194 



NAUGHTY NAJSNA. 



herself and opened her mouth to its fullest extent and said, " Mu- 

 aw-yu-aouw! " 



This was a singular performance. Nasna had never seen it 

 before, and when she saw the red mouth open, wide, wider, widest, 

 she immediately said to herself, "Dear me! how very odd! I 



wonder what there is inside that red cavern? I'm going to look! " 

 and the next moment the long, velvety nose was poked right into 

 the old cat's mouth and almost down her throat. 



Did the old cat shut her mouth? She did, indeed, my child; 

 and who can blame her for doing so? But there was a sound of 

 woe in the air, and a squealing as of a coati in despair, and the 

 next moment ISTasna was crouching in the farthest corner of the 



room, holding her wounded nose in both 

 hands, and sneezing violent]}^ 



But do not think this was a lesson to 

 Nasna; notliing of the kind! The very next 

 moi'ning she managed to find her way into 

 the dining-ioom when the master and mis- 

 tress were at breakfast. She climbed up 

 at once into the mistress' lap and poked 

 her nose at the shining coffee-pot. 

 Ah! it was hot. Pop went the 

 nose into the cup of coffee that 

 was steaming beside the 

 mistress' plate. Oh! that 

 was hotter. 



" I won't stay here any longer, to be treated so! " cried Nasna; 

 and down she jumped to the floor. 



