y," until the kittens longed
for the time when they could go too.

One day, however, Mother Cat walked in with joyful news.

"I have found an elegant new home for you," she said, "in a very large
trunk where some old clothes are kept; and I think I had better move at
once."

Then she picked up the small black kitten, without any more words, and
walked right out of the barn with him.

The black kitten was astonished, but he blinked his eyes at the bright
sunshine, and tried to see everything.

Out in the barnyard there was a great noise, for the white hen had laid
an egg, and wanted everybody to know it; but Mother Cat hurried on,
without stopping to inquire about it, and soon dropped the kitten into
the large trunk. The clothes made such a soft, comfortable bed, and the
kitten was so tired after his exciting trip, that he fell asleep, and
Mrs. Tabby trotted off for another baby.

While she was away, the lady who owned the trunk came out in the hall;
and when she saw that the trunk was open, she shut it, locked it, and
put the key in her pocket, for she did not dream that there was
anything so precious as a kitten inside.

As soon as the lady had gone upstairs Mrs. Tabby Gray came back, with
the little white kitten; and when she found the trunk closed, she was
terribly frightened. She put the white kitten down and sprang on top of
the trunk and scratched with all her might, but scratching did no good.
Then she jumped down and reached up to the keyhole, but that was too
small for even a mouse to pass through, and the poor mother mewed
pitifully.

What was she to do? She picked up the white kitten, and ran to the barn
with it. Then she made haste to the house again, and went upstairs to
the lady's room. The lady was playing with her baby and when Mother Cat
saw this she rubbed against her skirts, and cried: "Mee-ow, mee-ow! You
have your baby, and I want mine! Mee-ow, mee-ow!"

By and by the lady said: "Poor Kitty! she must be hungry"; and she went
down to the kitchen and poured sweet milk in a saucer, but the cat did
not want milk. She wanted her baby kitten out of the big black trunk,
and she mewed as plainly as she could: "Give me my baby--give me my
baby, out of your big black trunk!"

The kind lady decided that she must be thirsty: "Poor Kitty, I will give
you water"; but when she set the bowl of water down Mrs. Tabby Gray
mewed more sorrowfully than before. She wanted no water,--she only
wanted her dear