place, five years afterwards, she never,
except in the greatest severity of winter, passed the night any where
else than close to the grave.

"Ever afterwards she was treated with the utmost kindness by every
person in the family, though she never exhibited partiality for any of
them."

CHAPTER VI.

MOUSER AND HER MISTRESS.

Soon after this, Minnie, was ill, and obliged to keep her bed for
several days. One morning she lay bolstered up with pillows, Fidelle
keeping her position close under the arm of her mistress, when a
particular friend of Mrs. Lee called, and was shown into the chamber.

She laughed as she saw kitty lying there, and tried to coax her away.

"I love kitties," she said, passing her hand softly over the glossy fur,
"and kitties love me."

Minnie's pale cheek kindled with a glow, in her sympathy with the lady's
remark.

"I must tell you about my puss, Mouser," the visitor went on, seating
herself close by the couch. "I was ill in bed, as you are, and puss, who
is a splendid great Maltese, was very anxious about me. She feared I
might be neglected, or that I should not take the right medicine, or
that every thing might not be done in the best manner, and thought
proper to oversee the whole business. She was continually running from
the shed to my chamber, as if she were half distracted, mewing and
crying in the most heart-rending manner."

"Why didn't she stay on your bed, as Fidelle does?" inquired Minnie, in
great interest.

"I was just coming to that, my dear. Unfortunately for Mouser, she had
at that very time five kittens, a family large enough, one would
suppose, to occupy all her attention. But even with the care of her
kittens on her mind, Mouser would not forsake her old friend. For a
time, her distress and anxiety were so great, running here and there
fifty times in a day, that it really began to wear upon her health, when
an expedient happily was suggested to her mind.

"I had provided a large box in the shed for the little family, with a
piece of soft carpet doubled for their bed. Mouser paid me an early
visit one morning, and, having taken a rapid, eager survey of the
premises, hastened away again. But she presently returned with a kitten
in her mouth, and made a bold jump with it on the bed.

"'I declare that great cat has brought her kitten up here,' exclaimed my
nurse, astonished at her effrontery. 'I'll soon teach her to keep them
at home;' and taking a broom, she