 Chapter 10 of Pussy Blackface, the story of a kitten and her friends. This is a LivyVox recording. All LivyVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LivyVox.org. Recording by Catherine. Pussy Blackface, the story of a kitten and her friends by Marshall Saunders. Chapter 10, We Reach the Country I found myself in the arms of a slight young man who had blue eyes and yellow hair. He had slipped forward when the train stopped and had taken me as I was handed out. Cuddling me up to him quite nicely, he said slightly. A kitty that looks as if she had been struck by lightning. I suppose I was dreadfully rumpled. Still, I didn't like to hear it, so I said meow and a loud voice, hoping that some of our own party would hear me. They did not, though I saw them in a great confusion of heads and arms and hurrying feet. The train did make the people jump at this little station for two or three minutes, and it was dreadful to see the crowding and pushing and to hear the thumping of boxes. I thought that the Denville's trunks would be knocked all to pieces. Finally, when the trouble seemed at the very worst, the train gave a dreadful yelling and breathing and slowly dragged away. Where is my pussy? I heard in Mary's dear voice. Where is my black face? Here are the others, but where is she? My captor slipped up to her and held me out. Oh, thank you, said Mary, and she took me in her arms. This was the first really happy moment that I had known since leaving Boston. I snuggled down to her. I even began to purr. Mr. and Mrs. Denville were standing talking to a tall burly man in big top boots, homespun clothes, and a soft felt hat. Mr. Denville called him Mr. Gleason, and I found that he was the farmer who had bought the old Denville homestead. I liked his face. It was so humorous. Sometimes his mouth stopped smiling, but his eyes never stopped. They were twinkling all the time, whether he was talking or keeping still. He was a very big man, and he stood looking about us all without a word, but with his eyes just dancing. Now, said Mr. Denville at last in his business-like way, we are ready to start Mr. Gleason. The farmer pulled himself together, laughed ho-ho in a jolly voice just as if Mr. Denville had made some good joke, then led the way to the back of the station house. There was a good-sized double-seated carriage there with a canopy top, and near it stood a large express wagon. Ho-ho-ho laughed the farmer again as he gazed round on us all. Mr. and Mrs. Denville, Mary as she held me in her arms, Anthony, Mona, slide boots, and Serena in their boxes, Nurse Hannah and a big cage of canneries, and a heap of trunks. Ho-ho, I guess I'll have to lay in some more cornmeal and put another horse on top of the one I've got. While the farmer stood laughing to himself, Mr. Denville calmly put his wife, Mary and me in the back seat of the carriage, and got in the front seat himself. Seeing this, the farmer stopped chuckling and going up to the horse's heads and fastened the rope that tied them. Den-o, he said to the slight young man who had taken me from the train, pack all you can on the express wagon and make after me, come back for what you have to leave. Mary held me tightly in her lap, and I gazed curiously about me as the farmer got into the carriage, picked up the reins, and started away from the station. A number of little boys were on the ground staring up at me, but I did not pay much attention to them. I had seen boys before, and at present I was more interested in lovely Maine. The canopy over our heads made a grateful shade, and they looked all about me. Back of the station on the railway track, there were some big buildings that I heard the farmer tell Mr. Denville were a creamery, a canning factory, and a warehouse for apple barrels. As we turned up from the station to drive along a wide road, we passed a number of stores and houses that they made the station village of Black River. It was not very pretty just there. We had not yet come to the pretty part. Mrs. Denville was looking about her very quietly, but very attentively as we passed beyond the stores and houses, then entered on a long country road. See there, she said to Mary, look at those birds building nests in that bank of earth. As she spoke, Mr. Denville leaned over the back of the front seat. I'm very glad to have you here, Maude, he said in a deeply gratified voice. I have often longed to revisit the haunts of my childhood with you. Why did you not tell me, she said in a low voice? I would have come long before. Over there, he said, with a sweep of his hand toward a grove of pines we were passing. Rye grew when I was a boy. Just think of that. Mrs. Denville looked at the sturdy trees, then at her husband, and you are not so very old, she said. And yonder, he said, with another gesture towards the fields and woods on the other side of the road. I have hunted foxes and wildcats many a day. Oh, Papa, are there any foxes here now? asked Mary. Not about here, replied her father. The land has been cleared so rapidly that they have retreated to other fastnesses. I had noticed that the farmer had been occasionally throwing curious and sympathetic glances over his shoulder, little Mary, ever since we left the station. I knew by his eyes that he was a man that liked children, and soon he said kindly, would you like to see a fox, little Sissy? Oh, yes, she replied joyfully, very much. Then you and I will take a gun someday and go up on the hills. Mary shuddered. Oh, not a gun, Mr. Farmer. Mr. Gleason, her mother corrected her. Mr. Gleason, the little girl repeated. Oh, I would not like to shoot a fox. Little foxes like to live, Mr. Gleason. Ho-ho, he chuckled. But foxes eat hens and chickens, the little Sissy. Then fastened up the hens and put out some food for the foxes, said Mary gently. The farmer nearly choked himself, laughing. The idea of feeding foxes seemed to deprive him of every remnant of self-control. I thought myself it would be a nice plan to feed them if they were hungry, but then I didn't know anything about the matter. Mr. and Mrs. Denville were thoughtfully examining the beautiful country about us and did not pay much attention to Mary and the farmer. Have you any children, Mr. Gleason? Mary asked softly. She did not mind his laughing. My little mistress is very clever and knows quite well whether one is laughing with her or at her. Children, he said, drawing a big and blue-white tanker-chief from his pocket and wiping his eyes with it. Now, little Sissy, just guess, would you say I had or I hadn't? I should say you had, she replied firmly. Good again, you pulled up the right turnip that time. I've got three children, Sissy. Oh, I am so glad, she replied. I just wanted some little children to play with, and Papa didn't know whether you had any or not. They're not at home now, he said. They are up visiting their aunt on the hills yonder, and he pointed to the big swelling land against the sky in front of us. We are going now directly toward the long range of the green hills and away from the purple hills. Look about you, blackface, murmured Mary in my ear. Stare your little city eyes out. Isn't this country delicious? I was amused at the remark about my eyes. They were delighted, but it was my nose just then that was giving me most pleasure. Animals like strong perfumes, but I had never felt anything as strong and sweet as this air. In the city of Boston, of course, I'm very near the ground. Human beings can't realize how different is a cat's point of view and point of smell unless they will drop an all-force and walk along close to the ground as we do. I was about to speak of the Boston smells. They are very varied, some clean, but mostly dirty. You go a little way, and in addition to all the queer suggestions of the pavement and gutter, you get a puff of sewer gas. You go a little further and get another. Here in the country there is a different class of smells. When Mary spoke to me, it was apple blossom mixed with wildflower perfume and coming in great waves of warm air. I was almost intoxicated, so much so that I closed my eyes and gave myself up to the pleasure of smell. Oh, the delicious country. Why do not cats and people forsake the cities? I had a dream of bringing all the Boston cats to Black River Valley, then curiosity made me open my eyes. We were passing by scattering houses with small orchards about them. Then, turning