Miss Kitty Cat Looked Calmly at Rusty WrenMiss Kitty Cat Looked Calmly at Rusty Wren.(Page56)Miss Kitty Cat looked up calmly andp. 57watched him as he hopped about in the top of the tree above her head."I've come to make another call on your wife," she explained.Then a muffled voice chirped, "She's been here a long time and I can't get her to go away."The moment he heard that, Rusty Wren felt better. It was his wife's voice and it meant that she was safe. To be sure, Rusty knew that she was a prisoner in her own house; for it was plain that she dared not leave it so long as Miss Kitty Cat stayed on the roof, ready to grab Mrs. Wren the moment she stepped out of her doorway."Your wife is very shy," Miss Kitty remarked to Rusty Wren with a sly smile. "I've been hoping to get more acquainted with her. That's why I climbed up and sat on your roof. When people are shyp. 58and don't invite me inside their houses I believe in making myself at home outside, while I wait for them to appear."From her doorway Mrs. Wren called to her husband, "Don't let her deceive you with her pretty talk! Remember what I told you! She's mealy-mouthed.... If you had seen her trying to reach her paw through the door you'd know how dangerous she is.""There!" said Miss Kitty Cat with a sigh. "People never seem to understand my ways. I was only trying to shake hands!""With her claws!" cried the muffled voice of Rusty Wren's wife. "Ugh! She's a wicked creature if ever there was one.""Go away!" Rusty Wren scolded. "Get off my roof! Get out of my cherry tree!"p. 59By this time feathered neighbors of the Wren family were arriving from all directions. They didn't hesitate to call Miss Kitty Cat names. And some of them even darted quite near her, as if they meant to peck her eyes out.Miss Kitty began to have a worried look."Goodness! Where do they all live?" she asked herself. "I had no idea there were so many birds around here. There's better hunting than I supposed."Try as they would, the birds couldn't budge Miss Kitty Cat from the top of Rusty's house. He was frantic, poor fellow!"I don't know what to do," he wailed. "My wife will starve in there—and the children, too."Just then little Mr. Chippy came hurrying up to him.p. 60"Don't worry!" Mr. Chippy cried. "He's coming! He's on the way now; and he can get you out of your trouble if anybody can."Miss Kitty Cat pricked up her ears. She couldn't help hearing what Mr. Chippy said."I shall stay right where I am," she declared. "Nobody can make me move."She had scarcely finished speaking when a most unexpected sound startled her.It was "Meaow!"p. 61XIVCATCALLSPerchedon top of Rusty Wren's tin house, Miss Kitty Cat had been enjoying herself thoroughly, while the birds made a great how-dy-do and tried in vain to frighten her away.When she heard all at once an unexpectedmeaowshe showed that it startled her."A cat!" cried Miss Kitty. "I didn't suppose there was another cat for miles around." She looked about on all sides, on the ground and in the tree-tops. And there was no cat anywhere in sight.Meanwhile the birds were all exclaimp. 62ing, "There! He's here. Now Miss Kitty Cat had better watch out."Again a strange, mocking catcall sounded from somewhere. There was a sort of jeer about it that aroused Miss Kitty Cat's anger."He's come, has he?" she exclaimed to little Mr. Chippy, who chattered at her from a good, safe distance. "If he's looking for a fight I'd be pleased to have him come and get it."Whoever the stranger was, and wherever he was, he knew how to tease Miss Kitty Cat. Now he howled at her from the thicket of lilac bushes on the edge of the flower garden. Now he mewed at her from the hedge in front of the farmhouse. And though Miss Kitty Cat tried to get a glimpse of him, she couldn't see anything that even faintly resembled a cat.The annoying cries moved from onep. 63place to another. She was sure of that. But the one that made them managed to stay hidden."This is queer!" Miss Kitty Cat said to herself. "Can it be that there's a cat's voice around here, and nothing more? A cat without a voice wouldn't be so strange. But a voice without a cat—that's the oddest thing I ever heard of!"At last Rusty Wren seemed to take heart. And his wife, inside their house, abused Miss Kitty Cat loudly—or as loudly as she could from inside the tin syrup can."I always knew you were a coward," she told Miss Kitty. "You're always ready to attack us small people. But you don't dare fight anybody of your own size.""How can I fight a person that I can't see?" Miss Kitty asked. "If this noisyp. 64stranger would come out in the open I'd soon show you whether I'd fight him or not. I'd teach him—if I could get hold of him—not to come here and interfere when I'm making a neighborly call.""Nonsense!" cried Mrs. Wren. "You don't mean half you say. If you weren't a fraud you'd go and find this person that's jeering at you.""Meaow-ow-ow!"Again that mocking call grated on Miss Kitty's ears."There!" Mrs. Wren exclaimed. "There it is again. It would make me pretty angry to be talked to like that. But I don't suppose it bothers you. Probably you're used to having people caterwaul at you."That was a little more than Miss Kitty Cat could stand. She scrambled down from the old cherry tree and ran across the yard to the row of currant bushes,p. 65whence the last catcalls had come.As she drew near, a slim slate-colored bird gave a harsh laugh as he flew up from the bushes. It was Mr. Catbird. And Miss Kitty Cat felt sheepish enough when she saw him. She knew that he had succeeded in fooling her with his mocking cries.The birds—with Mr. Catbird among them, and Mrs. Wren, too—all gathered round Miss Kitty and made such a clamor that she crept away and hid in the haymow. She never could endure much noise, unless she made most of it herself—by the light Of the moon.p. 66XVMOUSETRAPS"I don'tunderstand," said old dog Spot to Miss Kitty Cat one day, "why Mrs. Green wants to keep you around the house when she can buy mousetraps at the village." Old Spot eyed Miss Kitty slyly. He dearly loved to watch her whiskers bristle and her tail grow big. And he could make both those things happen almost any time he wanted to.If anybody wished to see Miss Kitty Cat turn up her nose he had only to mention mousetraps. Of all worthless junk she thought they were the worst."They can't catch any but the dullp. 67-witted mice," she used to say. "A mouse that knows anything won't go near a trap unless he's hungry. If he wants to go to a little trouble to get a piece of stale cheese he can usually spring the trap without getting caught in it—even if he has to use his tail to do it.""But a mousetrap," Spot objected, "is little or no care. One doesn't have to feed it except when he wants it to catch a mouse. And everybody knows that Mrs. Green feeds you several times a day. Besides, the fewer mice you catch, the more food she has to waste on you.""Rubbish!" Miss Kitty Cat sniffed. "You eat ten times as much as I do. And I never heard of your catching a mouse, either.""Ah!" said Spot. "Don't forget that I drive the cows and watch the house and the barns at night. And during my sparep. 68moments I hunt woodchucks. You couldn't expect a person of my importance to fritter away his valuable time catching mice. Mousetraps couldn't do my work," old dog Spot continued. "There never was a mousetrap made that could drive a cow.""That's one reason why I don't like them," said Miss Kitty Cat. "They're not only poor at catching mice, but they're useless at anything else. Now, whenever I capture a mouse I always make matters as pleasant as possible for, him. I always play with him for as long a time as I can spare. But a trap just goessnap! A trap doesn't seem towantto make friends with anybody."Old dog Spot laughed right in Miss Kitty's face."Much you care for your friends the mice!" he chuckled. "And much theyp. 69care for you! If you knew what they call you, you'd be pretty angry.""What's that?" Miss Kitty demanded."I don't want to tell you," said Spot. "I don't want to hurt your feelings." He knew (the rogue) that he could tease Miss Kitty more by leaving her to wonder what name the mice had for her.Much as she wanted to know it, Miss Kitty Cat was too proud and haughty to ask him again. And, jumping up suddenly, she walked stiffly away."I shall have to find a mouse somewhere," she muttered under her breath. "I shall have to find a mouse somewhere and make him tell me what old Spot won't."p. 70XVIA MIDNIGHT MEALDownin the cellar of the farmhouse a fat couple known as Mr. and Mrs. Moses Mouse crept out of a hole under the pantry floor and ran down a post to the cellar bottom."Things have come to a pretty pass!" Mr. Mouse grumbled. "Mrs. Green never did leave more than a crumb or two in the pantry where a fellow could get it. And since Miss Snooper came to live here there's less to eat than ever."Mrs. Mouse nodded her head somewhat dolefully."Do you remember, Moses," she saidp. 