260 
A WELCOME GUEST. 
“ Come in and drink tea with us, Erastus,” 
said Annie. “I want you to have some of 
my cake that I made myself.” 
“Why, I don’t know. I a’n’t fixed up 
for company exactly.” 
“Nevermind,” said Eichard. “We like 
you better as you are; and we want you to 
tell us some stories. You haven’t told us 
any this long time.” 
The old man smiled and suffered himself 
to be persuaded. He was very fond of chil¬ 
dren, and especially of our young friends at 
The Meadows, to whom he was always a 
welcome guest. Annie drew forward the 
great chair for him, and Daisy was soon on 
his knee, anxious to help him to every thing 
on the table and to hear all about a young 
crow which was being tamed for her. 
Sidney had run off to the house to call his 
grandfather and aunt. 
“Look at Kitty!” said Kate, laughing. 
“She doesn’t seem to admire her cousin 
much.’’ In fact, Kitty, who had retired to the 
roof at the first bustle of the panther’s arrival, 
was now regarding it at a respectful distance 
with immense disfavour, her back being up, 
and her tail magnified to a wonderful size. 
