1. As Dick was hiding his face in his hands and thinking these sad
things, he felt something very soft rubbing gently against his neck,
which was close to the hard cold stone step, and he heard a pleasant
sound at his ear.
2. It was the purring of a poor little stray cat, which was trying to
make friends with him. Dick sat up, and stroked puss. "Why, you are
just like me!" said Dick. "I believe that you have no home and no
friends either, you poor little thing."
3. When the cat heard Dick speak so kindly to her, she crept into his
lap, looking into his face as if to say, "Are you going to let me
come, or will you drive me away, as all the rest of the world does?"
4. Finding that Dick put one arm round her she curled herself up,
purring loudly, and seemed to think that she had found a home with him
on the doorstep.
5. "Poor pussy!" said Dick, "how thin you are, and how rough your coat
is! Come, I will go and get something for us both to eat." Dick ran
along the street with the cat in his arms.
6. She could not do enough to thank him for taking care of her. For she
had been hunted through the streets for many days. The people with whom
she had lived were gone away and left poor puss behind to starve in an
empty house.
7. They went to a shop and bought milk and bread. It was a fine feast
for them both, and I do not know which of them liked it best.
8. The rude boys in the street laughed at Dick for running along with a
cat in his arms. But he was too brave a boy to care for that. He only
hugged his cat the tighter, and laughed at them in return. So they
soon left off.
[Illustration: BOTH IN NEED.]
9. That night, Dick had again no place to sleep in but the doorway of a
big house. He made himself and his cat as snug as he could, and had
just fallen asleep when he heard a cross voice say, "What are you doing
here, you lazy scamp?"
10. This was a cook, who was just coming out. And at the same moment
her master came out behind her. He, too, saw Dick, and said: "Why do
you lie there, my lad? You seem big enough to work. I fear that you
must be idle."
11. "No, indeed, sir," said Dick. "I would work with all my heart, but
I know no one to give me work, and I think that I am ill from want of
food and a dry, warm bed."
12. "Poor fellow!" said the rich merchant, who was master of the house.
"Come here to me. Let us see what is the matter with you."
* * * * *
_Write:_ A poor little stray cat came to Dick. He spoke kindly to her
and went to buy bread and milk for both. They liked the food very much.
Questions: 1. What did Dick feel as he lay on the doorstep?
2. What did he say to the stray cat? 3. What did he buy for
them both? 4. Who came out of the door as Dick was sleeping
on the step? 5. Who came out after the maid? 6. What did the
master of the house say to Dick?