ot know it, these
animals in every household know what is going on in the home from garret
to cellar, as well as all the family secrets and neighborhood gossip. So
you see Zip was a regular news-gatherer, and he not only gathered the news
in that way, but he spread it as he went along with the doctor from house
to house, so that anyone hearing Zip talk did not need to read the
newspaper to find out all the village gossip. He knew of all the births,
weddings and funerals as well as the lovers' quarrels long before anyone
else, for generally he was on the spot when they happened. Neither did he
mind listening when he saw two young people of the opposite sex strolling
down some shady lane, or hanging over a garden gate. And like all gossips,
he was never happy until he had told someone all the latest news he had
gathered.

The one to whom he enjoyed telling things the most was the big, yellow cat
that lived at the doctor's and was the special pet of the cook. The cat's
name was Tabby, and she was a big, comfortable, good-natured cat who
stayed at home and minded her own business. She was also a good listener,
which Zip considered one of her best qualities. Like all talkative people,
he would rather do the talking and have someone else do the listening.
Consequently Tabby just suited him. After he had come back with the doctor
from making his last call for the day, Zip and Tabby would curl up on the
front porch or on a garden seat and he would talk away into the night or
until time for him to make the rounds of the place. This as a watch dog he
felt it his duty to do once or twice during the night, while Tabby went to
the barn to catch mice.

[Illustration]

His especial bit of gossip this night was that two storks had brought
twins to Mrs. Brown's home the night before and that the sudden surprise
of two babies coming to her house in the middle of the night had made her
ill and she had taken to her bed and called the doctor.

"Just like Mrs. Brown to do a thing like that--throw up her hands and give
up instead of hustling around heating some milk for the poor little things
who must have been hungry after their long journey down from the clouds,"
sputtered Zip.

To which sage remark Tabby assented.

Another bit of news was that the ladies of the Episcopal Church were
going to give a strawberry festival in the Sunday School rooms on
Wednesday evening, and all were cordially invited to attend and to bring
their friends