71to her husband, "what delicious bits of stale cheese Mrs. Green used to serve for us here in the cellar, stuck on a short piece of wire? To be sure, she was somewhat thoughtless—the way she left that dangerous loop caught back, so it would snap over and catch you behind the ears if you weren't careful. But you were always very skillful at avoiding that.""Ah! Those were happy days—or, I should say,nights!" Mr. Mouse exclaimed with a sigh. "It makes me sad just to think of that fine, old, stale, moldy cheese.""I suppose Mrs. Green gives it all to thathorridMiss Snooper now," said Mrs. Mouse, as she climbed to a shelf and looked at the labels on several jars of jam and jelly that stood there in a row.Moses Mouse watched her hopefully. Being quite plump, he was a bit lazy.p. 72And he did not care to scramble up to a shelf for nothing."There isn't one without a cover, is there?" he inquired."No!" his wife replied."There isn't one with a little sweetness oozing down the side of it, is there?" he asked her."No!" said Mrs. Mouse. "Not one! I suppose Miss Snooper has licked them all clean.""That disagreeable Miss Snooper has spoiled everything for us," Moses Mouse declared. And for a fat gentleman he looked oddly unhappy."I don't know what we'll do for our supper," he whined. He always whined when he was hungry."There's that chunk of putty that Farmer Green left in the woodshed," his wife reminded him.p. 73"Ugh!" Moses Mouse made a wry face. "We've dined upon that for the last three nights. And I never did like putty, anyhow. I wish that snooping Miss Snooper had to eat it." His mournful eyes roved about the cellar until they rested on something in a dark corner. "What's in that box over there?" he asked Mrs. Mouse."I don't know," she answered."Well—go and see, then!" he snapped. "I'm so faint I can scarcely stand."Mrs. Mouse always humored Moses when he was hungry. She knew that he was never fretful after he had eaten a good meal. So her feet twinkled across the cellar floor and she disappeared inside the box.Not hearing anything from her, Moses Mouse soon grew more impatient than ever.p. 74"Well!" he sang out. "What luck!""Potatoes!" came his wife's muffled answer, out of a full mouth. "I declare, I forgot to call you."p. 75XVIITHE EAVESDROPPERFor anybodythat was so faint, Moses Mouse ran to the box of potatoes very spryly. His wife was already inside it, eating."I'll have my supper first," he announced, "while you stay outside on the cellar bottom and watch for Miss Snooper.""I'm just as hungry as you are," his wife objected. "I don't want to wait. You know you'll be a long time at your supper." What she really meant was that Moses Mouse would be sure to overeat.p. 76"Very well!" he said. "But don't blame me if Miss Snooper sneaks up on us."Thereupon Moses Mouse fell to right greedily. Although there were delicacies that he liked more than raw potatoes, he was hungry enough to enjoy them—and not even ask for salt. And his wife, too, ate almost as heartily as he did. The pale moonlight, streaming through the cellar window, lighted their banquet hall with its ghostly gleams. They enjoyed the cool dampness of the place. They liked its musty smell. And Moses Mouse remarked—between mouthfuls—that they hadn't had such an elegant feast for weeks. "It's quite like old times," he said.Mrs. Mouse agreed with him. Indeed, they relished their meal so thoroughly that they forgot everything else. And if Moses Mouse hadn't happened to glancep. 77up and see two eyes gleaming at him from over the edge of the box he would have had no reason for leaving his meal unfinished. At the moment, his mouth was crammed so full of raw potato that he could scarcely say a word."Miss Snooper!" he gasped, all but choking over the words. And he vanished in a twinkling, hoping, of course, that Mrs. Mouse would take the hint and disappear too, but not waiting to see whether she managed to get away safely.A second later Miss Kitty Cat sprang into the box. She reached out a paw and grabbed at what looked like Mrs. Mouse. But to her great disgust she found her claws clutching nothing more interesting than a small potato, with a little knob at one end that looked not unlike a head.Miss Kitty Cat let go of her prize with a mew of disappointment. She knew thatp. 78by that time Mr. and Mrs. Mouse had made their escape. And Miss Kitty soon learned how they slipped away. In one corner of the box she found a tiny hole. "Here's where they went!" she exclaimed. "I don't see how I missed seeing it when I first came sniffing around this box."Though she had lost a midnight supper, Miss Kitty did not feel too sad. She was too angry for that."At last," she cried, "I've found out what old dog Spot wouldn't tell me. The mice are calling me 'Miss Snooper' behind my back!"In the morning, when Miss Kitty met old dog Spot in the woodshed, she was still feeling peevish. "What are you doing in here?" she snapped."Oh, I'm just snooping around to see what I can find for my breakfast," he told her with a grin.p. 79Miss Kitty Cat bared her teeth in a snarl."Snooping!" she cried. "You'd better be careful what you say to me! I heard some mice talking last night.""Ah!" said old Spot. "Now you know that listeners seldom hear anything good about themselves."Then he decided, suddenly, that he would look elsewhere for his breakfast.For Miss Kitty Cat was in a terrible temper.p. 80XVIIIKIDNAPPEDTherewas great rejoicing among all the Mouse family. Pudgy Mr. Moses Mouse had picked up a bit of news that delighted him and his wife and all their many relations. Somebody had stolen Miss Snooper—as the Mouse family always called Miss Kitty Cat! Somebody had taken her away!Master Meadow Mouse had seen it all; and he had told Moses exactly how it happened. Master Meadow Mouse knew that a wagon had borne Miss Snooper up the road and over the hill. He had watched it disappear, with his own eyes. All thosep. 81things Moses Mouse repeated as fast as his short breath would permit. He had hurried back home to tell the news as soon as he had heard it. He found, however, that no one caredhowMiss Kitty Cat (or Miss Snooper), went, nor where; no one cared who took her; no one cared when. It was enough to know that she was gone. And everybody exclaimed that it was the best news ever—and good riddance to bad rubbish—meaning Miss Kitty Cat.If it were only true! The Mouse family scarcely dared believe that it was. But when two days passed, and Moses Mouse himself had even ventured into the pantry, and the kitchen, and the woodshed, without meeting Miss Kitty, the Mouse family dared decide that she had indeed gone for good.Meanwhile Miss Kitty Cat was having ap. 82most unhappy time. It was true that she had been stolen. A man driving a peddler's wagon up the hill one evening had noticed her as she lay on top of the stone wall, around the turn of the road beyond the farmhouse. "Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!" he called, as he stopped his horse. And reaching behind the seat, he brought out a bit of food, which he held out for her.Now, it happened that at that very moment Miss Kitty Cat had her mind on food. She had been hoping that a meal would appear at any moment out of a chink in the wall. And when it was dangled right before her eyes like that she couldn't resist it. She climbed up into the wagon. And the next thing she knew the peddler had clapped her into a basket and fastened the cover. Miss Kitty Cat was a prisoner."There, my beauty!" the peddler exp. 83claimed. "I'll take you home with me. We need a mouser. And I dare say you're a good one. Unless I'm mistaken, you were hunting chipmunks on the wall."Miss Kitty Cat made no answer. Naturally, it pleased her to be called a beauty. But there were other matters that she didn't like in the least. Her captor had forgotten to toss the scrap of meat into the basket—the bait with which he had caught her. And it was somewhat breathless inside her prison. And Miss Kitty Cat had no idea where the peddler was taking her.He had clucked to his horse and started him plodding up the hill. Every time a wheel struck a stone Miss Kitty gritted her teeth. She never did enjoy riding in a wagon, anyhow. And this one was not at all comfortable.p. 84"They'll wonder, back home, what's become of me," she thought. "And one thing is certain: everybody will miss me!"p. 85XIXSTRANGE QUARTERSThe peddlerthat took Miss Kitty Cat away in his cart drove long into the night. Inside the basket into which her captor had popped her, Miss Kitty kept her wits at work. She knew that there were many twists and turns as they creaked up the hills and rattled down the other side of them. Then there were level stretches where the peddler held his horse to a swinging gait that fast put long miles between them and Farmer Green's place in Pleasant Valley."Dear me!" Miss Kitty thought. "What a tramp I'll have getting backp. 86home again!" For already she was planning to return to the farm. She didn't care if they did need a good mouser at the stranger's house. They needed one just as much at Farmer Green's."If Mrs. Green has to depend on traps to take care of the mice she'll soon be eaten out of house and home," Miss Kitty mused. "The minute that fat Moses Mouse knows I'm gone he'll be as bold as brass."At last the wagon left the hard road and pulled up in a dooryard. A dog barked. And Miss Kitty heard voices."I've brought you something in here that you'll like," said the peddler as he handed Miss Kitty's basket to somebody. "But don't look at it out of doors or it'll get away."Later, inside the house, a woman let Miss Kitty out of her prison.p. 87"What a big cat!" she exclaimed. "Where did you get her?""Oh, I picked her up on the road," said the peddler. "She looked as if she wanted a ride," he chuckled. "I think she was hunting along an old stone wall.""She'll find hunting enough here," said his wife. "This house is overrun with mice. I'll just put her down cellar and let her work for her supper." Then she gave Miss Kitty a toss down the cellar stairs and slammed the door behind her.It was no wonder that Miss Kitty Cat was angry."A fine way to treat a guest!" she spluttered down there in the dark. "That woman might have set out a little milk for me. It would have tasted good, after my long ride in that stuffy basket." Miss Kitty couldn't help thinking what a finep. 