A HOME FOR A KITTEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 29

A HOME FOR A KITTEN

A'poor, starving, miserable little kit- i ten was straying through a l'orest. It j was as white as snow, and its eyes { were a pretty blue, but it was tliin anti ! uncared for. It was quite alone in the world and i was wandering everywhere in search of a loving little master or mistress, for it longed so much to be well fed and looked after. On it went through the forest swinging its tail and mewing pitifully until it saw a squirrel sitting on a low branch of a tree with a nut between his paws. The kitten stopped and said, pleadingly, "Do you want a kitten, Mr. Squirrel? I’m so hungry, and I haven’t an owner. Would you like to have i^e?” Mr. Squirrel shook his head sadly. “So sorry,” he said, “but I have a family of five and have such a lot of nuts to gather. I really couldn’t have anyone else. But would you care for'a nut?” “Xo thanks,” said the kitten, sadly. “Cats can’t eat nuts,” and. it shed a few tears and went on as it saw the squirrel scamper home. A wise old owl sat -blinking in the sunshine. “Mr. Owl, kind Mr. Owl, would you like a kitten ?” asked the poor kitten. “A kitten?” queried the owl. “A kitten? Xo thanks. I prefer to eat rats or mice.” And the kitten went sorrowfully on. “Xo one ever wants a kitten,” it said, despairingly. “And I’ve almost forgotten how to purr. What shall 1 do?” And it began to cry. “What is the matter?” chirped a Robin Redbreast swinging on some grasses nearby. “I have no one to look after me,” sobbed the kitten. “Do you know of anyone who wants a kitten? I’m so unhappy.” The robin put his head on one side. "You certainly look it. I’ll see what I can do.” And lie thought and thought. Suddenly he gave a tweet of delight and flew to a branch above the kitten’s head. “I know-a little girl called Rosemary who has been pining for a kitten, but her parents are too poor to buy her one. She feeds us »with crumbs every morning, and I am sure sho would love to have you. I’ll take you to her. Follow me.” The kitten followed joyfully, and at length arrived at a small cottage. A little girl sat on the doorstep. “There’s Rosemary,” chirped the robin, and before the kitten could thank him he had flown away. “Oh mummy, look at this kitten! I’m sure it’s a stray. Please may I keep it?” And Rosemary ran to her mother with the kitten purring contentedly in her arms. “Yes, you may keep it, dear. Give it a saucer of milk. It looks rather thirsty.” Xeedless to say the kitten had a happy home with Rosemary, and was loved and cared for at last.. —Creina Mosse, aged 14.