d led him a chase over the wall into a marshy
field; but he caught her again at last, and laughed alone by himself,
imagining how Ned and Clara would run to meet him as soon as they saw
what he was carrying.

Hatty had finished washing the dishes, and had swept the dining-room
and kitchen, when, happening to look from the window, she saw Fred
coming back.

He scraped the mud from his boots and came into the kitchen, his face
expressive of the greatest disgust.

"What's the matter now?" inquired his sister, laughing at his comical
expression; "didn't you get the kitty safe home?"

"Yes."

"Well, weren't they glad to find her?"

"I didn't see anybody but Mrs. Perry, and she was just as cross as she
could be. She never thanked me one mite. She only looked at my boots
as if she was afraid I was going to walk in, and then she said,--

"'Well, put her down; cats are a great bother, any way.'"

"Why didn't you tell Mrs. Perry you would take her back again? I
should think she might have thanked you, anyhow."

"I hate not to be thanked," exclaimed Fred.

"Especially when you took pains to go so far through all this mud."

"Next time kitty comes here, crying and trying to come in, I'll keep
her myself. I'm as tired as I can be, I had to chase her so."

Fred took off his boots, and went up stairs, where his mother sat
sewing, to relate his grievances to her.

CHAPTER II.

NO THANKS.

Mrs. Carleton was at work on a new suit of clothes. They were of a
soft gray cloth, and made in a fashion which greatly pleased the
little boy. First, there was a pair of pantaloons, or pants, as Fred
called them; then a vest, he had never worn a vest before; and last, a
nice jacket with a pocket in the left side, just like the ones worn
by the big boys. The jacket and vest were bound with black braid.

Mrs. Carleton had taken great pains with the new suit. First, she had
to give more for the cloth than she could well afford; but she admired
its soft, firm texture, and willingly gave up a new black silk apron
which she expected to purchase: the money thus saved met the extra
expense of the cloth.

Next, came the fitting of the suit. There was no children's tailor in
the town; and, if there had been, Mrs. Carleton could not afford to
pay him for the cutting. So she sent to her sister in the city, who
kindly furnished a paper pattern, which she had used for her own son.

There was a good deal of trouble in all this; but th