88home she had had at Farmer Green's and how good Mrs. Green had always been to her.Even Johnnie Green—though hewasa boy—had petted her oftener than he had pulled her tail.But Miss Kitty was too hungry to sit long at the foot of the cellar stairs in thought.She soon heard faint rustlings squeaks, and scratchings around her. And though she didn't care to oblige the woman upstairs in any way, Miss Kitty lost no time in providing a hearty meal for herself.Then she lay down on an old sack and slept for a while.And just before the roosters began to crow she had found a broken pane in a cellar window."What luck!" said Miss Kitty underp. 89her breath. And very silently she slipped through the opening and stole away.p. 90XXA LONG JOURNEYBy sunriseMiss Kitty Cat had trotted at least a mile along the road that passed the peddler's house. She wanted to get a safe distance away before the family got up and turned loose the dog that had barked the night before, when she arrived.Miss Kitty remembered clearly that the wagon had been climbing a long hill before it turned into the peddler's dooryard. So without hesitating she starteddownthe road. She knew that in that direction lay Pleasant Valley—and her home at Farmer Green's.Having put the first mile of her journeyp. 91behind her, Miss Kitty stopped beside a little brook and drank her fill of cool, sweet water. She was very thirsty, because she hadn't had a drink since the evening before.A pretty wood stretched beyond the brook, tempting Miss Kitty Cat to explore it. At that hour of the morning there were many birds twittering among the trees. And spry chipmunks were frisking about in search of their breakfast. Miss Kitty Cat just naturally began to think of her own breakfast."If I were at home, Mrs. Green would be setting a saucer of milk on the woodshed steps about this time," she murmured. "But now I must shift for myself."Luckily Miss Kitty was quite able to find something to eat, as a surprised meadow mouse soon discovered.p. 92After breakfasting, Miss Kitty lingered a while to tease the birds, who scolded her shrilly, calling her a tramp and telling her to get out of their woods.Of course Miss Kitty had to stay there for a time after that, to let the birds know that they couldn't frighten her away. She scared them almost out of their wits by threatening to climb up where their nests were. But she didn't do more than sharpen her claws against a tree-trunk. That alone was enough to throw them into a panic.At last, after she had bothered the birds quite enough, Miss Kitty Cat set off for Pleasant Valley once more. Sometimes she travelled through fields; sometimes she jogged along the roads; sometimes she jumped to the top of a stone wall and used that for a highway. And always when she heard the creak and rattle of a wagon,p. 93as the sun rose higher and higher, she crept into the bushes and hid until she had the road to herself again.If Miss Kitty hadn't been homesick she would have thought her adventure a great lark. But somehow she couldn't get Mrs. Green's house out of her mind. Especially the thought of the kitchen, with its delicious odors of seven-layer cakes baking in the oven, and doughnuts frying on top of the range, made Miss Kitty's nose twitch. And her own particular warm spot under the range, where she basked away long hours! When she recalled that it was no wonder that her pace quickened.Perhaps Miss Kitty Cat herself couldn't have told exactly how she knew the way back to Farmer Green's place. No doubt she wouldn't have told, had she known; for she was one of the kind that keep such things to themselves. She never evenp. 94explained to old dog Spot, afterward, where she spent the three nights that she was away from the farm.Anyhow, Miss Kitty Cat kept plodding along. And one afternoon when she came out of a patch of woods on a hill-top, she saw something looming right ahead of her that looked familiar.It was Blue Mountain. And she knew that on the other side of it lay Pleasant Valley—and her home at Farmer Green's.p. 95XXIIN THE PANTRYOf courseeverybody knows that while the cat's away the mice will play. So what happened during Miss Kitty Cat's absence from the farmhouse was really no more than any one might have expected. There were gay banquets in Mrs. Green's pantry at midnight. And among those present there was no one that had a better time than fat Mr. Moses Mouse. He was always the life of the party. He made jokes about Miss Snooper—as he called Miss Kitty Cat. And nobody laughed at them harder than he.With every night that passed, Mosesp. 96Mouse grew still merrier. Some of his companions even claimed that they could scarcely eat, he made them giggle so violently.On the fourth night of Miss Kitty's absence, and at the fourth banquet, Mr. Mouse balanced a bit of cheese on the end of his nose, exclaiming at the same time, "What a pity it is that Miss Snooper isn't here! How I'd like to offer her this delicious tidbit!"To his great surprise, none of his friends laughed."Look out, Moses!" Mrs. Mouse cried the next moment."Don't worry, my dear!" said he. "I shan't lose this nice piece of cheese. If I drop it I can find it again. But I'm not going to drop it. I've practiced this trick a good many times.... It's too bad Miss Snooper isn't here to see it."Miss Kitty Cat Sees Moses Mouse Balance a Bit of Cheese on His NoseMiss Kitty Cat Sees Moses Mouse Balance a Bit of Cheese on His Nose.(Page96)p. 97Still nobody even snickered—though Moses himself would have had he not been afraid of joggling the cheese off the end of his nose. He thought the silence very strange. And removing his eyes from the cheese, which he had been watching closely (though it made him look cross-eyed), he took a quick glance about him. Everybody had vanished."Ha!" said Moses Mouse to himself. "They're playing a trick on me. They're hiding." And he promptly lost his temper. Much as he loved to cut capers and play tricks on others, Moses never liked to have any one get a laugh on him. And now he gave a sort of snort, because he was angry.Thereupon the bit of cheese fell off Moses's nose and rolled behind him on the pantry floor. He turned to get it, only to find himself face to face with Missp. 98Snooper herself; for Miss Kitty Cat was home again.Before Moses Mouse could jump she clapped a paw down on him. And there he was—a prisoner!"Well, well!" cried Miss Kitty Cat. "Aren't you glad to see me? You were just wishing I was here."Moses Mouse didn't act glad—not the least bit! He struggled his hardest to get away. But Miss Kitty hadn't the slightest trouble holding him, with only one paw, too."Now that I'm here," she said to him, "don't you want to balance that scrap of cheese on your nose once more, and offer it to me?"Since Miss Kitty caught him, Moses Mouse hadn't said anything that she could understand. He had made only a few squeaks of fright. Now, however, hep. 99managed to gasp, "Yes! Just let me go a moment! I can't pick up the cheese while you're crushing me against the pantry floor."p. 100XXIITHE FLOUR BARRELMiss Kitty Cattook her paw off Moses Mouse, after giving him a sharp nip to warn him not to try to run away."Ouch!" Moses squeaked. And then, when he felt himself free, he picked up the hit of cheese that he had dropped upon the pantry floor. But he was shaking with fear.He shook so hard that he couldn't balance the cheese on the end of his nose. It tumbled off at once and he turned quickly to get it. Miss Kitty Cat turned with him. And while she was turning, Moses Mousep. 101turned back again and jumped behind a flour barrel.She sprang after him. But the barrel stood so near the wall that there was only a small space behind it. It was wide enough for Moses Mouse to slip through; but it was entirely too narrow for Miss Kitty Cat. And Moses Mouse waited just beyond reach of her paw.She ran around the barrel, only to find that Moses had crawled back through the opening and was watching her with his beady little eyes.Miss Kitty Cat was almost frantic. She hurried around the barrel again, and saw that Moses Mouse had repeated his trick. He needed only to move the length of his tail, while she had to whisk all the way around the fat flour barrel."This will never do," Miss Kitty thought, as she peered through the crackp. 102at Moses Mouse, while she paused to get her breath. And as she stared at him, an idea popped into her head. It seemed such a good idea that Miss Kitty Cat decided to act upon it at once.So she wheeled and started off again, as if to run around the barrel once more. But when she had whisked half way around it she turned and hurried back again.She had expected to surprise Mr. Moses Mouse on the wrong side of the crack. And to her astonishment, he wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere in sight."Goodness me!" Miss Kitty Cat wailed. "There must have been something wrong with my idea."There wasn't. It had merely happened that Moses Mouse had had an idea of his own."I don't want to stay dodging here thep. 103rest of the night," he had said to himself. "The next time Miss Snooper makes a trip around the barrel I'm going to run up the side of it and trust to luck."That was exactly what he did. Once on top of the barrel, Moses Mouse leaped to a shelf. He crept along the shelf until he came to the pantry window. Now, Mrs. Green had left the window slightly open. And Moses Mouse darted out of doors and half jumped, half tumbled, to the ground. He knew how he could get to his nest quickly enough, through a certain chink in the cellar wall.Miss Kitty Cat soon decided that she had lost Moses Mouse again."Dear me!" she sighed. "What wretched luck I'm having to-night! I declare, it's a sad home-coming for me."Meanwhile Mr. Moses Mouse was havp. 104ing a most merry time. Mrs. Mouse made a great fuss over him. And that was exactly what he liked.p. 105XXIIIA SECRETMiss Kitty Catwas behaving in the strangest manner. She