GREAT was the excitement among the animals when they learned that the
little gray kitten was missing.
“She never in this world went off of her own accord,” said the barn-cat
to Mrs. Polly; “she always stayed at home and took care of my kittens
while I was out hunting. Something has happened to her. We shall never
see the dear little thing again, you may be sure;” and the barn-cat
gave a deep sigh.
“Don’t be so discouraged,” said the canary hopefully; “all of our plans
have gone well so far, and I know this will. It’s always darkest before
daylight, you know.”
“What do you propose to do about it, pray?” asked the barn-cat in an
irritable tone. “It’s all very well to say ‘Don’t be discouraged,’ but
what is to be done? Sitting here and talking about it won’t bring the
gray kitten back. Come, let’s have your ideas on the subject. I’m not
too old to learn, if I _have_ brought up half a dozen families.”
“I don’t pretend to know myself the best course to pursue,” answered
the canary good-naturedly, “and I shouldn’t presume to dictate to you
who have had so much more experience than I have. I only meant to say
that Mrs. Polly, who has the wisest head of any of us, could probably
advise us what to do.”
Mrs. Polly gave a satisfied “Ahem!” for it always put her in a good
humor to be looked up to.
“That’s a good idea,” said the barn-cat, appeased by the canary’s
good-nature. “Come, Mrs. Polly, I hope you will give us your views on
the subject; I know you have been thinking it over.”
“Well,” said Mrs. Polly in an impressive manner, “I have been
considering the case, and have come to the conclusion that the only way
to accomplish anything is to investigate the case in a thorough manner.
Call the animals together, and I will interview them, and discover, if
possible, if they can throw any light on this painful affair.”
“Capital!” exclaimed the barn-cat, “I will attend to it at once. If
you’ve no objection, ma’am, I should like to bring my kittens; they are
old enough to begin to learn how such matters are conducted, and I like
to have them get all the information they can.”
“Very sensible indeed,” answered Mrs. Polly; “bring them by all means,
and tell the house-cat to bring hers. Please notify the sparrow also of
the meeting; and as Major can’t be present you will have to take his
affidavit. That is,” explained Mrs. Polly, seeing a puzzled look on the
barn-cat’s face, “he must tell you what he knows about the matter, and
you can report it to me.”
“That’s very easy,” answered the barn-cat. “Finding the sparrow won’t
be quite so easy. He’s never around when he’s wanted.”
“Yes, he is, my darling,” answered a voice from the flowering currant;
“he can’t tear himself away from you long;” and there sat the sparrow,
swinging on a slender branch, and looking as impudent and careless as
ever.
“Well, you _are_ here when you’re wanted for once in your life,” said
the barn-cat. “See if you can keep still in one place till we’re ready
for the meeting;” and off went the barn-cat on her errand.
In a short time the house-cat appeared with her kittens nicely
washed, and looking as pretty and fresh as possible, and soon after
the barn-cat appeared with _her_ kittens. She had had time to wash
them carefully, as Major was out and she could not have the desired
interview with him. Their little tiger-skins were glossy, and they
looked as if it were hard work for them to walk sedately behind their
mother.
The house-cat was seated with her kittens beside her, and the barn-cat
took up her position at a distance and placed her kittens where she
could keep an eye on them. While she was making their toilets she had
given them so many instructions in regard to their behavior, that they
presented a very demure appearance, although their little bright eyes
danced about in such a very animated way that it seemed probable that
it wouldn’t be a very difficult task to make them forget their dignity.
Mrs. Polly looked as wise as half a dozen judges put together, wigs
and all. She looked silently around on the little group collected about
her and then gave a little cough, as was usual when she had something
of importance to say.
“I suppose you all understand why this meeting was called,” she began.
“The little gray kitten, of whom we are all so fond, is missing, and
we are trying to discover some traces of her. Now, to proceed in a
systematic manner, the first point to find out is, who saw her last,
and where?”
There was a moment’s silence, and then one of the little house-kittens
said,--
“I think old Graywhisker has eaten the gray kitten up.”
“What makes you think so?” asked Mrs. Polly quickly.
“Because he’s got such long, sharp teeth. My mother says he’d eat me up
quicker than a wink if he caught me,” answered the house-kitten.
“When did you see the gray kitten last, my dear?” asked Mrs. Polly.
“Not for a very long time,” replied the little house-kitten. “My mother
says she’s common, and doesn’t like to have us play with her.”
“Then, if you’ve no information to give on the subject,” said Mrs.
Polly severely, “don’t give it. You must learn to be seen and not
heard.”
The little house-kitten was somewhat abashed at this reproof; but
her embarrassment did not last long, for her sister, the other
house-kitten, who was tired of sitting still so long, moved her tail
backward and forward in such a very enticing manner that she couldn’t
resist the temptation of springing at it and clawing it.
