People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — Tabby's Christmas. [ARTICLE]

Tabby's Christmas.

It was early Christmas morning, and the streets were empty. A boy with a big turkey knocked at the kitchen door of a large, pleasant' house, and while he was talking with the cook, cold, homeless little Tabby Tiptoes slipped in between his heels so softly that nobody saw her. “Good!” she thought. “Now I can get warm!”

She patted lightly up-stairs on her little velvet paws, and found herself in a snug and cozy room. A bright fire snapped in the grate, and beside it hung a small stocking, crammed full from top to toe. Tabby was so pleased with her warm quarters that she turned a somersault on the soft rug. Then she played that the toe of the stocking was a mouse. She caught it with her sharp claws, and gave it a little pull. But the stocking was overloaded already, and down it came on the hearth. The checkers and dominoes and sugarplums rolled to every-side. Poor Tabby just had time to hide in the empty stocking before Neddy rushed into the room. “Why, ''mamma!” he called, “Santa Claus must have dropped my stocking!” Then he put his hand into it. “A live kitten!” he shouted again. “Oh, how did Santa Claus know! That was just what I wanted!” And indeed, of all his pretty presents, Neddy liked little pussy best.