=Artist:= Madame Henriette Ronner (rön´´n[~e]r).
=Birthplace:= Amsterdam, Holland.
=Dates:= Born, 1821. Still living, 1916.
=Questions to arouse interest.= In what room are these kittens? Why do
you think so? Where is the mother cat? the kittens? What are they
looking at? Why do you think the mouse does not know that the kittens
can see his tail? Which one do you think will catch the mouse? Which
one has the sharpest eyes? Which one looks frightened? Which one looks
surprised? Why do you suppose they did not catch the mouse before it
tried to hide? If they keep very still, what will the mouse think?
What will he do? What will happen then? What is on the table beside
the kittens? What may happen to the ink bottle if the big cat jumps?
What is the color of these kittens' fur? How many of you have a pet
kitten at home? Which one of these would you rather have? Why is the
picture called "A Fascinating Tale"?
=The story of the picture.= Early one morning two plump little kittens
started out in search of adventure. The library door was open, and
both little kittens heard a queer rustling noise on the big library
table. Up on a chair they jumped, then up on the table, just in time
to see a little mouse darting under some papers. The mouse thought
the kittens would not know where it was if it kept very still; but
there was its tail in plain sight.
The kittens were so frightened they did not know what to do. They
tried to remember all their mother had taught them about catching a
mouse, but they could only watch that tail, scarcely breathing for
fear it would move. The mother cat came just then, hunting for her
kittens. When she saw them keeping so still she knew there must be
something the matter.
In the picture she is all ready to spring upon the mouse as soon as he
moves, so she can be sure to catch him. How confident she looks, and
how pleased she is that the kittens found the mouse and will help her
catch it! The kittens are so excited it is doubtful whether they can
help very much; but if she can persuade one of them just to touch that
tail, then all will be a scramble. More likely they will all keep so
still that the mouse will think he is alone and come out.
[Illustration: _A Fascinating Tale_]
Which cat do you think will catch him? The little white kitten is the
more daring of the two, as she stands there, paws braced wide apart,
all ready to spring either toward the mouse or away from it. She is
quite undecided which to do. The little black kitten wants to see
all that is going on, but at a safe distance.
How those books and papers will be scattered about when the old cat
jumps for the mouse! The ink bottle is in a very bad place, although
the inkstand looks as if it were a heavy one and would be hard to
overturn, even if the cat does jump on it.
Did you ever watch a cat catch a mouse? My! how fast that mouse will
have to run if he is to get away! Notice the long, graceful, curving
body of the mother cat, and how she holds her head alert as she plans
how to catch the mouse.
Although these three cats are all still for the moment, we are made to
feel that each is about to do something, and we wonder just what that
something will be. Notice the different colors of the cats' fur and of
the books placed carelessly in a row. Let us think how this table will
look in just a few moments.