216 CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR SABBATH HOURS.

member her very well. But why do you Mrs. Dennison smiled, and looked as
ask?" though every doubt had been swept
 "Nothing," replied Mr. Dennison smil- away by this proof of Aunt Tabby's for-
ing, "only that is the very place to send bearance, while Tom mentally took stock,
our little girl. To be sure she will be and resolved to try the same experiment
the only young thing about the house"- on Mopsey, the black kitten, the next
 "Excepting the pigs, with their tails time Bridget left the cistern uncovered
all curled up so, and the chickens," said Let us hope he never had the chance, or
Tom, who had recovered his self-posses- rather, that he thought better of it; for
sion in a wonderful degree. Tom was not a cruel boy, he was only
 "Or kittens; perhaps they may have mischievous.
some kittens," said Mary, now all alive It was decided, at last, that Mary should
with interest, go to Granville Corners, and that Mrs.
 "I don't like kittens, they don't make Dennison should write and inform Aunt
any noise;" said Tom, reaching up to give Tabby of their coming.
Polly a tweak in the rear, which caress "You will be sure to wake me early,
Polly responded to by a shrill Good gra- mamma," said Mary, as her mother looked
cious! a phrase that had taken all the in upon her in bed, the evening before
candy and patience Tom could musterfora their departure. "You see I have so
whole fortnight, to make Polly remember. much to do," and Mary thought of the
 Mrs. Dennison looked at Tom reprov- broken toys she had promised the ash
ingly, and then proceeded to raise such boy for his little sister, who was lame,
objections as any prudent mamma would and then Tom had promised to show
think of in a similar case, to the effect her how to catch birds, by putting salt
that Aunt Tabby might not like, at her on their tails, if she would only get up
age, and with her quiet habits, to take early enough,
charge of the little invalid, and so on; Aunt Tabby received the little invalid
all of which doubts Mr., Dennison dis- most cordially, and, though Tom had
pelled at once by his great faith in Aunt prophesied that she would be homesick,
Tabby's kind heart and especial fondness and cry her eyes out in a fortnight, and
for children, tried and proved by so many even went so far as to make a drawing
of his own mischievous pranks, when a of her in that condition, which certainly
boy. How well I remember Aunt Tab- did look appalling, Mary was too com-
by's look of dismay, when she caught fortable and happy, seated in Aunt Tab-
me ducking her favorite cat in the goose by's favorite arm-chair, watching a pair
pond said Mr, Dennison. Though of robins who were commencing house-
the only punishment I received was that keeping in the cherry-tree near the win-
I was not allowed to sit next to her, at dow, to think of being homesick. To be
the table, for a whole fortnight." sure, she missed Tom, but then the kit-