beyond, the cows looked round
from their place with such friendly eyes, Master Sunshine used to
wish that every one in the village would come to admire the place
and to talk with Jacob. He was sure that everyone who talked to
Jacob would be kind to animals ever after.

CHAPTER III.

THE RAINY DAY.

The sky was all leaden and overcast when Master Sunshine woke up
one morning. The fast-falling rain-drops were so big and so close
together that it almost seemed as if some great sky-ocean was
pouring down upon the earth. It was too wet for him to go to
school, and he had to make up his mind to enjoy a quiet day in-doors.

Almira Jane put on her waterproof and rubbers, and attended to the
hens and the geese; and in order to pay her back for doing his
work, Master Sunshine polished the silver spoons and forks with
whitening, and rubbed them with a chamois-skin until they fairly
gleamed. Then after he had tidied up the wood-shed, and cut paper
in a fancy pattern for the dresser shelves, he decided that he was
a bit tired of doing things, and he curled up in the big crimson
arm-chair by the dining-room window with a new story-book.

Presently Lucy's voice arose in a fretful wail.

Master Sunshine, I am sorry to say, shut his ears to her pitiful
cry. He was so comfortable and cosey and the story-book was so
interesting.

The wail became louder and louder. It was evident that Lucy was on
her way down-stairs. In a moment she was in the room by his side,
and by this time her wail had grown to a terrified scream.

"O Suns'ine! take zem kitty off!" she begged.

Truly enough his little sister was in great trouble. But a minute
before Spry, the kitten, had strayed away from the mother-cat, and
Lucy and she had got into mischief already.

Master Sunshine made haste to lift the kitten from Lucy's
shoulder, where it had taken refuge; and he was very sorry to see
that the sharp claws of the little paws had made their marks on
her plump neck.

"Kiss it p'ease, and make it well," begged Lucy tearfully as she
climbed on his knee; while the kitten, after looking nervously
around, sought refuge in Master Sunshine's coat-pocket.

"Lucy was dwessin' kitty in dollie's clothes, and it went 'spitz!'
and runned up her shoulder," wept Lucy.

Master Sunshine kissed the smarting neck, and cuddled the pet in
his arms.

"Buzzer will slap kitty for biting sister wiz its finder nails,"
she begged.

"Brother will show sister how