208 Pussy Meow 
but we did not find any pleasure in chasing them, 
as we had other years. Our days were passed 
wearily and sadly, till one morning the joyful news 
came that mistress had arrived in New York. Oh ! 
how it thrilled us with delight. Budge ran across 
the street to tell Toddy, and we all went to work 
to sleek ourselves up so as to look our very pretti- 
est. I had at this time three little kittens just ten 
days old, and they had that very morning opened 
their eyes. They, too, had to come in for their 
share of grooming. 
The next morning after breakfast a carriage 
drove up to the curb, and in it was our mistress. 
Toddy recognized her from way across the street, 
and came over mewing a hearty welcome. Budge 
gave vent to his feelings by means of the graceful 
curves and spirals of his tail, and as for me, I wel- 
comed her with a succession of winks. 
As soon as mistress had greeted us all, she in- 
quired after my kittens just as if she knew ail about 
them, and, of course, I showed them to her with 
great delight and pride. 
“ Poor, dear Meow,” said she, “ you tried to have 
a pleasant surprise for my home-coming, didn’t 
you ? ” 