a corner, we found ourselves in a small village. Nobody spoke. It was lovely to look down at the quiet village street in this June sunlight to see the pretty white houses half hidden in shade trees or in the exquisite pink and white blossoms of apple trees. There was just one store in the village, a buggy stood in front of it, and the old horse attached to it was meditatively chewing the top from his hitching post and their dot even glanced at us as we went by. I saw one or two faces at the windows, but there was no noise. No one seemed to wish to disturb the beautiful stillness of the village and we drove through it without a word being spoken. After we left it and we were going down a hill to an iron bridge over a small river, Mr. Denville said quietly, This is old Black River village, not a very lively place since the railway came and persons began to build about the station. Oh, look at Mona, said Mary suddenly. It's a good old dog who had been following the carriage with dolly clothes beside her, had plunged down the steep bank of the river and rustling among the tall grasses and rushes, lapped eagerly at the water. She is almost overcome with the warmth of the thick coat of hers, remarked Mrs. Denville. We must have her hair cut off before that really warm weather comes. Why, she is going to swim the river, exclaimed Mary. Just look at her. The river was not a very wide one and she went boldly through it with little bedraggled dolly paddling behind. Now she will be cooler, said Mary delightedly. I'm so glad she went in. After leaving the little river, we went up a hill past more houses and then, to my surprise, came another river. This one also the pretty iron bridge over it. Mona and dolly went into this river too and Mary and the farmer laughed heartily to see their two heads above the running stream. I am trying to think how many rivers and streams to have passed. I like to be a truthful little cat, even to myself. It was the same lovely thing over and over. Farmhouses, orchards, strips of woodland, streams and beautiful green meadows. Do you like those meadows, Sissy? The farmer said to Mary. Oh, they are lovely, she replied in a low voice. I am thinking of the Bible. Don't you remember where the Jews sat down by the rivers of Babylon and hung their harps on the willow trees? And wept because they remembered Zion, said the farmer in his genial voice. Yes, Sissy, I remember. They wept because they were in a strange land, but we should weep if the Lord should take us away from our meadows. That rich, low land is a great thing for our farms. It does not require fertilizing. And then he went on to explain how the streams and rivers brought down the fertile soil from the high green hills and deposited it on the valley. And the meadow grass makes hay for the horses, does it? Said Mary with interest. That is nice to know. Now, Mr. Gleason, will you please tell me what you call these handsome horses of yours? And she pointed to the fine pair of brown animals that were drawing us so swiftly along. I called them Glory and Dungeon, replied the farmer, and his eyes twinkled. Glory and Dungeon, she repeated in a rather mystified tone. What queer names, what do they mean? They don't mean anything, said the farmer, with a burst of laughter. When I got a new animal, a name for him crops right out of my mind. I don't know any reason for it. Mary looked him up and down, up his broad back and shoulders and his thick neck and big hat. Then she peeped around and tried to obtain a more satisfactory glimpse of his face that had for some time been half turned toward her. He was shaking with amusement, but no one knew what it was about. I don't think he knew himself. I think he just laughs because he feels happy. Mary did not speak, and after a few minutes he composed himself and turned to speak to Mrs. Tenville. Now, ma'am, just as you're getting played out, I expect here we are at the Black River, and he pulled up his big horses and made them stop short on the rustic wooden bridge. End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of Pussy Blackface The Story of a Kitten and Her Friends This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Holland Pussy Blackface The Story of a Kitten and Her Friends by Marshall Saunders Chapter 11 Maine, Lovely Maine Mona and Dolly came dragling along, paused at the brink of the river, then, as if to say, you were too beautiful to be polluted by our muddy coats, they came up on the bridge and lay down by the carriage. This here river, said Mr. Gleeson warmly, is to my mind the one of the smallest, yet the prettiest we've got. Up there, and he pointed his whip to the green hills, it rises among the woods and comes rushing down the steep slopes. Then it creeps into yonder belt of trees and finally comes out here, quiet and tired, and kind of spreads itself about in these pools to think a bit. No one spoke, and we all gazed earnestly at the lovely green pools fringed by the tall water grasses. And after its meditating is done, continued the farmer, it gathers itself up and meanders down through the meadows till it reaches our farm, which it just about cuts in two or unites whichever way you choose to take it. Our place wouldn't be much without the river. Get up, Gloria and Dungeon, and he urged on the big powerful horses. I was very much interested, but how tired I was. My eyes ached from the bright sunshine and gazing at such far away things. I rather longed for the cool, quiet streets and the opposite houses of Beacon Hill. However, this was only my first day, and I felt that I should soon love this beautiful scenery. Cats are sensitive as well as human beings. They hate dull and sordid surroundings. Up one more gentle hill, along a level road, and then the farmer spoke again. Here is our young orchard, and there are the farm buildings. Mary let me slip to the seat, and slowly but eagerly raced herself to her feet. Papa, Papa, was this your very home? Mr. Denville nodded his head, my very home, but I scarcely recognize it. This orchard land used to be covered with a spruce grove. The barn is new, and the house has been changed. At this moment, Mr. Gleeson turned swiftly from the road to a short avenue of maple trees and drew up in front of a good-sized house with a green lawn before it. Mrs. Denville put up her eyebrows. This does not look like an old-fashioned farmhouse, Harold, she remarked. No, it has been altered, he said. The old house has been put on top of the new one. Why, I never heard of such a thing, said Mrs. Denville, and little Mary exclaimed, but Papa, how could they do it? After my father's death, the place was sold, continued Mr. Denville, and the new owner lifted the framework of the old house and built under it. We will go over the house, and I will show you what is new and what is old. Let us get out now, there is Mrs. Gleeson. A white-faced, thin, quiet-looking woman with a blue apron on was standing on the veranda at the end of the house. She was smiling kindly and stepping quietly forward. She shook hands with the Denvils. Mrs. Denville and Mary went in the house with her, but I stayed to greet Serena in sly boots. The express wagon was just turning in the avenue. Serena's box was soon put on the veranda, and I found that she was in a fine rage because she had not been allowed to come in the carriage with us. To think of putting me in with the servants, she said angrily, and why am I not let out? Can't you get a hatchet? I don't know where there is one, I said, and if I did, I could not hold it in my paws. We'll do something, she said, sit down and meow. I sat down beside her box and screamed for help. Mary soon came running. Anthony, Anthony, she called, blackface wants you to let her sister out of the box. The servant man came hurrying from the carriage house, and soon Serena had her liberty. Now sly boots, said Mary, and the poor street cat was lifted out. She went right back in the box again, and lay there till someone let out the farmer's big black and white dog. He had been shut up before we arrived, lest he should molest us. Now he came bustling up his tail in the air, his nose excited as if to say, Who are all these strange creatures that I smell? Barlow, said Mr. Gleason coming out of the kitchen, If you touch these cats, I shall whip you. He stared up in his master's face and wagged his tail. Oh, how he did want to chase us. Serena and I stood