came into the kitchen and hovered about the feet of Farmer Green's wife, mewing and looking up at Mrs. Green as if she had something special to tell her."What is it, Kitty?" Mrs. Green asked her. "Are you hungry?"But Miss Kitty Cat soon showed that she wasn't hungry, for she wouldn't touch anything that Mrs. Green offered her."Well, you'll have to run away, anyhow," Mrs. Green told her. "I can't take a step with you right under my feet."p. 106Though Miss Kitty Cat trotted towards the door, she soon made it plain that she didn't intend to leave the kitchen unless her mistress went with her. She came back and twitched Mrs. Green's apron gently with her claws. Then she ran to the doorway again and called to Mrs. Green.It seemed to Miss Kitty Cat that she couldn't have said more clearly that she wanted to lead Mrs. Green somewhere. But still Mrs. Green didn't quite understand."Scat!" she cried, just a bit impatiently. "I've too much to do to be bothered this morning. I suppose you've caught a mouse and want to show it to me. You'll have to bring it here, for I haven't any time to waste to-day."Miss Kitty Cat felt somewhat hurt. She went out and sat on the doorstep andp. 107looked in at Farmer Green's wife. Now and then she gave a plaintive mew. But Mrs. Green wouldn't pay any attention to her."Dear me!" said Miss Kitty. "Mrs. Green is busier than ever this morning."Old dog Spot had been watching Miss Kitty's actions. And now, as she started towards the barn, he sidled up to her, wagging his tail to show her that he wanted to have a few friendly words with her."If Mrs. Green won't come with you, I'll be glad to," he offered. "Just lead the way and I'll follow.""You?" Miss Kitty Cat exclaimed with scorn. "You needn't think I'd take you where I want Mrs. Green to come. You needn't think I'd show you what I want her to see.""Ho!" cried old Spot. "I don't knowp. 108how you're going to stop me from following you.""I do," said Miss Kitty firmly. "If you try to tag along after me where I'm going I'll soon make you wish you had minded your own affairs."There was a look in her eyes that old Spot did not like. It reminded him of the time when he cornered Miss Kitty in the barn, soon after she arrived at the farm. He remembered that his nose still bore the marks of her sharp claws."Well, well!" he said. "I was only joking. I'm too busy to bother with you, anyhow. I have a little matter to attend to in the pasture. There's a Woodchuck up there that's getting too bold."Then he trotted off, trying to look as important as possible, so that no one would think he was afraid of Miss Kitty Cat.p. 109"Good!" Miss Kitty cried, as she watched him while he started up the lane."I'm glad he's out of the way. It would be awkward if I had to fight him while I'm doing what I'm going to do."p. 110XXIVFIVE IN A BASKET"Well, if you're not bothering me again!" Farmer Green's wife exclaimed.Miss Kitty Cat had come up behind her and brushed against her, asking at the same time with her most polite mew if Mrs. Green wouldn't please turn around.Mrs. Green looked over her shoulder."I declare!" she cried. "So that's what you've been fussing about, is it?"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 a tiny, soft, pudgy—kitten.p. 111"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. And feeling that her youngster was in safe hands, Miss Kitty Cat ran out of the 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 Kitty vanished.She returned with a third kitten; she returned with a fourth one."Well, well!" Farmer Green's wife said to her. "We have enough now—don't you think so?"Mrs. Green soon learned that Miss Kitty Cat was not quite of the same mind. She made one more trip across the yard top. 112the barn. And at last, with an air of great pride she set down a fifth kitten upon the kitchen floor."That's all, Mrs. Green," Miss Kitty said. "They're so beautiful it's a shame there aren't twice as many."But Mrs. Green was out in the woodshed and didn't hear her. She came in soon with a basket."This is what old Spot used to sleep in when he was a puppy," Mrs. Green told Miss Kitty Cat. "I suppose you're willing to use it for your family."Miss Kitty made no objection when Mrs. Green carefully laid the five kittens side by side on an old shawl which she spread in the bottom of the basket. Then Mrs. Green picked up the precious burden and with Miss Kitty following closely, set it down in a corner of the woodshed."There!" said Mrs. Green. "Nowp. 113they're snug and warm. And I'll set your milk right beside the basket, so you won't have to leave your family when you drink it."Miss Kitty Cat Guards Her KittensMiss Kitty Cat Guards Her Kittens.(Page113)It was not long before old dog Spot poked his long nose though the woodshed doorway and spied Miss Kitty Cat close beside the basket, lapping her milk. He gave a short bark when he saw her. And to his astonishment both Miss Kitty Cat and Farmer Green's wife came running at him.Mrs. Green had a broom in her hand and Miss Kitty Cat had her claws in her paws. They both ordered him to keep away from the woodshed. And Spot sneaked off to the barn and hid in the stall beside the old horse Ebenezer."What's troubling you?" Ebenezer inquired in his slow way."It's that ill-natured Miss Kitty Cat,"p. 114Spot exclaimed. "She has a big family of kittens. And she's terribly touchy about anybody's coming near them. Although she's keeping them in my basket, she hasn't even invited me to have a look at them.... I only hope," he added, "they won't grow up 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 claws you 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 dog Spot.But when a kitten tried its claws on one of its mates Miss Kitty always cuffed itp. 115smartly. She claimed, then, that claws werenotmade to be used—especially on one's own family.And in time the kittens learned their lessons perfectly.THE ENDSLUMBER-TOWN TALES(Trademark Registered)By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEYAUTHOR OF THESLEEPY-TIME TALES and TUCK-ME-IN TALESColored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITHThese are fascinating stories of farmyard folk for boys and girls from about four to eight years of age.THE TALE OF MISS KITTY CATWhen Mrs. Rat saw Miss Kitty Cat washing her face, she knew it meant rain. And she wouldn't let her husband leave home without his umbrella.THE TALE OF HENRIETTA HENHenrietta Hen was an empty-headed creature with strange notions. She never laid an egg without making a great fuss about it.THE TALE OF THE MULEY COWThe Muley Cow belonged to Johnnie Green. He often milked her; and she seldom put her foot in the milk pail.THE TALE OF TURKEY PROUDFOOTA vain fellow was Turkey Proudfoot. He loved to strut about the farmyard and spread his tail, which he claimed was the most elegant one in the neighborhood.THE TALE OF PONY TWINKLEHEELSPony Twinkleheels trotted so fast you could scarcely tell one foot from another. Everybody had to step lively to get out of his way.THE TALE OF OLD DOG SPOTOld dog Spot had a keen nose. He was always ready to chase the wild folk. And he always looked foolish when they got away from him.THE TALE OF GRUNTY PIGGrunty pig was a great trial to his mother. He found it hard not to put his feet right in the feeding trough at meal time.Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New YorkSLEEPY-TIME TALES(Trademark Registered)By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEYAUTHOR OF THETUCK-ME-IN TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALESColored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITHThis series of animal stories for children from three to eight years, tells of the adventures of the four-footed creatures of our American woods and fields in an amusing way, which delights small two-footed human 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 MOUSEGrosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New YorkTUCK-ME-IN TALES(Trademark Registered)By ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEYAUTHOR OF THESLEEPY-TIME TALES and SLUMBER-TOWN TALESColored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by HARRY L. SMITHA delightful and unusual series of bird and insect stories for boys and girls from three to eight years old, or thereabouts.THE TALE OF JOLLY ROBINJolly Robin spreads happiness everywhere with his merry song.THE TALE OF OLD MR. CROWA wise bird was Mr. Crow. He'd laugh when any one tried to catch him.THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWLSolomon Owl looked so solemn that many people thought he knew everything.THE TALE OF JASPER JAYJasper Jay was very mischievous. But many of his neighbors liked him.THE TALE OF RUSTY WRENRusty Wren fought bravely to keep all strangers out of his house.THE TALE OF DADDY LONG-LEGSDaddy Long-Legs could point in all directions at once—with his different legs.THE TALE OF KIDDIE KATYDIDHe was a musical person and chanted all night during the autumn.THE TALE OF BETSY BUTTERFLYBetsy spent most of her time among the flowers.THE TALE OF BUSTER BUMBLEBEEBuster was clumsy and blundering, but was known far and wide.THE TALE OF FREDDIE FIREFLYFreddie had great sport dancing in the meadow and flashing his light.THE TALE OF BOBBY BOBOLINKBobby had a wonderful voice and loved to sing.THE TALE OF CHIRPY CRICKETChirpy loved to stroll about after dark and "chirp."THE TALE OF MRS. LADYBUGMrs. Ladybug loved to find out what her neighbors were doing and to give them advice.Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Miss Kitty Cat Looked Calmly at Rusty WrenMiss Kitty Cat Looked Calmly at Rusty Wren.(Page56)
(Page56)
Miss Kitty Cat looked up calmly andp. 57watched him as he hopped about in the top of the tree above her head.
