El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-27
The Listener
BY FLORENCE E. YODER.

80 won't look in the mirror
M again. said Roly firmly to
to herself After that little
puppy girl had been late to the picnic
because she stopped too long TO ad-
mire herself. she had been careful not
to be too vain
She was all ready TO go out and
make some calls. She had on her best
dress. and her wonderful bonnet with
the rosette and the feather on it. but
she spent very little time indeed In
front Of the mirror. Mrs Iaboy SAID
that j thought entirely TOO mucn OF
myself and how / looked and how
was treated" she said TO herself. i
wonder II I really do think about my
self all OF the timer Then she began
to wonder what people in Iabbyland
really thought of her, and she grew
so curious that she did not know what
to do.
she started to the door several times
and drew back Now there was one
thing that was considered quite wrong
in Tabbyland, and come 10 think OF II,
I do not know but what it is consid-
cred very rude by human beings That
was listening at the telephone Tao
the phones were on one line and by
picking up the receiver without ring
ing, everything that was being said
in Tabbyland could be heard
IF / do not make any noise" she
argued 70 herself, no one viii know
that I am listening" But she did not
90 to the telephone at once, for she
needed courage.
Poor little puppy girl She did not
know what she missed by not having
a mother to look cut for her. Mrs.
Tabby was very good, and would tell
her what to do and what not TO do
just as If she were one Of her own
children. But you see. Roly would
listen TO Mrs Tabby's advice, and then
forget all about it Listeners, MS
Tabby had often said (fOr she knew
that ROly was in the habit Of listen
ing on the phone), never hear well
OF themselves.
Roly thought Of this as she sat on
the doorstep and tried 10 make up
her mind. The more she thought Of
it. the more she wanted TO see
whether or not IL was true IF every
one in Tabbyland dislikes me So she
said smoothing out her dress 4 sure
She slapped her paws together. 7
am going 10 listen" she said. decided
". NO one will ever know. and
think that I can catch Toby Hicks or
IL she did? She hesitated- 4 don't
care" she whispered, as she went
toward the wooden telephone on the
wall This is the last time"
She settled herself and strained her
ears. They stood up sharply, when she
heard two voices One seemed-yes,
one was surely Mrs Tabby. and the
other-the other was Grandmother
Tabby. She was sorry on the instant,
and wanted to hang up the telephone,
but il seemed glued TO her paw.
There was a time at that picnic~
That was Mrs. Tabby. You know,
Roly was late" GRANDMOTHER Tabby
said Yes. I heard about IL OF all
the silly little girls, she is the siIliestl
What she needs is a good spanking"
Roly felt her whiskers stiffen, and
she could scarcely keep back the tears
She did not want TO hear the reply
Of Mrs Tabby. but she must stay. 1T
IS pity she has no one to take care
OF her. Mrs. Tabby began But even
when I do tell her things she won't
heed She listens on the telephone
almost all day long. Poly told me
that he has caught her at it again
and again" By this time poor Roly
at the other end Of the line was al
most dear with shame. But she is
such dear" Mrs. Tabby went on, Il
dent know anyone who is more kind,