22 



The neighbors used to come in on purpose to 

 see Little Brown Hen and her kittens. 



One day one of these visitors brought his dog 

 with him, — a big Newfoundland. 



The dog started to chase one of the kittens. If 

 he had caught it his great jaws would have made 

 short work of it. But brave Little Brown Hen flew 

 at him so fiercely and beat him so with her wings 

 that the dog fairly turned tail and ran away yelp- 

 ing. 



When the kittens had grown to be almost cats 

 two of them were given away. Little Brown Hen 

 missed them sadly at first. She went about calling, 

 and looking for them everywhere. 



Then she devoted herself entirely to the one that 

 was left. The two were always seen together. 



When winter came the cat slept at night on the 

 hearth before the kitchen stove. Little Brown Hen 

 scorned the chicken house. She must sleep in the 

 kitchen, too. Every night she perched on the back 

 of a kitchen chair, tucked her head under her wing 

 and slept there till morning. 



One night a big rat came out of a hole by the 

 drain pipe. There was Little Brown Hen fast 

 asleep, — a plump, fine morsel for a hungry rat. 