The house-cat was rather ashamed of her want of discipline,
particularly as the barn-kittens sat all this time in a dignified
manner, with their small tails straight out behind them; and more
especially as the barn-cat’s face wore a very self-satisfied smile, as
if she were enjoying the house-cat’s discomfiture.
“If you don’t sit still I shall take you home at once,” she said to the
house-kittens when she had restored order and placed them where she
could reach them in case of a second disturbance.
“Now that order is restored,” said Mrs. Polly, “we will proceed to
business. When did _you_ see the gray kitten last?” she asked the
sparrow.
“I haven’t seen her for the last two days,” answered the sparrow. “She
isn’t so attached to me as my friend the barn-cat here, and doesn’t
follow me up so closely.”
“Don’t joke at such a serious moment,” said the barn-cat crossly.
“It’s as easy to laugh as to cry,” answered the sparrow, “and a good
deal pleasanter.”
“Our friend the sparrow did us such a good turn in recovering the
stolen ribbon,” said Mrs. Polly, “that we mustn’t be too hard on his
peculiarities. We all know that if his manner is sometimes frivolous,
he has proved to us that he has a warm heart and is devoted to our
service.”
“His heart’s warm enough and he is brave enough too,” said the
barn-cat, who had a strong sense of justice; “but I _do_ wish he was a
little steadier in his ways.”
“We must take people as we find them,” answered Mrs. Polly. “Now, Mrs.
Barn-cat, when did _you_ see the gray kitten last?”
“I left her yesterday afternoon to watch my kittens while I was out,
and when I came back she was gone. That’s all I know about it.”
The little tiger-kittens had listened to every word that had been said,
and had a very important air, as if they could tell something if they
were asked. Mrs. Polly’s keen eyes noticed this, and she said to one of
them,--
“Now, my dear, I want you to tell me just what happened while your
mother was away yesterday afternoon. Don’t be afraid to speak out.”
The kitten evidently was _not_ afraid to speak out, and began in a
clear voice,--
“We had a fine play, and the gray kitten couldn’t catch us because we
dodged so. We caught her every time.”
“What’s that to do with the subject, I should like to know?” asked the
house-cat severely, for she remembered how her kitten had been snubbed;
“and anybody could see with half an eye that my kitten is much smarter
than that stupid-looking thing,” she added to herself.
“Please don’t confuse the witness,” said Mrs. Polly to the house-cat.
“Very well, my dear,” she continued, turning to the little
tiger-kitten; “what happened next?”
“We played till we got tired, and that’s all,” answered the little
tiger-kitten.
“I thought so,” exclaimed the house-cat triumphantly.
Mrs. Polly scowled fiercely at her, and then turned to the little
tiger-kitten again.
“Well, my dear, and what happened after you became tired of playing?”
“Well,” replied the little kitten, as she kept her eye on one of the
house-kittens who was rolling a pebble with her soft paw, “then a
little mouse ran by.”
“Oh!” said Mrs. Polly; “and what then, my dear? What did you do when
the little mouse ran by?”
“We wanted to catch it, but the gray kitten wouldn’t let us. She said
our mother told her not to let us go away.”
“And what did the gray kitten do then?” asked Mrs. Polly quickly.
“She ran after the little mouse and she didn’t come back again, and
that’s all,” said the little tiger-kitten.
“Very good indeed, my dear,” answered Mrs. Polly, with an approving nod
of her head. “You’ve told a very connected story, and we’ve found out
that the gray kitten chased a mouse and has not been seen since.”
The barn-cat was intensely gratified at her kitten’s sagacity, but the
only expression she gave to her satisfaction was to wash the little
tiger-kitten’s face affectionately. Then she said, after a few moments’
silence,--
“Before we break up, I should like to mention that the collar that
Posy gave me has disappeared. It was quite loose for me, and I _may_
have lost it when I was off hunting. I don’t like to accuse anybody
wrongly, but it was a very handsome affair, and I dare say created a
good deal of jealousy among my acquaintances;” and she looked very hard
at the house-cat.
“If you mean _me_,” said the house-cat, with a toss of her head, “let
me tell you that _I_ haven’t stolen your old collar. _I_ don’t need
collars to make me look respectable, thank goodness!”
“Very true,” answered the barn-cat; “it would take more than _collars_
to make some people look respectable.”
“Oh, come, come,” said Mrs. Polly, “don’t get personal! I have no doubt
that old Graywhisker knows where that collar is, just as well as he
knows where the gray kitten is.”
“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed the sparrow.
“Yes, I do,” said Mrs. Polly decidedly. “I believe that Graywhisker
sent that mouse to entice the half-blind gray kitten, and that he’s
got her safely hidden somewhere, for he wouldn’t dare really to let her
come to any harm.”
“How can we find her?” asked the barn-cat.
“All of you keep your ears open and perhaps you’ll pick up some news.
If we find out where she is, the children can probably rescue her.
They’ll soon notice that she is missing and hunt for her.”
[Illustration: The Barn Cat and her Kittens.]