FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13494, 22 May 1907, Page 9

FOR THE CHILDREN.

A LUCKY FIND.

Tommy had lived at Burndalc, with Aunt Sarah ever since he could remember. Burndale was a pretty, struggling village. The groups of red-liled houses were intermixed with -kept gardens, clusters of old trees, and stretches of sweet, meadow*. Aunt Sarah's house was named Ivy Cottage. There was a beautiful garden in front protected by wooden railings. There was a large yard at the back surrounded by a high brick wall.

Gardening was Aunt Sarah's special hobby. Every fine day she spent hours pruning, mid sowing, and transplanting. Her garden was always attractive. There were, pushes of Irish yew, laurel, and variegated holly. These, were glossiest and brightest in the coldest weather. There were nooks where snowdrops and Christmas roses peeped up early in January. A little later pate primroses, purple and golden crocuses would gleam in the winter sunshine. « It. was, however, during the summer and autumn months that, her charing collection of rich, sweet blossoms produced an effect glorious ami delicious beyond description. Aunt Sarah had the latch on her garden gate fixed up to prevent idle boys throwing the gate open. .She had fine wire-netting fixed all around the railings to prevent neighbours' cats invading her premises. But, m spits of these precautions, some audacious cat- would occasionally effect an entrance, scratch up some newly-sown seed, or break down some specially valued blossoms. Ihis made Aunt Sarah very indignant. She frequently declared that undisciplined cats were becoming a serious public nuisance, and that laws to limit their numbers and control their movement* were sadly needed. Aunt Sarah always kept her yard door bolted to keep out trading Jews, insurance agents, and little boys in search of lost balls. :,

This yard was Tommy's playground. He played very quietly, and quite alone. Hi* handballs never lost their newly-painted appearance, bis footballs never got wet, and never required blowing up; his top and marbles were never lost. For the sake of variety he. sometimes carried his slate and picture-books into Aunt Sarah's wash-house, and taught an imaginary class of boys. One afternoon this interesting game was" disturbeel by a lively mew which.floated out of the depths of an old hamper. The child peeped in and beheld the.loveliest cat he had ever seen, curled up quite comfortably,' Her fur was long and fluffy, and her tail was beautifully bushy, like a squirrel's. Huddled up beside her lay two tiny kittens with their eyes tightly closed. ■" " ■ [ " Poor pussy,", murmured Tommy i, patling her gently. Pussy tried to" show her appreciation of his sympathy and her plea, I" 1 ? at making his acquaintance. She rubbed her head against his ■caressing hand, 1 purring lovingly all the while. What dc* Jightful playmates, thought Tommy. Then he remembered Aunt Sarah's antipathy to cats, and decided to say nothing about his wonderful find, ho, might keep his secret for a. considerable time. Aunt Sarah sent all' heir washing to the, provincial laundry, and the wash-house was never used for fts original purpose. Tommy visited the strangers many Times every day. At meal times he slipped tasty bits .into- his knickerbocker pockets and afterwards carried them to pussy., Tommy cherished the sweet delusion that he wad saving his new-found pets from slow, starvation. But this was hot-tho ' ense*. During the silent hours of darkness pussv stole through the, broken pane in the washhouse window and killed her own game.-: At the end of a week the kittens opened' their eyes. At the end of a month they made unceasing efforts to, escape • from-the' hamper, apparently with the object of ih-' vestigating the unknown regions beyond. Tommy watched them uneasily, and wondered what would happen when'his secret was discovered. - ■ •' , ' ,

The dreaded moment came at last. For three weeks Aunt Sarah had beer, springcknning all over the house. One morning after breakfast she announced her intention of spring-cleaning the wash-house. Tommy watched her tie on her big working apron and awaited developments. The first article Aunt Sarah attempted to move was the precious hamper. . •■ > ; - ; --^ "Hullo!" she exclaimed, "here's a" cat and a kitten—two kittens!' she added, as the two bright little faces peeped up almost simultaneously. " ■•* There was a brief period of terrible suspense. Then the unexpected happened. Aunt Sarah carried the kittens into the house and laid them on the kitchen hearthrug. Pussy followed with repeated mews of complete approval, and licked up the plateful of delicious milk that her new friend provided. ■-',- ■~-'••"'«!•->;, "Isn't she a lovely animal, Tommy?" remarked Aunt Sarah, glancing towards her small nephew. "She's a pure Russian. I wonder where she came from, and how she managed to carry her kittens over the high wall?"

Tommy said nothing. He knelt down "and patted the mother-cat with lingering tenderness. His aunt's unexpected kindness to the helpless creatures he had learned to love touched his heart more deeply, and won his affections far more effectively than all the care and substantial comforts she had lavished on himself for years. ; "I. wonder how long they have been : there?" murmured Aunt Sarah, meditatively. ' :..' :-,-,'../■. A funny lump was rising in Tommy's throat, His conscience commenced to sting him like a sharp thorn. He thought deeply for a few moments.

"Auntie," he said, " they have been in the wash-house for a long time, but I. wa* afraid to tell you." ~ "Afraid to tell me, Tommy exclaimed Aunt Sarah, looking curiously at the child,. " What were you afraid of?" "I thought you hated cats," exclaimed Tommy. "I don't hate all cats," said Auntrah. with a new note of pathos in her voice. " When I was a little girl I bad. a Russian, cat just like this one. When she died I thought my heart would break. Your mo» ther and I buried her under a beautiful hawthorn tree in your grandfather's garden. People say it's lucky for a strange cat to harbour in one's house," She added more cheerfully; "Some say it's the sign of a wedding," and then she blushed gently, ashamed of making, such a frivolous remark. ■. ■ ■../"" ''~'

"Will you keep them here always, auntie'/" asked Tommy. '■'.'■ ' "We must try and discover who they belong to first. The big cat may be some*kind lady's pet, who is grieved about losing her." Tommy had never looked at the matter from this point of view. It was not a lady, however, who claimed pussy, but a middle-aged bachelor named Captain Rutlidge. This gentleman,: explained that /}«£, had been staying with friends in the South of England. His housekeeper had also taken a holiday, shutting up the house and forgetting all about poor pussy. .■:<*.. . After this Captain Rtitlidge called every day at Ivy Cottage. He lingered long, tell-, ing interesting stories about bis sojourn in India, and his adventures during the South African war. After these visits bis bachelor apartments felt strangely dull and empty, and he would sit by Ids solitary hearth with thoughtful expression on his face. ■ Three months afterwards Aunt Sarah »na the captain were quietly married in Burn-, dale Church. , . .' .' The hard expression passed from Aunt Sarah's face. Under the pure influence of i unselfish : hopes, and wider interest*, she became quite beautiful and young-looking, and Tommy cherished i» warm affection lot; the- lucky find that hud brought him a jolly generous uncle. _;.':"'