gun to
grow considerable large, and that set me to examining my
_claws_. You understand!

How does Tabby do? Have you weaned her yet? Don't she ever feel
sorry, now I am away, that she used to nurse so much more than her
share? She needs to have you cuff her ears now and then, that
Tabby. She never had any sisterly affection for me, although one of
my eyes was a week longer getting open than hers. I shan't forget
it in a hurry. I often think it over, as I lie here on the
hearth-rug, listening to the everlasting click, click of Miss
Nipper's knitting-needles. Oh, it's a very hard case, Mother
Grimalkin, for a kitty with such a warm heart, and such a frisky
disposition as I have, to do nothing but think such miserable
thoughts, and lie here staring the ashes in the fire-place out of
countenance.

Miss Nipper is so stingy of her milk, too, that my ribs are all
pricking through my fur; besides, you will be concerned to learn
that I'm growing up as ignorant as a young Hottentot: for how can
I learn to catch mice, boxed up in a parlor without any closets?
Answer me that, and please write soon to your afflicted son,

TOM GRIMALKIN.

WHAT CAME OF AN OMNIBUS RIDE,

AND

"ONE PULL TO THE RIGHT!"

Some time ago, (no matter _when_;--little folks shouldn't be curious!)
I was riding in an omnibus with some half-dozen well-dressed ladies,
and white kidded gentlemen.

At a signal from somebody on the sidewalk, the driver reined up his
horses, and a very old man, with tremulous limbs and silvery locks,
presented himself at the door for admission. The driver shouted through
the sky-light, "Room for one more, there, inside;"--but the gentlemen
looked at the old man and frowned, and the ladies spread out their
ruffled skirts, for his hat was shabby, and his coat very threadbare.
_He_ saw how it was, and why there was "no room," and meekly turned
about to go down the steps, when a fine-looking young man, who sat next
to me, sprang to the door, and seizing him by the arm, said, "Take my
place, sir; you are _quite_ welcome to it. I am young and hearty; it
won't weary me to walk"--and kindly leading the old man to the vacant
seat, he leaped from the steps and walked briskly down the street,
while I looked admiringly after him, saying to myself, "That young man
has had a good mother."

We drove on, and the more I looked at the old man's silver h