The Kitchen Cat, and other stories, by Amy Walton.
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There are three short stories in this little book, of which the first
is by far the longest. Ruth is a poor little rich girl. Her mother
had died some time before, and she lives with her father, a lawyer, and
an incredibly stupid, though outwardly competent, Nurse. One day she
discovers that there is a thin, unfed cat also living in the house.
She befriends it, despite Nurse. She becomes very ill for a week or
so. Her father discovers her love for the cat, and it is elevated to
being the House Cat.
In the second story, a "toy" dog is missing. When the dog, Sarah, is
found, she tells her young mistress of her adventures.
In the third and last story, two young girls are seeing what they can
find near a pond. A toad is discovered, and he explains to them that
he lives in a hole, which is well covered up, so that he cannot see
out. He says that some toads' holes are uncomfortable while some are
nice and snug. The girls' attendant, Miss Grey, points out the moral,
that we all live in holes of our own making, some of which are
comfortable, and some not, but out of which we cannot easily see how
other people are living.
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THE KITCHEN CAT, AND OTHER STORIES, BY AMY WALTON.