to be kind to kitty," he answered,
as he drew the trembling ball of fur from its hiding-place, and
stroked it with a tender hand. "Spry is not a dolly, and does not
like to wear dollie's clothes. Lucy will rub her under her chin
just above the white star on her breast, and she will sing a
pretty cat-song to show how happy she is, and brother will show
Lucy how to lift kitty by the loose skin about her neck. Lucy must
play she is mother-cat whenever she plays with Spry."

And at the prospect of such a new and delightful game Lucy dried
her eyes, and called him her "dee, dee Suns'ine."

And then, what do you suppose? Why, she just laid her tear-stained
face up against his shoulder, and opened her rosy mouth in a great
yawn, and dropped quietly off to sleep.

But Master Sunshine's thoughts were not quite so care-free as
Lucy's. "Next time I must be a better brother," he said to
himself; and when his mother came to carry the baby to her crib,
he would not let her give him a word of praise. "I am too ashamed
to tell you why, mother," he said; "but after this I mean to take
better care of my little sister."

The rain kept falling steadily, and after dinner, when mamma had
gone to lie down, and Almira Jane was washing up the dishes,
Master Sunshine was drumming on the window-pane, and wondering
what he should do the whole long afternoon. Just then Tommy Dane
came running up towards the house, and behind him scampered a dog,
very like Gyp, who, when he heard the familiar bark, put his paws
on the window-sill, and wagged his tail with delight; while Daisy,
meowing to Spry to follow her, fled hastily up the kitchen
stairway.

"Mother said I might bring Tim over and have you teach him tricks
this afternoon," announced Tommy, shaking the rain off his coat.

"Tim is not a smart dog, like your Gyp. He does not seem to be
able to think. I almost wish I had taken Gyp when I had the
chance."

Master Sunshine and Tommy had got their dogs from the same litter
of puppies, and Tommy had had the first choice.

"Tim is such a cross, snappy dog," continued Tommy. "He makes me
angry every time I try to teach him anything."

"May be it is because you are angry that he is cross and snappy,"
said Almira Jane, half under her breath.

Of course Master Sunshine was very proud to exhibit Gyp. He loved
to have his pet look up at him with trusting brown eyes; and when
Gyp sprang on his knee, and put his paws affectionately about his
maste