"I've come to make another call on your wife," she explained.
Then a muffled voice chirped, "She's been here a long time and I can't get her to go away."
The moment he heard that, Rusty Wren felt better. It was his wife's voice and it meant that she was safe. To be sure, Rusty knew that she was a prisoner in her own house; for it was plain that she dared not leave it so long as Miss Kitty Cat stayed on the roof, ready to grab Mrs. Wren the moment she stepped out of her doorway.
"Your wife is very shy," Miss Kitty remarked to Rusty Wren with a sly smile. "I've been hoping to get more acquainted with her. That's why I climbed up and sat on your roof. When people are shyp. 58and don't invite me inside their houses I believe in making myself at home outside, while I wait for them to appear."
From her doorway Mrs. Wren called to her husband, "Don't let her deceive you with her pretty talk! Remember what I told you! She's mealy-mouthed.... If you had seen her trying to reach her paw through the door you'd know how dangerous she is."
"There!" said Miss Kitty Cat with a sigh. "People never seem to understand my ways. I was only trying to shake hands!"
"With her claws!" cried the muffled voice of Rusty Wren's wife. "Ugh! She's a wicked creature if ever there was one."
"Go away!" Rusty Wren scolded. "Get off my roof! Get out of my cherry tree!"p. 59
By this time feathered neighbors of the Wren family were arriving from all directions. They didn't hesitate to call Miss Kitty Cat names. And some of them even darted quite near her, as if they meant to peck her eyes out.
Miss Kitty began to have a worried look.
"Goodness! Where do they all live?" she asked herself. "I had no idea there were so many birds around here. There's better hunting than I supposed."
Try as they would, the birds couldn't budge Miss Kitty Cat from the top of Rusty's house. He was frantic, poor fellow!
"I don't know what to do," he wailed. "My wife will starve in there—and the children, too."
Just then little Mr. Chippy came hurrying up to him.p. 60
"Don't worry!" Mr. Chippy cried. "He's coming! He's on the way now; and he can get you out of your trouble if anybody can."
Miss Kitty Cat pricked up her ears. She couldn't help hearing what Mr. Chippy said.
"I shall stay right where I am," she declared. "Nobody can make me move."
She had scarcely finished speaking when a most unexpected sound startled her.
It was "Meaow!"
p. 61
Perchedon top of Rusty Wren's tin house, Miss Kitty Cat had been enjoying herself thoroughly, while the birds made a great how-dy-do and tried in vain to frighten her away.
When she heard all at once an unexpectedmeaowshe showed that it startled her.
"A cat!" cried Miss Kitty. "I didn't suppose there was another cat for miles around." She looked about on all sides, on the ground and in the tree-tops. And there was no cat anywhere in sight.
Meanwhile the birds were all exclaimp. 62ing, "There! He's here. Now Miss Kitty Cat had better watch out."
Again a strange, mocking catcall sounded from somewhere. There was a sort of jeer about it that aroused Miss Kitty Cat's anger.
"He's come, has he?" she exclaimed to little Mr. Chippy, who chattered at her from a good, safe distance. "If he's looking for a fight I'd be pleased to have him come and get it."
Whoever the stranger was, and wherever he was, he knew how to tease Miss Kitty Cat. Now he howled at her from the thicket of lilac bushes on the edge of the flower garden. Now he mewed at her from the hedge in front of the farmhouse. And though Miss Kitty Cat tried to get a glimpse of him, she couldn't see anything that even faintly resembled a cat.
The annoying cries moved from onep. 63place to another. She was sure of that. But the one that made them managed to stay hidden.
"This is queer!" Miss Kitty Cat said to herself. "Can it be that there's a cat's voice around here, and nothing more? A cat without a voice wouldn't be so strange. But a voice without a cat—that's the oddest thing I ever heard of!"
At last Rusty Wren seemed to take heart. And his wife, inside their house, abused Miss Kitty Cat loudly—or as loudly as she could from inside the tin syrup can.
"I always knew you were a coward," she told Miss Kitty. "You're always ready to attack us small people. But you don't dare fight anybody of your own size."
"How can I fight a person that I can't see?" Miss Kitty asked. "If this noisyp. 64stranger would come out in the open I'd soon show you whether I'd fight him or not. I'd teach him—if I could get hold of him—not to come here and interfere when I'm making a neighborly call."
"Nonsense!" cried Mrs. Wren. "You don't mean half you say. If you weren't a fraud you'd go and find this person that's jeering at you."
"Meaow-ow-ow!"Again that mocking call grated on Miss Kitty's ears.
"There!" Mrs. Wren exclaimed. "There it is again. It would make me pretty angry to be talked to like that. But I don't suppose it bothers you. Probably you're used to having people caterwaul at you."
That was a little more than Miss Kitty Cat could stand. She scrambled down from the old cherry tree and ran across the yard to the row of currant bushes,p. 65whence the last catcalls had come.
As she drew near, a slim slate-colored bird gave a harsh laugh as he flew up from the bushes. It was Mr. Catbird. And Miss Kitty Cat felt sheepish enough when she saw him. She knew that he had succeeded in fooling her with his mocking cries.
The birds—with Mr. Catbird among them, and Mrs. Wren, too—all gathered round Miss Kitty and made such a clamor that she crept away and hid in the haymow. She never could endure much noise, unless she made most of it herself—by the light Of the moon.
p. 66
"I don'tunderstand," said old dog Spot to Miss Kitty Cat one day, "why Mrs. Green wants to keep you around the house when she can buy mousetraps at the village." Old Spot eyed Miss Kitty slyly. He dearly loved to watch her whiskers bristle and her tail grow big. And he could make both those things happen almost any time he wanted to.
If anybody wished to see Miss Kitty Cat turn up her nose he had only to mention mousetraps. Of all worthless junk she thought they were the worst.
"They can't catch any but the dullp. 67-witted mice," she used to say. "A mouse that knows anything won't go near a trap unless he's hungry. If he wants to go to a little trouble to get a piece of stale cheese he can usually spring the trap without getting caught in it—even if he has to use his tail to do it."
"But a mousetrap," Spot objected, "is little or no care. One doesn't have to feed it except when he wants it to catch a mouse. And everybody knows that Mrs. Green feeds you several times a day. Besides, the fewer mice you catch, the more food she has to waste on you."
"Rubbish!" Miss Kitty Cat sniffed. "You eat ten times as much as I do. And I never heard of your catching a mouse, either."
"Ah!" said Spot. "Don't forget that I drive the cows and watch the house and the barns at night. And during my sparep. 68moments I hunt woodchucks. You couldn't expect a person of my importance to fritter away his valuable time catching mice. Mousetraps couldn't do my work," old dog Spot continued. "There never was a mousetrap made that could drive a cow."
"That's one reason why I don't like them," said Miss Kitty Cat. "They're not only poor at catching mice, but they're useless at anything else. Now, whenever I capture a mouse I always make matters as pleasant as possible for, him. I always play with him for as long a time as I can spare. But a trap just goessnap! A trap doesn't seem towantto make friends with anybody."
Old dog Spot laughed right in Miss Kitty's face.