with our backs up. Sly boots slowly rose from the box that I fancy she thought would be her coffin, and slunk into the house. At this instant, fortunately, Barlow caught sight of Mona and Dolly who were lying panting under the trees. Here were two lady visitors. He could not be rude to them. In great delight he ran toward them, prostrated himself on the ground, begged them to play, but they would not. Then he ran like a fox to the orchard and began to dig up buried bones from the plowed land. These he brought and laid before Mona and Dolly. They were not going to eat dirty bones when they had lately been having sandwiches, so they scorned them. Barlow was in a dreadful state of mind. He whimpered and licked the air and behaved like a very silly dog. He is young, remarked Serena disdainfully. Now, blackface, let us go in the house and investigate. By this time it was getting to be late afternoon. The air was very chilly and I was glad to go inside. We entered a large kitchen. It had good-sized windows and two tables and a sink with a funny big red thing that I afterward learned was a pump to bring in water from the well. There were also some rocking chairs and a big black stove which was throwing out a great heat. Mrs. Denville was sitting in a chair with her feet against the oven to warm them and Mary was not dancing about her as she would have done if she had not had a week back, but she was slowly circling about on her toes while she ate a slice of bread and molasses. Look under the stove blackface, said Serena tragically, and tell me what you see. I stooped down. A big, ugly, grizzled tortoise shell cat with glassy yellow eyes was staring in our direction. A grandmother cat, you may be sure, and as ugly as sin, whispered Serena. Now come this way. I smell another. She led me toward a deep box heaped with sticks of wood which the farmer's wife kept putting on the stove instead of coal. They must be rich to burn wood all the time, said Serena. Now smell round here. I did smell and discovered a large young cat, a queer-looking fellow, apparently all white, standing with one side pressed against the wall. His eyes were shut and his expression was most peculiar. He has probably never seen an angora before, remarked Serena. If he has frightened of us, what would he do if he saw a thoroughbred with still longer hair, I replied? Hush, blackface, responded Serena. Up here where common country cats don't know much, I am going to be out and out thoroughbred. Are you, I said? Well, I am not. You shall be, she responded angrily. I shall not, I said firmly. Why not, dear? she asked, suddenly growing calm. Because mother told me never to lie, and because I know if we do we are sure to be found out. Well, you may be whatever breed you like, said Serena with the toss of her head. I am going to be angora, pure and simple. I shall say we are only half-sisters, and I shall contradict you. She paused for a few minutes and surveyed me angrily. Blackface, you are a teasing little wretch. I wish I had left you at home. That cat behind the box is listening to all you say, I remarked. You do not know how clear your voice is. Now don't try that thoroughbred trick, or he will expose you if I don't. I am sure he could not have heard us, replied Serena in a confident tone. Very well, I replied. Suppose we speak kindly to this cat. He looks much disturbed. I would rather inspire respect than familiarity, replied Serena, tossing her head. I am going to cry for milk. Goodbye. And she walked away. How do you do? I inquired, going up to the box. What is your name? Whoop-bang! He exclaimed, suddenly opening his eyes and turning a flying somersault out into the room. My name's Stoker. What for the land's sake is yours? I opened my eyes and undisguised astonishment. This cat was neither shy nor frightened. He was a huge, ungainly young fellow, most peculiarly marked, for one side was white and the other was malty's gray. And his manner was bold and assured. My name's Blackface, I said quietly. What's that other cat's name that was with you? He went on. That stuck-up thing. Was there a stuck-up cat here? I said innocently, looking over my shoulder. I was not aware of it. You know what I mean, he said with a grin. That white-faced mule. Is that your grandmother under the stove? I asked. No, he said. I ain't got a relative here, though I call her Grandma and I call her Daughter Aunt Tabby. Aunt Tabby's in under the setting room Sophie. I softly walked into the next room. There was a pleasant-faced, very respectable pussy under the sofa. How do you do? I said politely to her. She bowed her head gravely and threw me a kind glance. I hope you won't mind having so many strange cats come here, I continued. Everybody keeps a number of cats around here, she said simply. There are so many mice. They steal the food, I suppose. They eat the grain, she said in mild surprise. You know the farmers have corn, buckwheat, oats, wheat, and other things in the bins in their grain rooms. The mice make sad havoc in the bins unless there are cats about. Up in the barn there is a cat. Called Thummy! Interposed the foolish green joker. He's got double-sided claws on his paws. He's a sight. The tabby cat listened patiently to joker, then she continued. I have charge of the carriage house, and joker here looks after the house. Grandma bein' most as good as dead does nothin' interrupted that dreadful grinning joker. Do you allow young cats here to make fun of old ones? I said indignantly to the pleasant-faced tabby. She seemed embarrassed, and joker replied. Of course we do! This is a free country, ain't it? Certainly one is free to do anything, I replied. But the question is whether it is right and kind to do certain things. There you go preachin', responded the irresponsible joker. Blizzard said that you Boston cats would make us most sick with your heirs. Go along with you. Preach to the birds and the trees. And he skipped out the doorway. He is very young, said the tabby looking after him. I did not reply. I had never seen a cat that affected me so disagreeably. Not even sly boots, for there was some moderation and restraint about her. This creature was so forward, so unmanorly, so conceited, so rude. And then I paused. How wicked I was to take such a dislike to him. Would you like a little walk outside? Asked my new friend politely. No thank you. I am dead tired. I believe I will go to bed. I wonder which room my little mistress is to have. I know, said the tabby politely. I will show you. She was just about leading me into the hall to go upstairs when I heard a fearful shriek. Meow! Wow! Blackface! It was my sister's voice and she was calling to me. I flew out of the sitting room into the kitchen and out on the veranda. Which way? There was the noise and there were the combatants. Out on the plowed land under the apple trees a furry ball was rolling over and over. It did not seem to be two cats, but one. Aunt Tabby had not come with me, but another cat form was leaping along beside me, and a voice that I had heard before was saying in my ear, That's blizzard fast enough. That's the way he gets in his work. I turned as I ran and saw Joker. We must separate them, he gurgled in his throat, as if this were something to be enjoyed and prolonged. But go easy, strange cat, go easy. She's my sister, I gasped indignantly, and I threw myself forward toward the part of the ball that was not Serena's long hair. Out of the corner of my eye I saw other cats approaching. One from the road, one from the barn. The latter looked disheveled. It was poor Sly Boots, and as I afterward learned, she had been having trouble on her own account. However she nobly came to our aid. The cat on the road I did not recognize, and of course at this time I did not know who Blizzard was. Joker helped Sly Boots and me. We seized the gray hair and pulled. I got hold of the wicked Blizzard's tail, and I can assure you I nipped it. Of course they rolled over and over, but Joker and I and Sly Boots hung on, and presently we dragged that gray beast off. Then I had a look at him. He was a slight, slim, gray and white cat with the meanest little head I ever saw. A regular, sly, ugly little scamp and undersized. Why, he was not as large as I was. Of course I did not bestow much attention on him, but confined myself to Serena. I found that she was dreadfully shaky and frightened, but not much hurt. That's