152 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CAB IN El. 
I lived in a dear little cottage by the sea-shore last 
summer with a very kind master and mistress, who took 
the very best care of me, and they allowed me many 
privileges, which are not often granted to little kittens 
like me, and so I was happy and contented from mom- 
ing until night. I had a pretty velvet cushion to he 
down upon whenever I felt tired and sleepy and wanted 
to purr. I felt very proud of my personal appearance, 
for I was pure white with one exception: I had a black 
mark on my back, which was the exact shape of a 
clover leaf, which is a sign of good luck, and that is 
why they called me “kitty Clover,” and I think I was 
a lucky kitten to find such a nice home. My master 
always whistled for me whenever he wanted me to come 
out of my hiding-place, wherever that might be; and 
no matter where I was, if I heard his whistle, I answered 
the call at once, to see what he wanted. I used to wear 
the loveliest pink and blue ribbons around my snowy 
neck, with a tiny silver bell attached. I had a little 
table all to myself, where I ate my meals and drank 
sweet warm milk. .Sometimes my master would hold 
up a piece of meat before my nose and eyes so high that 
I could not reach it, and I would run all over him just 
as nimbly as a squirrel. One day I did a very naughty 
thing. When the house was all quiet and deserted, I 
enticed a friend of mine in to make a call, and see what 
a lovely home I lived in, and showed her my master’s 
beautiful studio. His palette was lying on a chair by 
his easel, and we both played with it, because we thought 
it was such a pretty toy. I painted myself all over every 
color of the rainbow, and friend Kitty did the same, 
but we were not good artists at all. Then we run up¬ 
stairs and laid down on the bed to rest, and ruined every 
thing on it, as our artistic colors all nibbed off. When 
my master and mistress came into their room and saw 
what I had been doing during their absence, they were 
so full of laughter at the change in my appearance and 
friend Kitty’s too, that they had not the heart to whip 
me, but called me a bad, mischievous little “Clover.” 
Whenever they went out anywhere after that, I was 
not permitted to keep house for them again, but care¬ 
fully locked up in the cellar, where I had great sport 
chasing the mice around; and if I caught any mice, 
which I often did, I would bring them up-stairs and lay 
them at my master’s feet, to show him that I had not 
been idle while they were away. I was often invited by 
«ny master and mistress to take a walk with them on 
the beach, which was always a great treat to me, for I 
used to play in the breakers as they rolled up on the 
beach, and would scamper back when I found my feet 
were getting wet, and everybody was very much 
amused when they saw me trying to catch the waves, 
and in my funny ways I made many friends. Those' 
who knew me, would exclaim, “ There goes little 1 Kitty 
Clover;’ is she not the greatest curiosity you ever saw? ” 
and so I became very proud, and enjoyed being flattered; 
but I never allowed any one to pet or caress me, but my 
dear master and mistress, which was another of my 
peculiarities. .In the beautiful cool woods near by my 
home, I spent many happy hours, catching buds and 
butterflies, which were a delicious feast for a dainty 
kitten like me. Occasionally I’d bring into the house 
some of my prey, and if I found my master grieved over 
any of the little birds I had killed, I would inn and hide 
it under the sofa, and would not touch it until he told 
me I could; so you see what a strange little body I was 
so different from others of my kind, and that is why I 
take pleasure in telling my history. When the summer 
days were ended, my good master and mistress were 
obliged to find another home for me, but not without a 
few tears did they send me away. My winter home was 
snug and cosy. The little children there made it lively 
