Miss Elliot's Girls / Stories of Beasts, Birds, and Butterflies

nesday afternoon a note very neatly and c

Story, becaus I like them best. So does Fannie

inah Diamond, her Last Name has to Be Spot Becaus

IE D

epistle, "a written request from two members of our Society for another

ho saved a cat from being drowned by some bad boys, and carried her home? and she turned out to be a fairy cat and gave that g

us about the musical cat who played the piano by walking over t

f dough, and in her fright said over every thing she had learned to say: 'Polly wants a cracker!' 'Oh, my goodn

es, girls, and you h

she caught her in the chair, and we thought she was cured of the habit; but one day ma came into the room and there was nobody there but Jane, and she was stretched on the rug and seemed to be fast asleep; but grandma's chair was rocking away all by itself. Ma wondered what made the chair go, so she thought she'd watch. She left the door on a crack a

cats scatter crumbs to attract the birds, and then watch for

eep a cat who played such a

h birds or chickens," said

er sister while this talk went on, and had

rious, because it proves that a cat remembers and reasons much as a man or woman would in similar c

master, and was allowed many privileges in the house. She came in and out through a small door cut in the side of the house which she opened and closed for herself. A chair was regularly placed for her at the table; she slept at the foot

rl and Teddy were dear little fellows, but full of mischief; and in their uncle's absence they so teased and tormented poor Miess, taking advantage of her amiable disposition,

nded all her young families before. Now she must have reasoned in this way: 'My good, kind master has come home, and those dreadful boys who have pinched my ears and tied things to my tail, and teased and frightened me almost to death, will be made to behave themselves. All danger t

please tell the girls how she saved u

the floor close to pussy's rug, and more than once lighted on her back; but one day your uncle discovered Miess on the table with the bird in her mouth. For an instant he thought her cat nature had got the upper hand,

you to tell us this afternoon-the story of the barn-cat that wanted so much to

he lived with Granny Barebones, and there was Tom-Tom-so

a while ago, Susie?" she asked. "I remember it went with 'Th

ink not; it's dif

f you are sure you

ry?" Nellie Dimoc

and presented herself every morning at the door, asking in a very earnest and humble way to be taken in. When driven away she went sadly and reluctantly, but in a few moments was back again waiting patiently, quietly, hour after hour,

I will do for you,' my friend could no longer refuse. The door was opened, the long-wished-for invitation was given, and very soon the little barn-cat became

rials I have dress

URRY BECAME

house stood open and

with a darker shade of the same color. Her paws, the low

saw, looking through the op

here all kinds of bright-colored flowers seemed to be growing, and, in the s

rry-Purry ran round the house to the barn and rem

to be in a decline; Tom Skip-an'-jump, a sprightly young fellow with a tenor voice which he was fond of using on moonlight nights; and Robber Grim, a fierce, one-eyed creat

d the cats sitting gravely in a circle. Only Tom Skip-an'-jump, who still kept his kittenish tricks, went fris

: 'it's a jolly time f

Tabitha Velvetpaw lying on a silk cushion, while I make my bed in the hay. She walks on

ers with only two legs to walk on, and nights-beautiful moonlight nights when we barn-cats are roaming the alleys and singing on t

ighest beam in the barn, looking down on them

love t

lazy

on a cushi

wild fr

spend m

t on the ro

is my

onlight

in warn a youthful friend and, if possible, avert her from her own sad fate. This racking cough (ugh! ugh!) and this distressing cat-arrh, (snuff! snuff!) with which you see me afflicted were brought on by the hardships and exposure incident to the life of a barn-cat: mi