the way Blizzard fights, said Joker gleefully. He doesn't do much damage, because he doesn't want to knock you out. What? I exclaimed, turning sharply to him. Joker's mouth was stretched from ear to ear, and he was pointing toward the little gray Blizzard, who was being lit down by the cat on the road. Joker coolly explained, there ain't many cats around here. Blizzard has got to fight. If he half-killed you, you'd be laid up for a week, so he fights easy. Then you soon recover, and he can go at you again. Oh, my, gasped Serena, who was listening to us. I am all upset. Lie down awhile, I said. Then we will go to the house. Sly Boots stood near us, never saying a word, but staring at Blizzard and his friend. At last she said to Joker, who is the second gray and white cat? That's Rosie, he replied. Blizzard's wife. She always rubs him down, but never takes part in a fight. When she hears him yelling, she runs to be on the spot to help him afterward. I feel faint, murmured Serena. I think I will go to the house. As our little procession formed, I happened to cast a look toward the barn. There sat another cat, watching us with a smile on his face. This must be Thummy, but he was too far off for me to see his double claws. We all went into the house and upstairs. The Denvils and the Gleasons were having dinner or supper, as they call it here, in the dining room. There was a good deal of laughing and talking, and I glanced up at the table as we went by. It was drawn up near some big windows that overlooked the meadows at the back of the house, and the lovely purple hills beyond. Mr. Denville and the old farmer were talking about crops. And Mrs. Denville and Mrs. Gleason and Mary were chatting about fruit and vegetables. There were some very nice things to eat on the table. I sprang up on a chair for a minute to look, for I do love to see anyone enjoying good food. They had hot coffee and a glass pitcher of cream and cocoa and strawberry preserves and plum preserves and white cake with raisins in it and layer cake with jam in it and grilled eggs and cold ham and hot rolls and cheese and cruelers. That's a good enough supper for anyone, remarked Joker proudly, and I agreed with him. When we got upstairs, we all went under Mary's bed. Even Sly Boots and Aunt Tabby joined us. Then while I lit Serena and rubbed her down, Joker talked about the fight. For half an hour it was interesting. Then it got to be monotonous. It hadn't been much of a fight and Serena was more frightened than heard, but Joker went over and over the particulars, how he had been under the Siberian crab apple tree looking down the road, how he saw blizzard slinking by but suspected nothing, how he had heard a yell and a voice that was unfamiliar, which voiced with Serena's and so on. Serena went to sleep at last, but Sly Boots sat like a statue staring at him and saying nothing. She did not speak either, but she was quietly excited. However, she seemed to realize that we were being bored to death and she coaxed Joker out in the hall where we heard him going over the same old thing. Sly Boots, I said suddenly, are you hurt? A little might, she said calmly. I went closer. Why, the tip of your ear has bitten off, I said. It was Thummy, the barn cat that did that, she remarked coolly. How did it happen? I went in looking for mice and he hopped at me. Have you any other injuries? One of my legs is ripped. Lie right down, I said, and I will attend to you. You can't reach your ear. I smoothed the fur on her head. I cleaned her nicely all over as long as she would let me. At last she got up and uttered a grave, thank you. Then she said quietly, the cats can be spiteful. We Boston cats must hang together and with these words she crept away. Serena soon came out from under the bed and got on top of it and I lay down beside her. I slept until little Mary came to bed and then it was so still that I could not sleep. Beacon Hill is a quiet place. One does not hear the cars up there but still there is something doing and breathing at night. Here in lovely Maine there is absolutely nothing. The quiet seems to press upon you. I didn't sleep night before last which was the first night we were here and I did not sleep last night. Tonight I think I shall have a good rest. All day yesterday we, that is dogs and cats, lay about and rested. Animals always do that after a journey or after any exertion unless they are prevented. I often watch Mona and Dolly when they come from a long tramp with Mr. Denville. They go in their kennels and sleep but he begins to read or write or do something that taxes his brain. And kitten as I may be I am beginning to think the body fatigue isn't equal to head fatigue. Mr. Denville would do better to lie down and rest as the dogs do after he has had a long tramp. Well, I have had a good quiet think tonight even if I don't sleep. Tomorrow I want to go over the farm. Serena will be herself then. Her slight scratches have closed already. I wonder what tomorrow will bring forth. I do hope we shall have no more fights. And of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of Pussy Blackface The Story of a Kitten and Her Friends This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Anita Sloma Martinez. Pussy Blackface The Story of a Kitten and Her Friends by Marshall Saunders Chapter 12 My Headstrong Sister I am very much disturbed about something tonight. However, what is the use of worrying? What will be will be and if you can't prevent a thing you can relax your brains over it but keep cool and calm and reserve your strength to mend the mischief after it's done. My dear sister is, I fancy, running her head into trouble. Sly Boots and I both fear it but we can't stop her. She has announced her intention of spending tomorrow night hunting in company with well, I can hardly believe it possible Blizzard and his wife Rosie. It happened this way. Right after breakfast and I am surprised to find out how early the farmer's family gets up Joker bounded upstairs and said that Serena and I and Sly Boots had collars. We were all three sleeping in an old feather bed in a big hall closet. Of course we got up and stretched ourselves and went down the front staircase. The Denvils were all asleep but in the kitchen Serena's wife was frying eggs and making corn cake for her husband and the young man Deno. We cats went out on the veranda. No collars there. They are in the orchard exclaimed Joker and he plunged on excitedly. They were not in the young orchard where the fight had taken place but in the old one sitting demurely under the shade of some current bushes. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw who our collars were. That imputed Blizzard and his wife. I drew back and so did Serena and Sly Boots but Joker plowed on. We looked at each other. There is a perfect understanding between us three that is when Serena is not provoking. That is one good thing that came out of Serena's fight. It has drawn Sly Boots closer to us. Well we paused Sly Joker paused and looked expectantly at Blizzard. Then the Sly old gray cat came forward and bowing very low addressed himself to Serena. Madam he said with what I thought a very exaggerated manner I have come to offer you an apology for yesterday. I did not dream I assure you that it was one of your exalted lineage that was attacking. Serena still looked doubtful. Blizzard bowed again yet more humbly. Am I mistaken in supposing he continued meekly that you are of pure Angora blood and that your forebears probably came from the celebrated cat farm not very far from us in this state. Serena glanced at me. My father is a thoroughbred Angora she said and he did come from Maine. Then it's just as I supposed continued Blizzard. Neal down Rosie and the old hypocrite for such I fear he is made his wife Neal at Serena's feet. Honor youth and beauty and high lineage Madam he continued firmly and if you cannot look like this young cat at least act like her. This was the time for Serena to confess that she was only half Angora and that her mother was a backyard cat. However she did not do it and I did not feel called upon to put her to shame. Blizzard went on blarneying her. He paid no attention to sly boots and me and we gazed irritably at each other. Madam he said flatteringly the country is infested with tramp cats. It isn't whispered sly boots in my ear and Tabby told me it isn't. Blizzard went on and being