Miss Kitty Cat had come up behind her and brushed against her, asking atthe same time with her most polite mew if Mrs. Green wouldn't pleaseturn around.
Mrs. Green looked over her shoulder.
"I declare!" she cried. "So that's what you've been fussing about, isit?"
Miss Kitty Cat gently laid something on the floor at her mistress' feet.And she acted much pleased when Mrs. Green bent over and picked up atiny, soft, pudgy--kitten.
"What do you think of that?" Miss Kitty Cat asked Mrs. Green. At least,that was what Mrs. Green understood her to say.
Anyhow, Miss Kitty appeared delighted with what Mrs. Green told her. Andfeeling that her youngster was in safe hands, Miss Kitty Cat ran out ofthe kitchen and disappeared.
In a little while she returned, carrying another kitten in her mouth.Mrs. Green admired this one as much as the first. And again Miss Kittyvanished.
She returned with a third kitten; she returned with a fourth one.
"Well, well!" Farmer Green's wife said to her. "We have enoughnow--don't you think so?"
Mrs. Green soon learned that Miss Kitty Cat was not quite of the samemind. She made one more trip across the yard to the barn. And at last,with an air of great pride she set down a fifth kitten upon the kitchenfloor.
"That's all, Mrs. Green," Miss Kitty said. "They're so beautiful it's ashame there aren't twice as many."
But Mrs. Green was out in the woodshed and didn't hear her. She came insoon with a basket.
"This is what old Spot used to sleep in when he was a puppy," Mrs. Greentold Miss Kitty Cat. "I suppose you're willing to use it for yourfamily."
Miss Kitty made no objection when Mrs. Green carefully laid the fivekittens side by side on an old shawl which she spread in the bottom ofthe basket. Then Mrs. Green picked up the precious burden and with MissKitty following closely, set it down in a corner of the woodshed.
"There!" said Mrs. Green. "Now they're snug and warm. And I'll setyour milk right beside the basket, so you won't have to leave yourfamily when you drink it."
Miss Kitty Cat Guards Her Kittens.]
It was not long before old dog Spot poked his long nose though thewoodshed doorway and spied Miss Kitty Cat close beside the basket,lapping her milk. He gave a short bark when he saw her. And to hisastonishment both Miss Kitty Cat and Farmer Green's wife came running athim.
Mrs. Green had a broom in her hand and Miss Kitty Cat had her claws inher paws. They both ordered him to keep away from the woodshed. And Spotsneaked off to the barn and hid in the stall beside the old horseEbenezer.
"What's troubling you?" Ebenezer inquired in his slow way.
"It's that ill-natured Miss Kitty Cat," Spot exclaimed. "She has a bigfamily of kittens. And she's terribly touchy about anybody's coming nearthem. Although she's keeping them in my basket, she hasn't even invitedme to have a look at them.... I only hope," he added, "they won't growup to be like their mother."
Old Ebenezer looked down at him with mild surprise.
"What's the matter with Miss Kitty?" he asked.
"She can't take a joke," said Spot. "If you chase her, she always clawsyou if she can."
Now, that was one of the first things Miss Kitty taught her children.She claimed that claws were made to be used--especially on old dogSpot.
But when a kitten tried its claws on one of its mates Miss Kitty alwayscuffed it smartly. She claimed, then, that claws were _not_ made to beused--especially on one's own family.
And in time the kittens learned their lessons perfectly.
THE END
SLUMBER-TOWN TALES (Trademark Registered.) By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY AUTHOR OF THESLEEPY-TIME TALES and TUCK-ME-IN TALES
Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH
These are fascinating stories of farmyard folk for boys and girls fromabout four to eight years of age.
THE TALE OF MISS KITTY CAT
When Mrs. Rat saw Miss Kitty Cat washing her face, she knew it meantrain. And she wouldn't let her husband leave home without his umbrella.
THE TALE OF HENRIETTA HEN
Henrietta Hen was an empty-headed creature with strange notions. Shenever laid an egg without making a great fuss about it.
THE TALE OF THE MULEY COW
The Muley Cow belonged to Johnnie Green. He often milked her; and sheseldom put her foot in the milk pail.
THE TALE OF TURKEY PROUDFOOT
A vain fellow was Turkey Proudfoot. He loved to strut about the farmyardand spread his tail, which he claimed was the most elegant one in theneighborhood.
THE TALE OF PONY TWINKLEHEELS
Pony Twinkleheels trotted so fast you could scarcely tell one foot fromanother. Everybody had to step lively to get out of his way.
THE TALE OF OLD DOG SPOT
Old dog Spot had a keen nose. He was always ready to chase the wildfolk. And he always looked foolish when they got away from him.
THE TALE OF GRUNTY PIG
Grunty pig was a great trial to his mother. He found it hard not to puthis feet right in the feeding trough at meal time.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
SLEEPY-TIME TALES (Trademark Registered.) By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY AUTHOR OF THETUCK-ME-IN TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES
Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH
This series of animal stories for children from three to eight years,tells of the adventures of the four-footed creatures of our Americanwoods and fields in an amusing way, which delights small two-footedhuman beings.
THE TALE OF CUFFY BEARTHE TALE OF FRISKY SQUIRRELTHE TALE OF TOMMY FOXTHE TALE OF FATTY COONTHE TALE OF BILLY WOODCHUCKTHE TALE OF JIMMY RABBITTHE TALE OF PETER MINKTHE TALE OF SANDY CHIPMUNKTHE TALE OF BROWNIE BEAVERTHE TALE OF PADDY MUSKRATTHE TALE OF FERDINAND FROGTHE TALE OF DICKIE DEER MOUSETHE TALE OF TIMOTHY TURTLETHE TALE OF BENNY BADGERTHE TALE OF MAJOR MONKEYTHE TALE OF GRUMPY WEASELTHE TALE OF GRANDFATHER MOLETHE TALE OF MASTER MEADOW MOUSE
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
TUCK-ME-IN TALES (Trademark Registered.) By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY AUTHOR OF THESLEEPY-TIME TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALES
Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITH
A delightful and unusual series of bird and insect stories for boys andgirls from three to eight years old, or thereabouts.
THE TALE OF JOLLY ROBIN
Jolly Robin spreads happiness everywhere with his merry song.
THE TALE OF OLD MR. CROW
A wise bird was Mr. Crow. He'd laugh when any one tried to catch him.
THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL
Solomon Owl looked so solemn that many people thought he kneweverything.
THE TALE OF JASPER JAY
Jasper Jay was very mischievous. But many of his neighbors liked him.
THE TALE OF RUSTY WREN
Rusty Wren fought bravely to keep all strangers out of his house.
THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGS
Daddy Long-Legs could point in all directions at once--with his differentlegs.
THE TALE OF KIDDIE KATYDID
He was a musical person and chanted all night during the autumn.
THE TALE OF BETSY BUTTERFLY
Betsy spent most of her time among the flowers.
THE TALE OF BUSTER BUMBLEBEE
Buster was clumsy and blundering, but was known far and wide.
THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLY
Freddie had great sport dancing in the meadow and flashing his light.
THE TALE OF BOBBY BOBOLINK
Bobby had a wonderful voice and loved to sing.
THE TALE OF CHIRPY CRICKET
Chirpy loved to stroll about after dark and "chirp."
THE TALE OF MRS. LADYBUG
Mrs. Ladybug loved to find out what her neighbors were doing and to givethem advice.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
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--------------------------------------------------+ | | | Transcriber's notes: Obvious spelling/typographical and | | punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison | | with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external | | sources. | | Page 22: "They why" changed to "Then why". | | Page 71: "Horrid" replaces "horried". | | | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
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