d to the others, "Don't
cry any more. Let's get our little pails and fill them with water and
borrow a piece of soap from the cook, and wash our mittens."

"'Oh yes! you darling sister, to think of such a nice plan!' cried the
other two; and they rolled over on their backs, and flourished all their
soft paws in the air together, they were so glad.

"So the three little kittens
Washed their mittens,
And hung them up to dry.

"Then they ran to their mother, who was fast asleep on the rug, with
her tail curled round her; but they did not mind that--which I think was
not quite polite--for when people and cats are taking a nap, everybody
must keep _very_ quiet, and not go near them or make a noise; but our
friends, the kittens, did not think, you see: they just went pounce
right on top of their mother, and sang out:

"'Oh, mother, dear,
Only see here,
See! open your eye, see! we have _washed_ our mittens.'

"The old cat, for a wonder, did not get angry; instead of that, she
smiled a sweet smile, rubbed her chin with her paw, and in a musical,
mewing tone of delighted surprise, exclaimed:

"'Washed your mittens!
Oh you little ducks of kittens!
But s-hh! Listen! I think I hear a rat close by.'

"'Purr purr.'

"'_Mew!_' said one of the little kittens, who was afraid of the rat.

"'Hush up, you naughty little kitten! I hear a rat close by.'

"That's all."

* * * * *

"Oh!" cried Mary, "tell me about the rat, won't you?"

"Well, I believe the old cat ran like lightning after the rat, caught
him, and gave her little kittens a paw apiece, and eat all the rest up
herself."

"Every bit?" asked Charlotte.

"I don't think she left the least scrap," said Sarah.

"Tell another story," said Mary. "Ah, _do_!"

How we laughed--their mother and I--softly to ourselves, when Mary asked
Sarah for more stories; Sarah laughed too, and was just going to begin
another, when the mother said it was time to go. So I bid her good-by,
and sent my kind regards to Mr. Ewer, the dear little childrens'
father--who is a minister, and one of the best men in the whole world;
because he is never tired of working for God. Great crowds of people go
to hear him preach, and his constant prayer is: that he may bring them
all, old and young, to the feet of the Blessed Jesus.

I was very sorry to have those sweet little pets go so soon, because I
wanted to ta