226 
Pussy Meow 
put it outdoors, where it cried bitterly for hours ; 
and the next morning it was found on the doorstep, 
frozen to death. And now that same mother won- 
ders why her son is so hard-hearted and brutal to- 
ward her.” 
“ I’ve heard of the Mortons before,” said I, “ and 
I don’t blame you for leaving them. But you are 
in good hands now — don’t fear.” 
So the “ stepmother ” remained with us a few 
days longer, and then she was taken by mistress to 
a beautiful home, where they wanted a cat to live 
in the stable with the coachman. 
One cold day last winter, there strayed into our 
basement two strange cats, both tigers, but very un- 
like each other. One was sleek looking, full grown 
with beautiful, large eyes, and very confiding in 
manner. The other was a shy, timid, shrinking 
little creature, afraid of everybody, and yet hunger 
evidently had driven her to seek help at our door. 
Her coat was so rough and dirty, it was difficult to 
tell what its real color was, and one eye was com- 
pletely gone from its socket. She was indeed a 
pitiable sight, and I dare say very few people would 
have allowed her to enter their door. Mistress 
prepared her a plate of salmon, and the moment 
