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child with eyes that were very sad. Then she said 

 very gently, " But, Arthur dear, it is such a dirty 

 cat. We will keep it if you wish, but let it be taken 

 down to the kitchen," 



But no, the little boy would not have that either. 

 He wanted me there in the room with him. He 

 seemed to like me. 



I suppose it was for the reason the child 

 had spoken of — that we were both lame — that he 

 loved me so, for he was lame, too, as I could see 

 now. 



And so I had a home at last and not only a 

 home, but a master so kind and loving that I don't 

 believe any cat ever had such a one before. 



What games we used to have together ! As a 

 kitten I had never played much, .except just at first 

 in the barn with my brothers and sisters. After 

 that I was to.o lonely, and wretched, and hungry. 

 I don't think my little master had ever played 

 much, either. 



But now he and I would play together by the 

 hour with a bit of paper and a string. How he 

 would laugh, throwing his little head back on the 

 cushion ! Sometimes he laughed so hard that his 

 mother would say, " Not too much, Arthur ; not 



