PLANTING A PUSSY

Charlie was a little rogue, and Charlie's papa was a big rogue; and two rogues together get into all sorts of mischief.

Charlie wanted a kitten, and one day when he was teasing papa said carelessly:

"Plant old black Nig. I wouldn't wonder if she came up sort of kittenish!"

Papa laughed behind his paper to see him march out to the garden with the big, sleepy black cat under one arm and a hoe under the other.

But when Charlie began to dig, Pussy began to struggle out from under his arm, and, getting away, she ran for her life. Charlie dropped his hoe and ran too. Tears also would have run had there been less wisdom in that little curly head. But Charlie knew that Puss would not wait while he mourned her departure!

What a race that was! Puss led him under fences, through bushes, over gates, up trees, and, at last, through the open window, Charlie of course followed, and what a fall was that!

When Charlie rose, the black cat sat calmly upon the table. Charlie thought she actually laughed at his forlorn appearance. Well, he didn't look as well as when the race began, but his courage was still good; so he resolved to try again, if the Big Rogue would help.

So Charlie asked papa to hold Puss while he dug. Papa was willing, and the digging began again. Soon papa said the hole was big enough, but he had no sooner said the word, when Puss thought it was time to run away again, and off she darted. She looked so funny, with her tail all swelled up, that Charlie forgot all about the planting and began to laugh, and then papa began to laugh too. "I don't believe she's the right kind of a cat to plant," he said, and then he and Charlie went into the house for lunch, as mama was at the window waiting for them.