oh. Josephus. want you
to wash him.
Josephus threw back his head and laugh
ed uproar!ously.
Please please, Josephus,' begged Hilda
Sorry, Missile. but really I haven't time"
said Josephus. hobbling back to his shovel
ing.
So she got a pail of water. captured the
unfortunate cat, and placed him gently in
the pail. Their was a frantic struggle and
a tremendous splash; then over went the
pail and away flashed Buttons.
Half an hour later Hilda. still grieving
over the accident, looked out Of the kitchen
window.
Buttons was sitting forlornly upon
snowbank.
Poor, poor Buttons" sighed Hilda.
Then Buttons lifted up his voice in lam
entation. "Meow-meow-meow,' he mourn
fully cried 81 =
In a moment large gray cat came slowly
I'D the driveway, two tiger cats leaped the
fence, closely followed by small maltese
tabby yellow cat struggled across the
snow-covered lawn. and handsome black
and white puss crept around the corner OF
the house.
New, new" said the little maltese.
''Miaw. miaw," said the two tigers.
Meow ~ meow meow" chanted the
whole six.
Then the big gray cat approached Buttons
solemnly. "P-r-r-r." said he, and began to
lick his molasses-drenched friend.
"P-r-r-r' said the yellow cat, following
the gray cats example.
20" exclaimed Hilda, they're washing
Buttons"
..They certainly are" said mamma.
"P-r-r-r" said the black and white cat,
the two tigers and the little maltest, all
coming forward to assist
Till dark Hilda watched the funny scene.
And after supper in came Buttons, puTrtng
happily his beautiful fur just as clean and
shiny and velvety as ever.
Those dear, good CATS cried Hilda.
.They are friends in need. said mamma
Meow" agreed Buttons.