TABBY AXD JOSEY. 2-37 



scampering over the wood-pile again. A beautifnl blue and black 

 butterfly flew up into the warm firelight, as if he had mistaken it 

 for summer weather. 



"I call that a fairy-story," said the children. 



Puss had heard the butterfly break the chrysalis. 



TABBY AND JOSEY. 



Papa was on the back porch smoking a cigar. Little John was 

 playing near by with a pretty wind-wheel j^apa had made for him. 

 Across the way two children were holding a yellow and white kitten 

 by the tail. Kitty struggled to get away. By and by she did get 

 awaj', and i"an to Johnnie's papa, who stroked her gently, saying, 

 "Poor kitty! poor kitty!" Johnnie gave her a saucer of milk, and 

 she ran up and down the piazza for a bit of beef tied to a string. 

 She lay down to rest after she had swallowed the meat, and part of 

 the string, which mamma had to pull out of her throat. 



" She is such a homely cat, I don't want her here," said mamma. 



" She is a beauty,'' replied papa. "Let her stay." 



" She is Tabby Wilson," said John. Xobody could tell why our 

 six-year-old called the new cat " Tabby Wilson," but she goes by 

 that name. Tabby Wilson said John's house was good enough fc" 

 her to live in, so she thought she would stay. 



When Tabby AVilson had been with John a few days in walked 

 a dirty little black-and-white kitten. She was very thin and sick- 

 looking, and Tabby Wilson flew at her, growling and spitting, with 

 her jDaw raised to strike her. 



" Let Josey Brooks alone. Tabby Wilson ! " screamed John, taking 

 up the poor little kitten and stroking her. 



" I shall not," mewed Tabby Wilson, and she flew at her. Bu' 

 John took the new kitten into the kitchen and gave her some milk. 

 So Josey Brooks and Tabby Wilson became our cats. 



After a while Tab and Jo became quite good friends and played 

 together. John harnessed them to a jjasteboard box. " Get up," he 



