36 The Catskill Fairies.

“« You are always fed, if the children do starve,’ he muttered,
fiercely.

“ He did not kill me, though I was half dead with fright by
the time he reached the miserable hovel where he lived. The
children were hungry, but I was made to rob them of their
scanty portion of milk, because I was to be taken to town and
sold for my beauty. .

“ Fortunately some dear, kind ladies bought me, paying the
man a good price, and I hope that he took the money to the
poor children.

“ Wherever the ladies went on their travels, I was carried in
a basket, and people were warned not to hurt Kitty. At this
strangers smiled, but they were all good to me. We crossed
the ocean in a large steamship, and in the summer we came
up to these mountains. When parties rambled in the woods
I was allowed to go, for there were too many children in the
hotel for my comfort. They play strange pranks with the
most superior cats. When the ladies had a picnic I was at-
tracted by a bird that hopped near in search of crumbs. -I
gave chase, the bird flew away, and when the people called
me I hid behind a rock. I was tired of being petted, so I de-
cided to become a hunter, searching for my own food in the
woods. This served very well until the frost came. Then you -
found me, Job. I made a great many acquaintances in the
woods during my rambles, as you will presently see.”

“Crickets and grasshoppers?” said Job.

“No such thing,” replied the Angora cat. “ Here they are!”

Job could scarcely believe that he was still in his senses,

for in a moment the place was full of Fairies. The wee