one of the guardians of the peace around here whenever I see a strange cat I fly at it. This was too much for Serena and she said but are you not sometimes in danger of mauling the wrong cat? All cats are not bad. Maul first questions afterward said Blizzard. That's my motto. Strangers ought to stay at home. But you would put a stop to travel and improvement of the mind replied Serena sweetly. Madam if all strangers were like you but they are not and anyway my own neighborhood is good enough for me I don't want to travel. It's like to criticize your words remarked Serena politely but it seems to me they are just a little narrow minded we learn much by our contact with our fellow cats in foreign places. Blizzard smiled sweetly and showed a set of very bad teeth in time I dare say you will bring me over to your opinion at present I should like to have a little further conversation with you with me and Rosie all this time he had never noticed sly boots in me beyond throwing us one shrewd glance he saw that we did not approve of him and he would not be bothered with us his present plan was to get Serena out of our reach so he could fool her to his heart's content. Don't go with them Serena and I stepped up and whispered in her ear she tossed her head then sauntered along with Blizzard and Rosie Joker followed them grinning from ear to ear and sly boots and I returned slowly to the house the farmer's wife gave us a good breakfast then we lay out on the veranda in the sun when an hour had passed after the denvils had had their breakfast Serena and Joker reappeared Serena was laughing and talking excitedly and shaking her head and seemed to be in high good humor with herself and all the cat world where have you been I inquired anxiously as she passed me oh having a walk on the meadow with those two delightful cats I'm going out again with them tomorrow evening and she looked mysterious Serena I exclaimed then after a while I asked her why she was going with those strangers for a long time she would not tell me she said it was a secret have you not to tell I ask yes she said she had then don't I replied but then she wanted to and at last whispered that she was going on a mole hunt I was not much enlightened however I said nothing more at the time I just worried in secret Serena and Joker disappeared in the house in search of something to eat and I coiled myself up again on the veranda by this time the sun was further up in the sky and the air felt quite warm after a time Marianne or mother came out they both had on big sun hats and they stood for a few minutes looking silently at the lovely view out through the maples the green hills were soft and hazy in the distance and near at hand were the fine shade trees and the shock headed pink and white apple trees glorious murmured Mrs. Denville too glorious to linger indoors come Mary let us go over the farm my little mistress held out a hand to me and being eager to follow I sprang up and circled round her stepping off the veranda to a gravel walk they went round by the well to the carriage house there was a huge door in front of it quite closed and I wondered how Mrs. Denville would open it she just laid a hand on it and it slid back quite easily these doors are more convenient than the old fashioned ones she said to Mary I peeped in this was very interesting there were different kinds of wagons and carriages and queer sorts of machines that Mrs. Denville told Mary were for planting seed and cutting and raking hay a wide stairway led to a loft above and I went tripping upstairs after Mrs. Denville and Mary here were slays covered with white cloths a long carpenter's bench with pots of paint and bottles of different kinds several stoves and a lot of pipe some old chairs and tables it seemed to be a kind of lumber room how did Farmer Gleason get these slays up here asked Mary with wide open eyes slays can be taken apart she said to her mother and even if they couldn't be two strong countrymen would think nothing of dragging a thing like a sleigh of that wide flight of steps now let us go down and visit the next building this one was not as large as the carriage house and Mrs. Denville and Mary did not go in but contented themselves with looking in the doorway it was piled high with wood and Mrs. Denville asked her little daughter no said Mary I do not it is a frugal way that farming people have replied her mother Mr. Gleason was telling us about it last evening the farmers cut their wood sometimes a year in advance and pile it up under cover to dry thoroughly it lasts longer and is easier to burn than green wood now let us go on to the big barn we three sauntered along Mary had her arm tucked through her mother's the child was so happy that she did not know what to do it seemed as if half the sunshine had caught in her face and stayed there oh oh she murmured when we reached the barn and went in through a little door that was set in a big door oh smell the hay marble I stared about me away up in the air was the top of the big building there was hay up there not very much of it but enough to make a good smell this is the hay that they cut from the meadow said Mary oh I hope they will bring in some more today Mrs. Denville smiled at her Mary dear I am not much of a farmer but I know more than you do this is last year's hay the men have not begun to cut this year's grass when they do this big barn will be crammed with it from the floor up to those little windows in the peak then I shall see them remarked Mary in an ecstasy I shall be able to watch the men cutting the grass and putting it in the wagons and perhaps I can ride on top oh see I can mama certainly dear if your father consents now let us see what is in this room and Mrs. Denville opened a door I drew back for as she opened the door the cat-thummy spring out however I had no cause for fright for thumby went up a ladder like a flash and disappeared among the hay this is the grainery said Mrs. Denville how neat it is and she glanced approvingly about her the floor was swept and clean and there were rows of things like big boxes against the wall these are bins explained Mrs. Denville to Mary after the grain is thrashed it is put in here see this is some kind of coarse flower I don't know the name and as she lifted the cover of the big box she looked about her as if seeking information that is feeding flower madam said the hired man Denneau appearing just in the nick of time and this is middlings he went on stepping forward and putting down a pail of water that he held in his hand he lifted another lid and then another he said and I am just going to mix some for the pigs he put his hand in a third box took a tin dipper and lifting it out full of bran mixed it in the water with a stick oh may we see the pigs cried Mary eagerly come mama dear Mrs. Denville was going round the grain room lifting more lids and murmuring to herself cracked corn buckwheat at Mary's request she left the room and followed Denneau down a rather steep stairway this is what we call the barn cellar down here little miss said the young man over his shoulder to Mary who was next to him why it is lovely and light exclaimed my little mistress I should think a barn cellar would be dark look at the windows said her mother see the sun streaming in it's as warm as toast here in winter ma'am said the young man water never freezes here at this moment such a din arose that we could scarcely hear him Mary in a great fright hit her face in her mother's arms and I paused halfway down the steps to look about me end of chapter 12 chapter 13 of pussy blackface the story of a kitten and her friends this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Elizabeth Holland pussy blackface the story of a kitten and her friends by Marshall Saunders chapter 13 pigs, cows, and chickens there were several pigpins as the young man explained to us later it is not due to put pigs of different sizes together the big ones imposed on the little ones and pushed them away from the feeding troughs so all farmer Gleason's pigs were in assorted sizes they were the rudest pigs I ever saw but of course I have not seen many live ones I have seen plenty of dead ones in Boston their manners had plenty of repose but these creatures were yelling jumping pushing, snorting, and charging each other as if they were crazy each pin wanted to be fed first Mary soon grew calm then she began to