Children's Corner

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 24, 7 November 1929, Page 4

Children's Corner

THE TORTOISE-SHELL CAT.

Ferdinand was the tortoriseshelF cat who belonged to Rosemary's house. He did not belong specially to any one in it, although every one liked him and said what a good eat he was, Ferdinand,'who longed to be loved, was often very lonely. Although he had such a grand name, he was not at all beautiful. His fur was black and brown and his eyes like yellow beads. The butcher's boy, who brought liver for Bianca, the, lovely Persian pussy who lived next door, often reminded him of his want of good

looks, "There you are, Old Ugly r' he would call over the garden wall, or "No liver for you, Black and Tan!" ~

"I think you are very unkind!" cried Rosemary once when she heard him, and she bent down and stroked Ferdinand's head. , Ferdinand rubbed himself against Rosemary's socks, which was his way of saying "Thank you." )But Rosemary did not stroke him again, and Ferdinand felt more lonely than ever.

The . garden in Rosemary's house sloped down to the stream. Because Rosemary was very precious to every 01167 she had always been warned never to go near the water's edge, in case she fell in. But Ferdinand; who was precious to nobody, used to lie in the sunshine on the very brink of the stream, and watch the water that flowed between the banks and swirled and bubbled round a little flat-topped rock which rose from its bed.

Bianca, the Persian pussy, was not lonely, because she was very much prized, and had three kittens as lovely as herself. One day, Mother took Rosemary to tea with Bianca's Mistress. Although no other children had been invited Rosemary was quite happy because she was allowed to play witlTßianea's kittens. Partly because she liked them so much, and partly because she had behaved so' nicely she was given the one called "Mischief" for her very own.

They returned home by the path along the water's edge, and Rosemary clutched her kitten very tight for safety. They passed Ferdinand,, basking in the sunshine, in his usual place among, the purple flowers of the willowkerb on the edge of the stream.. When Ferdinand saw Mischief snuggled up in Rosemary's arms where he himself had always longed to be, he stood straight up and arched his back and looked very* angry.

"Naughty Ferdinand!" cried Rosemary, quite shocked, "You ought to be glad that such, a darling kitten is coming to live with us," and she kissed the tip of Mischief's little nose.

Ferdinand's heart felt very sore as he watched. But, because he really was the good cat that every one considered him, he did not try to hur;t Mischief in any way. Even when he found that the newcomer had drunk up his own saucerful of milk he only gave him - a gentle pat with his paw, to teach him not to be so greedy again.

One day, when Rosemary was having her music-lesson, Mischief thought it a fine chance to see the world. So he jumped through the kitchen window when no one was looking, and ran across the lawn and down to the water's edge. There he began to play with a. fallen twig, rolling it up and down. '

Ferdinand, from among the willow-herbs, watched him uneasily. Although he was jealous of the kitten, he did not want him to come to any harm . "Meow!" he scolded j but naughty Mischief took no notice and went on 0 playing with, the twig, getting nearer and nearer to the water. :

"Meow! Meow!" scolded Ferdinand, again, and a big Toni-tit, hanging upside-down from the bough of a willow, was so upset that he sat bolt upright and sang,

"Pink! Pink!" till it sounded as though he was sawing through a plank. .

When Rosemary's music-lesson was finished she rushed into the kitchen to find her kitten. As it was nowhere to be seen she felt very frightened and ran to tell Mother.

"He must have run into the garden,'' said Mother. '' We will go together and try to find him." . When they reached the lawn they heard Ferdinand saying "Meow! Meow'!', very loudly, and hurried towards him.

"Why, there is Mischief ©n the bank," cried Rosemary, and then screamed with terror. For the; little kitten in jumping to catch the twig had overbalanced and tumbled splash into the water. Mother took Rosemary's hand, and they both ran as quickly as they could to try to help. But Ferdinand was the quickest of all. Jle gave a big jump that; landed* him on the middle of the flat rock. Than, as Mischief was swept past him by the swift current, he stretched out a paw and sheathing his claws in the kitten's long fur, dre77 him in safety to the rock. There., after giving him a shake for being so careless, he took him in his mouth and jumped back with him to the bank, where Mother and Rosemary were waiting. '' Oh, what a brave, clever pussy yotr are!" cried Rosemary, and she took him up, wet_ as he was aid hugged him close. You ..can guess how pleased he was! The pretty frock Rosemary was wearing was soiled, but Mother did not s' old her for this because she was as pleased with Ferdinand as Rosor.'-ary was.

As the butcher's boy happened to '-n- passing at that minute she called him to her and, telling him what the cat had done, bought a bigger piece of liver for Ferdinand than Bianca had ever been given.

From that time Ferdinand was made such a pet of at Rosemary's house that he had no need to be jealous any longer of Mischief. The two became the greatest friends, and slept in the same basket. As for the butcner's boy, he no longer called Ferdinand "Old Ugly," but "Old Hero!'*