cushion of my basket, and I watched Whis- 

 kers very sharply for fear he would go snif- 

 fing around to find it. I would not let him 

 put his foot outside the kitchen, but would 

 push him back, clear across the slippery oil- 

 cloth carpet, and he would bear it all so 

 gently, as much as to say, ' You are a 

 dainty little Fairy-queen, and I am a poor 

 old black kitty, glad to even be your slave, 

 I love you so." I learned not to be so self- 

 ish when I grew bigger, but it was too late 

 to be kind to poor, dear Whiskers. 



How glad I was that bright Sabbath after- 

 noon when papa said, "I think I will 

 have old Nellie harnessed and ride over 

 toward the Blue Hills, and take little Fairy 

 with us!" I always knew the word "ride" 

 after that, and if they didn't wish me to 

 know, they had to spell the word - 

 "r-i-d-e," and soon I could tell what was 

 coming, even then, and would run away and 

 try to reach my blue ribbon, or little collar, 

 and ask to have it on. 



That first ride was a momentous one to 



me; the handsome bay mare, Nellie, was 



brought. to the door, in the new Goddard 



buggy, and I was set between papa and 



32 