"Much you care for your friends the mice!" he chuckled. "And much theyp. 69care for you! If you knew what they call you, you'd be pretty angry."
"What's that?" Miss Kitty demanded.
"I don't want to tell you," said Spot. "I don't want to hurt your feelings." He knew (the rogue) that he could tease Miss Kitty more by leaving her to wonder what name the mice had for her.
Much as she wanted to know it, Miss Kitty Cat was too proud and haughty to ask him again. And, jumping up suddenly, she walked stiffly away.
"I shall have to find a mouse somewhere," she muttered under her breath. "I shall have to find a mouse somewhere and make him tell me what old Spot won't."
p. 70
Downin the cellar of the farmhouse a fat couple known as Mr. and Mrs. Moses Mouse crept out of a hole under the pantry floor and ran down a post to the cellar bottom.
"Things have come to a pretty pass!" Mr. Mouse grumbled. "Mrs. Green never did leave more than a crumb or two in the pantry where a fellow could get it. And since Miss Snooper came to live here there's less to eat than ever."
Mrs. Mouse nodded her head somewhat dolefully.
"Do you remember, Moses," she saidp. 71to her husband, "what delicious bits of stale cheese Mrs. Green used to serve for us here in the cellar, stuck on a short piece of wire? To be sure, she was somewhat thoughtless—the way she left that dangerous loop caught back, so it would snap over and catch you behind the ears if you weren't careful. But you were always very skillful at avoiding that."
"Ah! Those were happy days—or, I should say,nights!" Mr. Mouse exclaimed with a sigh. "It makes me sad just to think of that fine, old, stale, moldy cheese."
"I suppose Mrs. Green gives it all to thathorridMiss Snooper now," said Mrs. Mouse, as she climbed to a shelf and looked at the labels on several jars of jam and jelly that stood there in a row.
Moses Mouse watched her hopefully. Being quite plump, he was a bit lazy.p. 72And he did not care to scramble up to a shelf for nothing.
"There isn't one without a cover, is there?" he inquired.
"No!" his wife replied.
"There isn't one with a little sweetness oozing down the side of it, is there?" he asked her.
"No!" said Mrs. Mouse. "Not one! I suppose Miss Snooper has licked them all clean."
"That disagreeable Miss Snooper has spoiled everything for us," Moses Mouse declared. And for a fat gentleman he looked oddly unhappy.
"I don't know what we'll do for our supper," he whined. He always whined when he was hungry.
"There's that chunk of putty that Farmer Green left in the woodshed," his wife reminded him.p. 73
"Ugh!" Moses Mouse made a wry face. "We've dined upon that for the last three nights. And I never did like putty, anyhow. I wish that snooping Miss Snooper had to eat it." His mournful eyes roved about the cellar until they rested on something in a dark corner. "What's in that box over there?" he asked Mrs. Mouse.
"I don't know," she answered.
"Well—go and see, then!" he snapped. "I'm so faint I can scarcely stand."
Mrs. Mouse always humored Moses when he was hungry. She knew that he was never fretful after he had eaten a good meal. So her feet twinkled across the cellar floor and she disappeared inside the box.
Not hearing anything from her, Moses Mouse soon grew more impatient than ever.p. 74
"Well!" he sang out. "What luck!"
"Potatoes!" came his wife's muffled answer, out of a full mouth. "I declare, I forgot to call you."
p. 75
For anybodythat was so faint, Moses Mouse ran to the box of potatoes very spryly. His wife was already inside it, eating.
"I'll have my supper first," he announced, "while you stay outside on the cellar bottom and watch for Miss Snooper."
"I'm just as hungry as you are," his wife objected. "I don't want to wait. You know you'll be a long time at your supper." What she really meant was that Moses Mouse would be sure to overeat.p. 76
"Very well!" he said. "But don't blame me if Miss Snooper sneaks up on us."
Thereupon Moses Mouse fell to right greedily. Although there were delicacies that he liked more than raw potatoes, he was hungry enough to enjoy them—and not even ask for salt. And his wife, too, ate almost as heartily as he did. The pale moonlight, streaming through the cellar window, lighted their banquet hall with its ghostly gleams. They enjoyed the cool dampness of the place. They liked its musty smell. And Moses Mouse remarked—between mouthfuls—that they hadn't had such an elegant feast for weeks. "It's quite like old times," he said.
Mrs. Mouse agreed with him. Indeed, they relished their meal so thoroughly that they forgot everything else. And if Moses Mouse hadn't happened to glancep. 77up and see two eyes gleaming at him from over the edge of the box he would have had no reason for leaving his meal unfinished. At the moment, his mouth was crammed so full of raw potato that he could scarcely say a word.
"Miss Snooper!" he gasped, all but choking over the words. And he vanished in a twinkling, hoping, of course, that Mrs. Mouse would take the hint and disappear too, but not waiting to see whether she managed to get away safely.
A second later Miss Kitty Cat sprang into the box. She reached out a paw and grabbed at what looked like Mrs. Mouse. But to her great disgust she found her claws clutching nothing more interesting than a small potato, with a little knob at one end that looked not unlike a head.
Miss Kitty Cat let go of her prize with a mew of disappointment. She knew thatp. 78by that time Mr. and Mrs. Mouse had made their escape. And Miss Kitty soon learned how they slipped away. In one corner of the box she found a tiny hole. "Here's where they went!" she exclaimed. "I don't see how I missed seeing it when I first came sniffing around this box."
Though she had lost a midnight supper, Miss Kitty did not feel too sad. She was too angry for that.
"At last," she cried, "I've found out what old dog Spot wouldn't tell me. The mice are calling me 'Miss Snooper' behind my back!"
In the morning, when Miss Kitty met old dog Spot in the woodshed, she was still feeling peevish. "What are you doing in here?" she snapped.
"Oh, I'm just snooping around to see what I can find for my breakfast," he told her with a grin.p. 79
Miss Kitty Cat bared her teeth in a snarl.
"Snooping!" she cried. "You'd better be careful what you say to me! I heard some mice talking last night."
"Ah!" said old Spot. "Now you know that listeners seldom hear anything good about themselves."
Then he decided, suddenly, that he would look elsewhere for his breakfast.
For Miss Kitty Cat was in a terrible temper.
p. 80
Therewas great rejoicing among all the Mouse family. Pudgy Mr. Moses Mouse had picked up a bit of news that delighted him and his wife and all their many relations. Somebody had stolen Miss Snooper—as the Mouse family always called Miss Kitty Cat! Somebody had taken her away!
Master Meadow Mouse had seen it all; and he had told Moses exactly how it happened. Master Meadow Mouse knew that a wagon had borne Miss Snooper up the road and over the hill. He had watched it disappear, with his own eyes. All thosep. 81things Moses Mouse repeated as fast as his short breath would permit. He had hurried back home to tell the news as soon as he had heard it. He found, however, that no one caredhowMiss Kitty Cat (or Miss Snooper), went, nor where; no one cared who took her; no one cared when. It was enough to know that she was gone. And everybody exclaimed that it was the best news ever—and good riddance to bad rubbish—meaning Miss Kitty Cat.
If it were only true! The Mouse family scarcely dared believe that it was. But when two days passed, and Moses Mouse himself had even ventured into the pantry, and the kitchen, and the woodshed, without meeting Miss Kitty, the Mouse family dared decide that she had indeed gone for good.
Meanwhile Miss Kitty Cat was having ap. 82most unhappy time. It was true that she had been stolen. A man driving a peddler's wagon up the hill one evening had noticed her as she lay on top of the stone wall, around the turn of the road beyond the farmhouse. "Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!" he called, as he stopped his horse. And reaching behind the seat, he brought out a bit of food, which he held out for her.
Now, it happened that at that very moment Miss Kitty Cat had her mind on food. She had been hoping that a meal would appear at any moment out of a chink in the wall. And when it was dangled right before her eyes like that she couldn't resist it. She climbed up into the wagon. And the next thing she knew the peddler had clapped her into a basket and fastened the cover. Miss Kitty Cat was a prisoner.
"There, my beauty!" the peddler exp. 83claimed. "I'll take you home with me. We need a mouser. And I dare say you're a good one. Unless I'm mistaken, you were hunting chipmunks on the wall."
Miss Kitty Cat made no answer. Naturally, it pleased her to be called a beauty. But there were other matters that she didn't like in the least. Her captor had forgotten to toss the scrap of meat into the basket—the bait with which he had caught her. And it was somewhat breathless inside her prison. And Miss Kitty Cat had no idea where the peddler was taking her.
