Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-10
BY ApELINE cARRICK WELL,
Copyright Newark Daily Company

rtister Publishing Company
their comfort. 1t was nice to be
indoors, all warm and dry, when
outside everything was cold and
very, very wot; just the day for
telling stories.
The big, shiny cat-I said his
name was Ton-looked at the lit
tie kitten and purred loudly.
You just come along with me-
said he, kindly, and I'll find you
lot of things to eat
1.-THE little kitten looked doubt
full.
How-how did you get So
SO scratched up?' it asked after
moment In a timid voice
tom purred louder than ever. I
look pretty desperate, don't ~ he
said, but I'm not at all really
Down in my heart I'm the kindest
cat that ever sang q song. But in
my neighborhood the cats are
fighters. Each one thinks his ped
igree is the finest of all, and is
ready to fight to prove it.
And" Tom arched his back
proudly, las mine really and truly
is the best, naturally / have to
fight pretty often to keep those
uppish cats in their places. So
that's why a part of my ear is
gone, and my left eye is bloodshot.
You should have seen last nights
fight. I licked a gray cat within
an inch of his life. He was q good
fighter, too. That's how I got this
eye" and Tom rubbed the injured
optic with a big, soft paw.
The little kitten was very much
interested. He almost forgot that
he was tired and hungry.
I never fight" 1t said, sitting
on the curb and looking up at the
big cat with admiration, Pm too
little. So, when dogs or boys or
big cats come along 1 just hide until
they pass. I'd love to be big and
strong. like you, and fight. If I
could lick one kitten my size I'd
be happy The little kitten sighed
heavily. and then asked, but
what's a pedigree?"
Tom sat down suddenly. very
much astonished.
Haven't you one?" he wanted
to know.
Maybe I have said the little
kitten in an apologize voice. If
you'll tell me what it is I'll be
able to tell you. You see, / never
had a mother to tell me things.
Is a pedigree a nice thing to have?'
'We-ell. 1t is and it isn't. par
tioularly when you have to fight to
prove that yours is best of ALL like
I do declared Tom. making a wry
face but you needn't worry about
that side of 1t. for you haven't one
1 guess. A pedigree is your list Of
ancestors, and your mistress has it
all written down, SO that she can
brag about it when company comes.
The longer your pedigree, the
greater your value. Now do you
sect?
the thin little kitten. why, 1 haven't
even got a mistress. They don't
brag about things in this alley,
anyway; they just swear. But what
are ancestors?' And the kitten set
tied himself to listen, for this was
the first out-and-out conversation
1t had ever enjoyed.
"Tom looked at him in despair.
Skinny said he, giving the thin
little kitten its first name, Skinny,
you know even less than I thought
possible. Ancestors are grand
mothers and grandfathers, and
great grandparents, and great
great grandparents, and the pedi-
gree tells how blue-blooded they all
were. But let's not talk about such
things now. I've got to get out of
this alley and find my way home
My mistress will be frightened if
I'm not there by dinner time
tom rose to his feet, stretching
first his forelegs and then his hind
legs.
"'I'll come again some time" he
r,1r,-rpd ron deScpndinpI civ and fell
you many more interesting things.
I'm very well educated he added,
self-consciously. You ought to see
the books my mistress reads.
They're full of the biggest kind Of
words, and she can pronounce them
all.
Say he added, looking down
at the kittens thin. wistful little
face, how would you like to come
along with me?"
~