A Friend in Need 
22J 
cat’s breasts daily with spirits of camphor, and in a 
few days she seemed to be all right. 
I asked the “ stepmother ” one day how she 
came to leave home at such a critical time, and she 
unburdened to me a tale of cruelty and abuse that is 
almost beyond belief. She said that there being no 
other place provided, her kittens were born in the 
laundry basket, and that on the next morning when 
they were discovered, the lady ruthlessly dumped 
them out on the bare stone floor and ordered her son 
to come and drown them. “ So my poor babies were 
dropped into a bucket of cold water right before 
my eyes,” said she, “ and I was powerless to save 
them.” 
“ Pray, who are these people,” said I, “ that 
treated you in this manner ? ” 
“ Their name is Morton,” said she, “ and Will was 
the one that did the deed ; but he is not to blame. 
I remember years ago when he was a most tender- 
hearted little fellow, and full of sympathy toward 
the suffering. I shall never forget one bitter cold 
day when a kitten followed him home from school 
and he carried it into the house and begged to be 
allowed to keep it. His mother let it remain till 
Will’s bedtime arrived, when she compelled him to 