laugh and scream for the pigs excited her she and her mother stood on one side while dinner went up and downstairs with more feed he got some milk from a hog's head and the milk almost set them wild they pushed and slobbered till each pig's head was covered with white and even the man had to laugh though he said he saw their greedy goings on twice every day of his life the man had to do his work and could not stay in the barn cellar so Mrs. Denville and Mary and I followed him upstairs little Mary was wiping her eyes and heard her promising herself many visits to the pigs in future when we got to the barn floor dinner ran up the ladder where Thummy had gone and began to throw down hay Mrs. Denville stepped along the floor and called to Mary come here dear and see the horses there were some fine box stalls there on the south side of the barn Gloria and Dungeon came forward and put their heads out expecting to receive a dainty of some kind we have nothing now said Mrs. Denville the next time we come we will bring you some bread or lumps of sugar what fine big creatures you are she was a pony and she passed to the next stall that is the children's pony said Denno who at this moment came down from the ladder they call him Ponto the pony was very affectionate and gentle and Mary could hardly bear to leave him he was a dapper little fellow with a fine arched neck and silky mane and beautiful eyes come I want to see the cows said Mrs. Denville I wish to see the source of the excellent milk supply the cow stalls were in all along the other side of the barn Denno took us in for Mrs. Denville was rather nervous they wouldn't hurt you ma'am he said still if you're frightened don't go too close this is Miss Molly he said pointing to a fine red cow who had a chain around her neck and was having a good feed of something from a box she is no particular breed this is a jersey and he passed to the next stall oh what eyes mama murmured Mary what eyes the cow had eyes like big brown ponds they were beautiful country eyes and she turned them on us in a calm and deliberate way we were walking behind the cows but this one seemed so gentle that Mrs. Denville stepped forward and glanced in her manger what is she licking in there rock salt ma'am said Denno they all have a big lump and they set great store by it there were six or seven more cows all sleek fat and clean do you groom them the way you do the horses asked Mrs. Denville yes ma'am but not so much we would if we had time but this is the busy season and we're just jumping Mary was giving one of her happy little shrieks oh mama see what I have found I almost stepped on it I had seen it before she did it was a pretty little red calf tied near one of the cows oh how anxious that cow was about it is it her baby? asked Mary Denno told her that it was then why don't you put it in with her? asked my little mistress it wouldn't do little miss it would be taking milk all the time we always keep the calves tied all day except a little while night and morning when they could get all the milk they like from their mother but I guess I'll begin pretty soon to let this calf out to pasture are these cows going out today? inquired Mrs. Denville oh yes ma'am I'm late getting them milked a neighbor's son hurt his foot and I had to go help attend to it usually I'm milked by daylight and get the cows out of the stable so so bossy he went on going in beside the cow he called Miss Molly he unfastened her chain and allowed her to leave her stall she immediately went to a kind of trough at one side of the stable where there was running water what a good long drink she had then she leisurely made her way toward a door in the north side of the barn stood for a few seconds in the doorway as if Mrs. Denville said she were admiring the magnificent view of the purple hills in the distance Denno was unloosing the other cows and as Miss Molly heard them coming behind her she stepped down a sloping walk and entered a large green field that stretched away beyond the river I suppose she won't come back till dark said Mrs. Denville no ma'am replied Denno but she'll be here then waiting to get in that door and all the other cows with her don't they ever run away like naughty children? asked Mary no replied the man and told Mrs. Denville about our fences they get into the neighbor's pastures usually though they come right home you see they love their stable Mr. Gleason keeps them clean and comfortable and gives them extra feed and cows know when they are well off as well as human beings they like to sleep in their own beds some of the neighbors have to run all over their pastures hunting cows at night but we never do mama what are you laughing at inquired Mary taking her hand Mrs. Denville's face was very much amused I was just thinking Mary she said how many points of similarity there are between human beings and the lower order of animals these cows are just like us in one respect they like a quiet happy home you remember what an unhappy household there is next to us in Boston the mother delicate and fretful the servant's unruly the master of the house a tyrant their sons hate to come home I have seen them entering the front door late in the evening with a regretful air as if they were saying I wish I did not have to spend the night here and Papa just hurries home concluded Mary as her mother paused with a slight frown as if to say I should not be talking about my neighbors how large is the pasture asked Mrs. Denville hurriedly of the young man and as she spoke she walked to the open door it goes across the river and the way back of that wood, ma'am you can't see the cows when they are at the further end of it I should like to walk back there said Mrs. Denville would it be too far for you Mary oh no mama said my little mistress but just as we were about to step out through the doorway Deno said don't you want to look at the oxen, ma'am yes indeed replied Mrs. Denville and she went back into the stable Deno proudly opened a half door with a very large stall there were two enormous creatures in there and I was quite frightened of them are they cows asked Mary in an odd voice no, oxen replied her mother they do the work of horses are you going to let them out Deno yes ma'am they go to pasture days that we are not working them Mrs. Denville and Mary drew up very close in one of the cow stalls they were big animals they were beauties dark red with fine large eyes and big horns they gave us a calm, steady look as they passed by then they too went out into the sunshine as soon as they disappeared Deno seized a big broom and began to sweep and tidy the stable so that the cows would find it in order when they came home at night Mrs. Denville and Mary went out of doors and I of course followed them and found the big barn was what Mr. Gleason called his young orchard young I suppose because the trees were small and just on the edge of this orchard stood a red building having many windows it looks like a hen house said Mrs. Denville let us go and see we walked toward it found ourselves confronted by a wooden fence that bounded the pasture I easily went under it and after a little searching she and Mary went through then we approached the little building and looked in the door was wide open inside there were plastered walls and ceiling and a number of perches it was as clean as wax and if it had not been for the perches if we had seen tables and chairs I should have said it was some little house for human beings I am sure many poor people in cities have not a home as snug as farmer Gleason's hens have the windows were open and the whole place was as quiet as well as quiet as the rest of the things in the country the floor was covered with grass sods and Mrs. Denville stepping softly in asked is there anyone at home ka ka ka said a demure voice oh the nest boxes remarked Mrs. Denville in a voice equally demure and she approached the wall and looked up some rows of things that I did not understand it seems they were nest boxes I crept closely after Mrs. Denville then as I could not see I sprang on the rack of perches oh how cunning there in that nice roomy nest on a clean straw bed set a fat gray hen with a red comb and the quaintest air in the world she is likely sitting on eggs said Mrs. Denville hens are shy at such times we must not frighten her oh mama exclaimed Mary I must stroke her and she reached out one cautious