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KITTENHOOD. 



KITTENS. 



KiTTENHOOD, the baby time especially of country cats, is 

 with most the brightest, sprightliest, and prettiest period 

 of their existence, and perhaps the most happy. True, 

 when first born and in the earliest era of their lives, they 

 are blind, helpless little things, dull, weak, and staggering, 

 scarcely able to stand, if at all, almost rollmg over at every 

 attempt, making querulous, fretful noises, if wakeful or 

 cold, or for the time motherless. But 'tis not for long; 

 awhile, and she, the fondest of mothers, is with them. They 

 are nestled about her, or amid her soft, warm fluffy fur, 

 cossetted with parental tenderness, caressed, nurtured, and, 

 with low, sweet tones and fondlings, they are soothed again 

 and again to sleep. — They sleep. — Noiseless, and with 

 many a longing, lingering look, the careful, watchful, loving 

 creature slowly and reluctantly steals away ; soon to return, 



