A Pleasant Outing 35 
but by the time I got over being afraid, we were at 
the end of our ride. 
When we alighted from the street car, we 
boarded a big steamboat on which we rode all 
day. Mistress allowed me to walk around a little, 
and I saw the beautiful water and the bright sun- 
shine, and some birds. How birds could live on 
the water greatly puzzled me. 
There were many people on the boat, and some 
children played with me and gave me cake and 
popcorn. I thought they must have cats at home, 
for they knew just what cats like. 
But while the children were very polite to me, 
some of the older people were just the reverse. 
For instance, there was a woman who poked her 
umbrella into my side, saying : “ There is a cat ; 
what a nuisance ! ” 
Mistress said to her very kindly : “ It is my 
kitty.” 
Then the woman asked mistress a good many 
questions about me : why she didn’t leave me at 
home ; how she could be bothered with a cat when 
traveling; or, was it a new “ fad.” 
Mistress told her there was no one at home, and 
that she thought it cruel to desert a faithful do- 