He had clucked to his horse and started him plodding up the hill. Every time a wheel struck a stone Miss Kitty gritted her teeth. She never did enjoy riding in a wagon, anyhow. And this one was not at all comfortable.p. 84
"They'll wonder, back home, what's become of me," she thought. "And one thing is certain: everybody will miss me!"
p. 85
The peddlerthat took Miss Kitty Cat away in his cart drove long into the night. Inside the basket into which her captor had popped her, Miss Kitty kept her wits at work. She knew that there were many twists and turns as they creaked up the hills and rattled down the other side of them. Then there were level stretches where the peddler held his horse to a swinging gait that fast put long miles between them and Farmer Green's place in Pleasant Valley.
"Dear me!" Miss Kitty thought. "What a tramp I'll have getting backp. 86home again!" For already she was planning to return to the farm. She didn't care if they did need a good mouser at the stranger's house. They needed one just as much at Farmer Green's.
"If Mrs. Green has to depend on traps to take care of the mice she'll soon be eaten out of house and home," Miss Kitty mused. "The minute that fat Moses Mouse knows I'm gone he'll be as bold as brass."
At last the wagon left the hard road and pulled up in a dooryard. A dog barked. And Miss Kitty heard voices.
"I've brought you something in here that you'll like," said the peddler as he handed Miss Kitty's basket to somebody. "But don't look at it out of doors or it'll get away."
Later, inside the house, a woman let Miss Kitty out of her prison.p. 87
"What a big cat!" she exclaimed. "Where did you get her?"
"Oh, I picked her up on the road," said the peddler. "She looked as if she wanted a ride," he chuckled. "I think she was hunting along an old stone wall."
"She'll find hunting enough here," said his wife. "This house is overrun with mice. I'll just put her down cellar and let her work for her supper." Then she gave Miss Kitty a toss down the cellar stairs and slammed the door behind her.
It was no wonder that Miss Kitty Cat was angry.
"A fine way to treat a guest!" she spluttered down there in the dark. "That woman might have set out a little milk for me. It would have tasted good, after my long ride in that stuffy basket." Miss Kitty couldn't help thinking what a finep. 88home she had had at Farmer Green's and how good Mrs. Green had always been to her.
Even Johnnie Green—though hewasa boy—had petted her oftener than he had pulled her tail.
But Miss Kitty was too hungry to sit long at the foot of the cellar stairs in thought.
She soon heard faint rustlings squeaks, and scratchings around her. And though she didn't care to oblige the woman upstairs in any way, Miss Kitty lost no time in providing a hearty meal for herself.
Then she lay down on an old sack and slept for a while.
And just before the roosters began to crow she had found a broken pane in a cellar window.
"What luck!" said Miss Kitty underp. 89her breath. And very silently she slipped through the opening and stole away.
p. 90
By sunriseMiss Kitty Cat had trotted at least a mile along the road that passed the peddler's house. She wanted to get a safe distance away before the family got up and turned loose the dog that had barked the night before, when she arrived.
Miss Kitty remembered clearly that the wagon had been climbing a long hill before it turned into the peddler's dooryard. So without hesitating she starteddownthe road. She knew that in that direction lay Pleasant Valley—and her home at Farmer Green's.
Having put the first mile of her journeyp. 91behind her, Miss Kitty stopped beside a little brook and drank her fill of cool, sweet water. She was very thirsty, because she hadn't had a drink since the evening before.
A pretty wood stretched beyond the brook, tempting Miss Kitty Cat to explore it. At that hour of the morning there were many birds twittering among the trees. And spry chipmunks were frisking about in search of their breakfast. Miss Kitty Cat just naturally began to think of her own breakfast.
"If I were at home, Mrs. Green would be setting a saucer of milk on the woodshed steps about this time," she murmured. "But now I must shift for myself."
Luckily Miss Kitty was quite able to find something to eat, as a surprised meadow mouse soon discovered.p. 92
After breakfasting, Miss Kitty lingered a while to tease the birds, who scolded her shrilly, calling her a tramp and telling her to get out of their woods.
Of course Miss Kitty had to stay there for a time after that, to let the birds know that they couldn't frighten her away. She scared them almost out of their wits by threatening to climb up where their nests were. But she didn't do more than sharpen her claws against a tree-trunk. That alone was enough to throw them into a panic.
At last, after she had bothered the birds quite enough, Miss Kitty Cat set off for Pleasant Valley once more. Sometimes she travelled through fields; sometimes she jogged along the roads; sometimes she jumped to the top of a stone wall and used that for a highway. And always when she heard the creak and rattle of a wagon,p. 93as the sun rose higher and higher, she crept into the bushes and hid until she had the road to herself again.
If Miss Kitty hadn't been homesick she would have thought her adventure a great lark. But somehow she couldn't get Mrs. Green's house out of her mind. Especially the thought of the kitchen, with its delicious odors of seven-layer cakes baking in the oven, and doughnuts frying on top of the range, made Miss Kitty's nose twitch. And her own particular warm spot under the range, where she basked away long hours! When she recalled that it was no wonder that her pace quickened.
Perhaps Miss Kitty Cat herself couldn't have told exactly how she knew the way back to Farmer Green's place. No doubt she wouldn't have told, had she known; for she was one of the kind that keep such things to themselves. She never evenp. 94explained to old dog Spot, afterward, where she spent the three nights that she was away from the farm.
Anyhow, Miss Kitty Cat kept plodding along. And one afternoon when she came out of a patch of woods on a hill-top, she saw something looming right ahead of her that looked familiar.
It was Blue Mountain. And she knew that on the other side of it lay Pleasant Valley—and her home at Farmer Green's.
p. 95
Of courseeverybody knows that while the cat's away the mice will play. So what happened during Miss Kitty Cat's absence from the farmhouse was really no more than any one might have expected. There were gay banquets in Mrs. Green's pantry at midnight. And among those present there was no one that had a better time than fat Mr. Moses Mouse. He was always the life of the party. He made jokes about Miss Snooper—as he called Miss Kitty Cat. And nobody laughed at them harder than he.
With every night that passed, Mosesp. 96Mouse grew still merrier. Some of his companions even claimed that they could scarcely eat, he made them giggle so violently.
On the fourth night of Miss Kitty's absence, and at the fourth banquet, Mr. Mouse balanced a bit of cheese on the end of his nose, exclaiming at the same time, "What a pity it is that Miss Snooper isn't here! How I'd like to offer her this delicious tidbit!"
To his great surprise, none of his friends laughed.
"Look out, Moses!" Mrs. Mouse cried the next moment.
"Don't worry, my dear!" said he. "I shan't lose this nice piece of cheese. If I drop it I can find it again. But I'm not going to drop it. I've practiced this trick a good many times.... It's too bad Miss Snooper isn't here to see it."
Miss Kitty Cat Sees Moses Mouse Balance a Bit of Cheese on His NoseMiss Kitty Cat Sees Moses Mouse Balance a Bit of Cheese on His Nose.(Page96)
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p. 97
Still nobody even snickered—though Moses himself would have had he not been afraid of joggling the cheese off the end of his nose. He thought the silence very strange. And removing his eyes from the cheese, which he had been watching closely (though it made him look cross-eyed), he took a quick glance about him. Everybody had vanished.
"Ha!" said Moses Mouse to himself. "They're playing a trick on me. They're hiding." And he promptly lost his temper. Much as he loved to cut capers and play tricks on others, Moses never liked to have any one get a laugh on him. And now he gave a sort of snort, because he was angry.
Thereupon the bit of cheese fell off Moses's nose and rolled behind him on the pantry floor. He turned to get it, only to find himself face to face with Missp. 98Snooper herself; for Miss Kitty Cat was home again.
Before Moses Mouse could jump she clapped a paw down on him. And there he was—a prisoner!
"Well, well!" cried Miss Kitty Cat. "Aren't you glad to see me? You were just wishing I was here."
Moses Mouse didn't act glad—not the least bit! He struggled his hardest to get away. But Miss Kitty hadn't the slightest trouble holding him, with only one paw, too.
"Now that I'm here," she said to him, "don't you want to balance that scrap of cheese on your nose once more, and offer it to me?"
Since Miss Kitty caught him, Moses Mouse hadn't said anything that she could understand. He had made only a few squeaks of fright. Now, however, hep. 99managed to gasp, "Yes! Just let me go a moment! I can't pick up the cheese while you're crushing me against the pantry floor."
p. 100
Miss Kitty Cattook her paw off Moses Mouse, after giving him a sharp nip to warn him not to try to run away.