finger be careful said her mother but her caution was not needed the hen was evidently a great pet for she only pecked kindly at Mary's finger and said again gently ka ka ka I wonder how many eggs she has continued Mrs. Denville and she gently pushed the hen on one side the gray bitty far from resenting this familiarity agreeably stepped off the nest said very loudly a couple of times ka ka ka and went up to a dish of water where she took a great many drinks little Mary was squealing with delight there was one new laid egg in the nest beside a china nest egg may I have it she cried and Mrs. Denville said certainly if you will explain to Mrs. Gleeson how you got it why here are more nest eggs said Mrs. Denville and she examined the other boxes and quite a number of eggs we must get a basket and come up here for the fresh eggs every day it will amuse you Mary and save Mrs. Gleeson trouble the gray hen after drinking all she wished had taken to cackling the bitty said Mrs. Denville in a clear voice Mary and I will bring you up some food the moment she made that promise she had more claimants on her favor I never saw anything more funny than the way in which more hens arrived after she raised her voice they seemed actually to spring out of the earth and little Mary squealed with delight first of all a big white rooster came running around the corner of the hen house with her legs just sticking out behind him he drew up quickly when he saw Mrs. Denville as if to say why here is a stranger what are you calling us for then as if persuaded that she had something for him he glanced over his shoulder and called to the hens cut, cut, caught come on girls there is nothing to be afraid of the girls came cackling running complaining and pushing out places Mary was very much disappointed to think that she had nothing for them Mrs. Denville however found a little mixed grain covered up in a box and this she gave to Mary oh how tame those hens were they crowded around my little mistress and ate from her hand and I nearly collapsed with laughter as I listened to their talk Mary and her mother could not understand them but I did cut, cut girls here these strangers have good faces must be some relation to the gleasons don't be frightened girls stuff yourselves all you can we don't get much grain these days since we were allowed to run in the orchard a little corn sits well on the angle worms in the crop hurry up girls the sun is getting high there are lots of eggs to be laid the hens would answer him caw, caw the leg horn is pushing me I can't get at the little girl's hand it is a small hand anyway that Plymouth rock just pecked me I've got a horseman oat in my throat it's stuck, fast, let me to the water dish I don't like these strangers much I wish the children would come home someone pulled my tail I say it's mean to push then the rooster would settle their differences stepping very high and going gravely from one to another I don't know much about hens I never had any chance to study them in Boston but I easily saw that this rooster was a good fowl he was vain, that was his one fault Mrs. Denville told Mary that he was a white wine-dot and a very handsome creature he understood her and after that he was so proud that he could not eat he just strutted do they see my legs girls holding his throat to the hens do they see my nice fine legs and the big spurs just like a game cocks oh I hope they will notice my legs it is all very well to praise my body but I am very proud of these nice clean feet not a scale on them listen girls, they're giving me more praise oh, isn't it lovely I am so happy I can't eat I wish my comb hadn't got frostbitten last winter it has marred its beauty just a little bit oh girls, this is a proud day for your Lord and Master when ladies from Boston give him such delicious taffy I had to laugh myself to hear him Mary was perfectly convulsed, though she did not understand him as I did and had to guess at his meaning he had a good business had too for the instant that the grain was gone he made his hens follow him to the orchard girls, he said sharply, as some of them seemed inclined to rebel and go down by the river did I tell you you must give the grubs a rest there for a while follow me to the orchard and he strutted along and pecked and clupped and looked after them till they all went meekly after him then we saw him in the distance scratching for worms, calling his girls and giving them everything he found I did not see him eat once while we were watching the good walk we had after the hens left us Mrs. Denville with Mary hanging on her arm sauntered down the gentle hillside to the meadow there we came to the river and Mary took time to strip off her shoes and stockings and paddle in it there were willows and alders growing all along the edge of it Mrs. Denville said the farmer had planted them there to keep the water course from changing then there were small things which Mrs. Denville said would blossom toward autumn and wild hopfines and little Mary brushing in among them bruised the leaves which filled the air with perfume after she had got tired of paddling in the water she put on her shoes and stockings and we went over a footbridge and across another meadow then up through an orchard of pear trees and across a field of winter rye and then then into the most beautiful wood I have ever seen it was not like the parks about Boston lovely as they are they have a calm cultivated air this wood and farmer Gleason's land is wild things grow any way they like first are the tall pine trees I felt myself such a very little cat as I stared up at their long straight trunks and their green heads away up up against the blue sky what happy trees to be so very far up in the air it must be the next best thing to flying under the pines were shorter trees some with big leaves hardwood trees but mostly spruces and furs shorter and more stubby growths they were all lovely anyway then under them spread huckleberry and blueberry bushes what crops we shall have later for we saw thousands and millions of little berries forming in one place we saw a cranberry bog I stepped on it and found it very soft for my feet softer than the softest carpet in the Denville's house in Boston the earth seemed to be spongy underneath then there was moss and then the pretty trailing vines of cranberry I am very fond of turkey with a suspicion of cranberry sauce I hope the farmer's wife will give us some well we stayed in that wood till dinner time for here dinner is twelve Mrs Denville and Mary took off their hats and sat down with their backs against the same tree trunk and they ate the strong sweet winter green leaves and talked about the beauties of nature and then they went to sleep and only woke when a dismal sound came faintly to us Mrs Denville sprang up she said she thought she was in a steamer and the fog horn was blowing then she remembered that country people blew a horn for meals so she took her little daughter by the hand and they both walked slowly back to the house we had a very odd dinner pork and beans Mrs Gleason called it it tasted very nice here but I have a feeling that I wouldn't like it in the city the farmer says it's very hardy and he has a good deal of it as the haying season approaches well I must go to sleep I am tired of reviewing the events of this day pleasant as they have mostly been if it weren't for Serena I should not have a worry tonight End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of Pussy Blackface the story of a kitten and her friends this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Catherine Pussy Blackface Pussy Blackface the story of a kitten and her friends by Marshall Saunders Chapter 14 my sister gives a lecture the mole hunt is over and Serena is an enlightened cat she says she wants to go back to the city I wish I could get her there for these country cats have covered her with confusion and mortification that old blizzard is a reprobate he was the originator of the whole thing Sly Boots is an immensely clever cat she sees through him she says he has been ruler and dictator in this country district for years he heard that a bevy of Boston cats was coming fearing Lest reached snatch his empire from him he determined to deal a crushing blow at first seizing upon Serena is the most gullible one of the party he has made a fool of her now all the country cats are laughing at us