My Great Sorrow 1 13 
was just about ready to doze off into a nap when 
my black companion came along, limping on three 
legs, his head bleeding, and one of his eyes com- 
pletely closed. He had traced me to the porch, 
and came up and sat down beside me, but said 
nothing — goodness me, what could he say? — and 
as I was very tired, I soon fell asleep. When I 
awoke he had gone, and I felt I was very fortunate 
to be rid of him, for was he not the cause of all my 
trouble ? 
Sad and strange thoughts passed through my 
mind on that unhappy morning, and I could only 
hope that the “ Kind Providence ” that I had so 
often heard mistress tell about, would be good 
enough to help even a poor little homeless cat like 
me. 
I stayed on the porch all night, lonely, and shiv- 
ering with cold. I, who had always been used to 
sleeping on a nice soft pad or cushion even in the 
house, there on that cold night had to sleep out- 
doors on a straw mat. But we must expect sorrow 
and shame for disobedience. After all my greatest 
sorrow was caused by the thought of how dread- 
fully my dear mistress would feel in the morning at 
not finding me. 
