MOTHER CAT’S ADVICE TO KITTENS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 16

MOTHER CAT’S ADVICE TO KITTENS

- i Motheu-Cat Sht oy tho kitchen stove, and spoke in cat language to her three kittens, whom she bad just wished .with her tongue. “You are still very young kittens,” ■aid Mother Cat, “bun you have got you eyes open, and yon are able to walk after a fashion, so it is time yon began to learn something. Are you paying attention?” “Yea’m,” said the kitten with a black nose, for Mother Oat had already taught them to be pgjite, and answer pleasantly when they were spoken to. “If vou please,” said the kitten with the white nose.

“We are, dear Mother,” said the kitten with a white spot over its left eye. “We are all attention.” “T am glad to hear it,” said Mother Cat. “Kittens of your age who can already reply so nicely and intelligently when they are spoken to will grow up to be very proper and. admirable oats.” . ' . “Yes’m,” said the three kittens together, “like you, Mother.” “You could hardly do better I do say it myself,” said Mother Cat modestly, “but that is because 1 was well taught by your dear grandmother.” “Hurrah for grandmotherJ” cried the three kittens together. “Your dear grandmother, ’* said Mother Cat, “taught mo a rhyme, Which I am going to teach you. It m about the behaviour of kittens with children.” ' “Tell ns, please,” said the kitten with the white spot over its left eye. “At once,” said the kitten with the

white'nose. “We wijl learn it immediately,” said the kitten with the black nose. “It goes like this,” said Mother Cat. “When children with their kittens play, They handle them most any way; They have no proper sense, you see, Of any kitten’s dignity. They hold a kitten upside down, Of dress It in a doll’s old gown, Or tie a bonnet on its head, Or put it in the dollie’s bed. No matter how ridiculous The things they do, you must not fuss; Or lose your temper or demur, But just keep pp a pleasant purrFor you must know, whate’er they do, The children are quite fond of you. So let them treat you as they will, But always he nice kittens still.” “Did Grandmother make it all up herself?” asked the kitten with the white nose. “No,” said Mother Cat. “She was taught it by her mother. I don’t know who made it up, but it has come-down in the family.” “It will take some time to learn, said the kitten with the black nose. “It took r>" <> -v«o.k when I was your age,” said Mother Cat, "‘so 1 think vou hitter hi gin learning it at once.”