"Ouch!" Moses squeaked. And then, when he felt himself free, he picked up the hit of cheese that he had dropped upon the pantry floor. But he was shaking with fear.
He shook so hard that he couldn't balance the cheese on the end of his nose. It tumbled off at once and he turned quickly to get it. Miss Kitty Cat turned with him. And while she was turning, Moses Mousep. 101turned back again and jumped behind a flour barrel.
She sprang after him. But the barrel stood so near the wall that there was only a small space behind it. It was wide enough for Moses Mouse to slip through; but it was entirely too narrow for Miss Kitty Cat. And Moses Mouse waited just beyond reach of her paw.
She ran around the barrel, only to find that Moses had crawled back through the opening and was watching her with his beady little eyes.
Miss Kitty Cat was almost frantic. She hurried around the barrel again, and saw that Moses Mouse had repeated his trick. He needed only to move the length of his tail, while she had to whisk all the way around the fat flour barrel.
"This will never do," Miss Kitty thought, as she peered through the crackp. 102at Moses Mouse, while she paused to get her breath. And as she stared at him, an idea popped into her head. It seemed such a good idea that Miss Kitty Cat decided to act upon it at once.
So she wheeled and started off again, as if to run around the barrel once more. But when she had whisked half way around it she turned and hurried back again.
She had expected to surprise Mr. Moses Mouse on the wrong side of the crack. And to her astonishment, he wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere in sight.
"Goodness me!" Miss Kitty Cat wailed. "There must have been something wrong with my idea."
There wasn't. It had merely happened that Moses Mouse had had an idea of his own.
"I don't want to stay dodging here thep. 103rest of the night," he had said to himself. "The next time Miss Snooper makes a trip around the barrel I'm going to run up the side of it and trust to luck."
That was exactly what he did. Once on top of the barrel, Moses Mouse leaped to a shelf. He crept along the shelf until he came to the pantry window. Now, Mrs. Green had left the window slightly open. And Moses Mouse darted out of doors and half jumped, half tumbled, to the ground. He knew how he could get to his nest quickly enough, through a certain chink in the cellar wall.
Miss Kitty Cat soon decided that she had lost Moses Mouse again.
"Dear me!" she sighed. "What wretched luck I'm having to-night! I declare, it's a sad home-coming for me."
Meanwhile Mr. Moses Mouse was havp. 104ing a most merry time. Mrs. Mouse made a great fuss over him. And that was exactly what he liked.
p. 105
Miss Kitty Catwas behaving in the strangest manner. She came into the kitchen and hovered about the feet of Farmer Green's wife, mewing and looking up at Mrs. Green as if she had something special to tell her.
"What is it, Kitty?" Mrs. Green asked her. "Are you hungry?"
But Miss Kitty Cat soon showed that she wasn't hungry, for she wouldn't touch anything that Mrs. Green offered her.
"Well, you'll have to run away, anyhow," Mrs. Green told her. "I can't take a step with you right under my feet."p. 106
Though Miss Kitty Cat trotted towards the door, she soon made it plain that she didn't intend to leave the kitchen unless her mistress went with her. She came back and twitched Mrs. Green's apron gently with her claws. Then she ran to the doorway again and called to Mrs. Green.
It seemed to Miss Kitty Cat that she couldn't have said more clearly that she wanted to lead Mrs. Green somewhere. But still Mrs. Green didn't quite understand.
"Scat!" she cried, just a bit impatiently. "I've too much to do to be bothered this morning. I suppose you've caught a mouse and want to show it to me. You'll have to bring it here, for I haven't any time to waste to-day."
Miss Kitty Cat felt somewhat hurt. She went out and sat on the doorstep andp. 107looked in at Farmer Green's wife. Now and then she gave a plaintive mew. But Mrs. Green wouldn't pay any attention to her.
"Dear me!" said Miss Kitty. "Mrs. Green is busier than ever this morning."
Old dog Spot had been watching Miss Kitty's actions. And now, as she started towards the barn, he sidled up to her, wagging his tail to show her that he wanted to have a few friendly words with her.
"If Mrs. Green won't come with you, I'll be glad to," he offered. "Just lead the way and I'll follow."
"You?" Miss Kitty Cat exclaimed with scorn. "You needn't think I'd take you where I want Mrs. Green to come. You needn't think I'd show you what I want her to see."
"Ho!" cried old Spot. "I don't knowp. 108how you're going to stop me from following you."
"I do," said Miss Kitty firmly. "If you try to tag along after me where I'm going I'll soon make you wish you had minded your own affairs."
There was a look in her eyes that old Spot did not like. It reminded him of the time when he cornered Miss Kitty in the barn, soon after she arrived at the farm. He remembered that his nose still bore the marks of her sharp claws.
"Well, well!" he said. "I was only joking. I'm too busy to bother with you, anyhow. I have a little matter to attend to in the pasture. There's a Woodchuck up there that's getting too bold."
Then he trotted off, trying to look as important as possible, so that no one would think he was afraid of Miss Kitty Cat.p. 109
"Good!" Miss Kitty cried, as she watched him while he started up the lane.
"I'm glad he's out of the way. It would be awkward if I had to fight him while I'm doing what I'm going to do."
p. 110
"Well, if you're not bothering me again!" Farmer Green's wife exclaimed.
Miss Kitty Cat had come up behind her and brushed against her, asking at the same time with her most polite mew if Mrs. Green wouldn't please turn around.
Mrs. Green looked over her shoulder.
"I declare!" she cried. "So that's what you've been fussing about, is it?"
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 a tiny, soft, pudgy—kitten.p. 111
"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. And feeling that her youngster was in safe hands, Miss Kitty Cat ran out of the 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 Kitty vanished.
She returned with a third kitten; she returned with a fourth one.
"Well, well!" Farmer Green's wife said to her. "We have enough now—don't you think so?"
Mrs. Green soon learned that Miss Kitty Cat was not quite of the same mind. She made one more trip across the yard top. 112the barn. And at last, with an air of great pride she set down a fifth kitten upon the kitchen floor.
"That's all, Mrs. Green," Miss Kitty said. "They're so beautiful it's a shame there aren't twice as many."
But Mrs. Green was out in the woodshed and didn't hear her. She came in soon with a basket.
"This is what old Spot used to sleep in when he was a puppy," Mrs. Green told Miss Kitty Cat. "I suppose you're willing to use it for your family."
Miss Kitty made no objection when Mrs. Green carefully laid the five kittens side by side on an old shawl which she spread in the bottom of the basket. Then Mrs. Green picked up the precious burden and with Miss Kitty following closely, set it down in a corner of the woodshed.
"There!" said Mrs. Green. "Nowp. 113they're snug and warm. And I'll set your milk right beside the basket, so you won't have to leave your family when you drink it."
Miss Kitty Cat Guards Her KittensMiss Kitty Cat Guards Her Kittens.(Page113)
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It was not long before old dog Spot poked his long nose though the woodshed doorway and spied Miss Kitty Cat close beside the basket, lapping her milk. He gave a short bark when he saw her. And to his astonishment both Miss Kitty Cat and Farmer Green's wife came running at him.
Mrs. Green had a broom in her hand and Miss Kitty Cat had her claws in her paws. They both ordered him to keep away from the woodshed. And Spot sneaked off to the barn and hid in the stall beside the old horse Ebenezer.
"What's troubling you?" Ebenezer inquired in his slow way.
"It's that ill-natured Miss Kitty Cat,"p. 114Spot exclaimed. "She has a big family of kittens. And she's terribly touchy about anybody's coming near them. Although she's keeping them in my basket, she hasn't even invited me to have a look at them.... I only hope," he added, "they won't grow up 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 claws you 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 dog Spot.
But when a kitten tried its claws on one of its mates Miss Kitty always cuffed itp. 115smartly. She claimed, then, that claws werenotmade to be used—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 THE
SLEEPY-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 from about 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 meant rain. 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. She never 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 she seldom put her foot in the milk pail.
THE TALE OF TURKEY PROUDFOOT
A vain fellow was Turkey Proudfoot. He loved to strut about the farmyard and spread his tail, which he claimed was the most elegant one in the neighborhood.
THE TALE OF PONY TWINKLEHEELS
Pony Twinkleheels trotted so fast you could scarcely tell one foot from another. 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 wild folk. 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 put his 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 THE
TUCK-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 American woods and fields in an amusing way, which delights small two-footed human 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 THE
SLEEPY-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 and girls 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 knew everything.
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 different legs.
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 give them advice.
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York