Mother Stories | Page 3

FOR THE MOTHER

"_All mother love attracts the child, Its world-wide tenderness he feels.
And ev'ry beast that loves her young, His mother's love to him
reveals_."

Mrs. Tabby Gray, with her three little kittens, lived out in the barn
where the hay was stored. One of the kittens was white, one was black,
and one gray, just like her mother, who was called Tabby Gray from
the color of her coat.
These three little kittens opened their eyes when they grew old enough,
and thought there was nothing so nice in all this wonderful world as
their own dear mother, although she told them of a great many nice
things, like milk and bread, which they should have when they could go
up to the big house where she had her breakfast, dinner, and supper.
Every time Mother Tabby came from the big house she had something
pleasant to tell. "Bones for dinner to-day, my dears," she would say, or
"I had a fine romp with a ball and the baby," until the kittens longed for
the time when they could go too.
One day, however, Mother Cat walked in with joyful news.
"I have found an elegant new home for you," she said, "in a very large
trunk where some old clothes are kept; and I think I had better move at
once."
Then she picked up the small black kitten, without any more words,
and walked right out of the barn with him.
The black kitten was astonished, but he blinked his eyes at the bright
sunshine, and tried to see everything.
Out in the barnyard there was a great noise, for the white hen had laid
an egg, and wanted everybody to know it; but Mother Cat hurried on,
without stopping to inquire about it, and soon dropped the kitten into
the large trunk. The clothes made such a soft, comfortable bed, and the
kitten was so tired after his exciting trip, that he fell asleep, and Mrs.
Tabby trotted off for another baby.
While she was away, the lady who owned the trunk came out in the hall;
and when she saw that the trunk was open, she shut it, locked it, and
put the key in her pocket, for she did not dream that there was anything
so precious as a kitten inside.
As soon as the lady had gone upstairs Mrs. Tabby Gray came back,
with the little white kitten; and when she found the trunk closed, she

was terribly frightened. She put the white kitten down and sprang on
top of the trunk and scratched with all her might, but scratching did no
good. Then she jumped down and reached up to the keyhole, but that
was too small for even a mouse to pass through, and the poor mother
mewed pitifully.
What was she to do? She picked up the white kitten, and ran to the barn
with it. Then she made haste to the house again, and went upstairs to
the lady's room. The lady was playing with her baby and when Mother
Cat saw this she rubbed against her skirts, and cried: "Mee-ow, mee-ow!
You have your baby, and I want mine! Mee-ow, mee-ow!"
By and by the lady said: "Poor Kitty! she must be hungry"; and she
went down to the kitchen and poured sweet milk in a saucer, but the cat
did not want milk. She wanted her baby kitten out of the big black
trunk, and she mewed as plainly as she could: "Give me my baby--give
me my baby, out of your big black trunk!"
The kind lady decided that she must be thirsty: "Poor Kitty, I will give
you water"; but when she set the bowl of water down Mrs. Tabby Gray
mewed more sorrowfully than before. She wanted no water,--she only
wanted her dear baby kitten; and she ran to and fro, crying, until, at last,
the lady followed her; and she led the way to the trunk.
"What can be the matter with this cat?" said the lady; and she took the
trunk key out of her pocket, put it in the lock, unlocked the trunk,
raised the top--and in jumped Mother Cat with such a bound that the
little black kitten waked up with a start.
[Illustration: The lady followed her; and she led the way to the trunk.]
"Purr, purr, my darling child," said Mrs. Tabby Gray, in great
excitement; "I have had a dreadful fright!" and before the black kitten
could ask one question she picked him up and started for the barn.
The sun was bright in the barnyard and the hens were still chattering
there; but the black kitten was glad to get back to the barn. His mother
was glad, too; for, as she nestled down in