My great-grandfather was a catamount and his grandmother was a tiger-cat. I've been in a hundred battles. I've had one eye knocked out and an ear bit off. I left a piece of my tail in a trap. I've been scalded with hot water and peppered all over with shot. I'll teach you how to get a living without being a house-cat. I hate houses and the people who live in them, and I

lowed by a peal of thunder that shook the barn to its

The ground was wet after the shower, and she was daintily picking her way along, very careful not to soil her beautiful feet,

exclaimed Mrs. Tabitha, surpr

am a poor little barn-cat, and I was contented with my lot till I saw you yesterday in your beautiful home; but now

e moved a step or two away from poor Furry-Purry, her manner

s presuming, Mrs

ming to, when a low creature reared in a barn-a paw-paw (pauper)

say "a cat may look at a

ay, this instant! I am ashamed to be seen talking with you! What if my friend

r endure to live with Tom Skip-an'-jump and Mrs. Barebones and that horrid Robber Grim. If you refuse to help me I will go straight to Growler's kennel. When he has worri

and when she saw Furry-Purry's imploring face, and listen

said she, 'I will lend a paw to help yo

have lived a long time

life, Yel

know eve

our Barebones, and Hop-an'-jumps, and creatures o

of some house-cat

if I

t me in her pl

said Mrs. Tab

se, my name i

ce, was my mother's and my grandmother's before me. We are prepared by birth and education for the position we occupy. Have you considered how utterly unfitted you are for the life to which you aspire? I am sorry to disappoint y

s. Tabi

' she interrup

ge. I am sure I can imitate the mew-sic of your voice. I know I can gently wave my tail, and touch my left whisker with my paw as you do. When I leave you I shall spend ev

s flattering to Mrs. Ve

clean. Wash yourself twelve times in the day, from the end of your nose to the tip of your tail. Take particular pains with your

s-how with her sharp tongue she smoothed and stroked every hair of h

u. Really, you have no need to be ashamed of your eyes, for they are decidedly bright and handsome. When you walk, don't bend your legs till your body almost touches the gro

aid I spit

on't show your claws except to mice. Keep such control over yoursel

foot, and, hissing and spitting, she tumbled over Furry-Purry in her haste, and scrambled to the topmost branch of the pear-tree. The little cat followed, imitating her guide in every particular. As for the dog, which was in pursuit of

s soon as it is dark, meet me in

e soft green turf of the yard and the sweet-smelling shrubs against which she ventured to rub her

st-behave your best. Assume a pensive expression of countenance, with your eyes uplifted-so. If you are driven away, go dire

the brick house, whose name was Winnie G

t on our piazza-a little yellow cat, and she's

Mrs. Gay; 'we want n

opened her mouth at me without making a bit

ce her. You will only encourage her to come again.

eeps looking back. I'm afraid you've hurt her feelin

unsuccessful attempt. The child's blue eyes beamed

watchful creature nature had made her. By a hole in the granary she crouched and waited with unwearied patience one, two, almost three, hours. Then she gave a sudden spring, there was one sharp little shriek from the victim,

e!' that lady said, 'with your s

should love another cat when dear old C?sar died; but this little thi

he truth, was in a great hurry to eat her mouse, ran off with it to the barn. The next morning, h

papa, with another mous

zza-floor. 'Bless me! I believe it is that rascal of a mole that's gnawed my hyacinth and tulip bulbs. I offered the garde

wants to belong to us, for she keeps coming and coming. May I ha

n for a saucer of milk,

ry-Purry's private history know

p into his face with her round bright eyes, and, in very expressive cat language, claimed him for her master. When he stooped to caress her, and pr

clapped her h

You shall lie on C?sar's silk cushion; and because you are yellow, and p

rry became a

r this change in her life, that excellent t

topaz, your breast and paws are the softest velvet, you

ty and my prosperity I owe in large measure to yo

s me it is reported that your master sought far and wide to find a worthy successor to King C?sar, and that he esteems himself specially fortunate in that, a

a strong desire to visit my ol

y dear Miss Elsie, neve

lmost gone with a consumption. I sho

ended. She has passed

obber Grim? Do you happen to

sour-apple tree, where Gold Elsie beheld a ghastly sight. By a cord tied tightly about his neck,

old Elsie timidly inquired after he

grateful to me, Elsie, for the service I have rendered you, and wish to do me credit in the high position t

e cat; and never again in Mrs. Velvetpaw's pres

?" Nellie Dimock wanted to know. "

th that set any more after she had got

s exact tone," said Florence Austi

red; "she was a nice little cat, a