and our influence is gone I knew yesterday that Serena was going mole hunting with him and Rosie but I did not know that the mole hunt was to be preceded by a lecture till this morning when Joker went round to every cat in the house even to old grandma and informed us with a grinning face that as soon as it got dark this evening a lecture on felines would be delivered out behind the barn by the thoroughbred Angora Serena of Boston his grin when he pronounced the word thoroughbred it was significant that I had once jumped to the conclusion that he had heard Serena's remarks about herself on our day of arrival and that he knew that she was not purebred if he kept the knowledge to himself all would be well if he didn't Serena's reputation for truthfulness was gone well I did not worry much about this nor about the lecture she could speak well enough if she chose but I did continue to worry about the mole hunt the day passed somehow or other Mary and her mother kept on exploring the farm I went over the house with them it is a queer house the lower part is all new and fresh but the upper part has odd little rooms and windows and dark closets and funny wallpaper a bat flew out of one dark closet these rooms are about 80 years old Mr. Gleason said he took us over the house and he laughed and chuckled when Mary shivered and grew pale in the attic why, there are no ghosts now Sissy he said and all these things wouldn't hurt you and he waved his hand about the old fashioned furniture and extraordinary clothes that fill the rooms in this old cart Mary said she did not like them and she was glad when we came down from the attic and Mr. Gleason locked the door behind us through the day a great many men drove up under the trees and up by the garage house or out by the barn to see Mr. Gleason I heard some of their talk they were selling horses and cows and all kinds of machines and they wanted to borrow money or have a talk no one seemed in a hurry and Mr. Gleason stood about in talk while they were there but when they left the work went right on they had another man working with Denno and they were very busy hoeing and pulling up weeds from the long rows of potatoes and turnips and carrots and all kinds of vegetables in the big field on the south side of the barn the veranda was a very pleasant place to lie no one heard us capped and we could see all that was going on however, Sly Boots found a better place and at dinner time she introduced me to it it was an upper veranda over the lower one here we could see just as well when we lay on the chairs and look through the railing and we were absolutely out of the way for no one sat on this veranda Sly Boots liked this and here I sat all the afternoon with her while Mary and her mother went driving Mr Denville took them and Mona and Dolly and Barlow followed after the carriage they took Mona somewhere to have her hair cut and when they came home I laughed so heartily at her appearance that I rolled right over on the veranda her magnificent coat was all gone soaked the rough around her neck and a little tuft on the end of her tail it was too ludicrous to see her she seemed shorn of her glory but of course she could not see how ridiculous she looked and she acted just the same as ever I ran down to see her just before supper and had a long talk with her she was lying out under one of the trees on the lawn and I crept up beside her and purred all my troubles in her sympathetic ear you can't do anything with Serena she said let her go and learn her lesson I fancy from what you tell me that Blizzard is going to play her some trick he won't hurt her don't you be afraid she is too conceited she is taking down but she is my sister I said well you stand ready to comfort her after her pride has had a fall Blizzard and Rosie don't like her and I don't think they have any idea of hurting anything but her self-conceit that is all very well I replied but I should like to know what they are planning Mona looked around her in a puzzled way I don't know what I can do to help you unless I could make some cat confess what is going on there is Joker I did as she told me and then watched her as she slowly sontered out toward the road via the orchard she was sniffing at the ground as if in search of bones that had been buried and Joker coming deliberately home from Blizzard's farm had no suspicion that Mona had designs upon him he knew perfectly well that Mona was used to cats and had no idea of hurting them so I fancy he was a pretty surprised young fellow when Mona gave one bound and laid her great paw on him she put her head right down beside him and kept him crouching for a few minutes then she let him go and he went leaping toward the house while Mona came toward me she was grinning almost as badly as Joker does but there was more sense in her face than there is in his silly one I found out everything she said sink him on the ground where she was tired after her long run behind the carriage and you need not be an easy the secret of the mole hunt is a very simple one can't you tell me Mona? I asked anxiously no pussy, I promised Joker not to give him away but you need not worry these country cats are only going to have a little fun with your sister they won't hurt her my heart felt very much lighter and I went in the house and up to the veranda to tell sly boots this was late in the afternoon after supper on tabby came quietly creeping out from the house and asked me if I were going to the lecture oh yes she said un-easily perhaps you would like to go along with me she said I can tell you who the strangers are she was such a quiet respectable cat that I gladly embraced her offer it was not yet nearly dark but she said we had better go early so we could get a good seat and see what fun might be going on I asked what she meant by fun and she said that when there was any kind of a public gathering the young cats would often have wrestling matches sly boots they would be kept quietly away from the house and trotted out behind the barn Mona saw us going and gave me an intelligent look but she did not offer to follow us I did not think the back of the barn a very good place for a gathering but on tabby pointed out to me the piles of old boards nearby where the cats could take shelter in case of fright I wanted to get up on top of the hog's head that was standing there but on tabby would not let me for she said that place was reserved for the lecturer she guided me to a nice spot where a plank had been laid across some fence posts we three sat on it near the hog's head and there was of course room for many more cats beside us soon they came trooping along my what a number of cats I soon got confused among so many and asked on tabby why the neighborhood was so alive with cats there's a great deal of grain raised in this valley she said and the mice bothered the farmers almost to death in summer it is not quite so bad for the mice take to the fields but in winter it is dreadful the barns are alive with them in sparrows and we cats have to work pretty hard not to clear out the mice in sparrows all together for we can't do that but to keep them down then she added after a time these are not all neighborhood cats some have come as far as three miles you see we don't often get a chance to hear a lecturer from Boston who's that big white cat with the yellow patch over his eye I asked that one who's coming along under the apple trees quite alone that is old circumnavigation she replied a cat belonging to a retired sea captain who lives a quarter of a mile from here he has been around the world six times with his master and is a fine cat those tebetsis I don't like quite as much see they are walking behind him two twin tebette cats neighbors of his low-down creatures we don't associate with him I looked at on tabby in surprise I had never heard her speak so sharply about any cat before it was getting dusk now but of course we all could see quite well the arriving cats were arranging themselves in groups or rows on the piles of boards soon one young Maltese cat sprang down to the square of grass in front of the hogs head and began to walk up and down and lash his tail he is daring someone to come and wrestle with him on tabby informed this his challenge was soon answered another young cat this one gray in color sprang down from the boards to meet him they closed with each other and began to wrestle and tumble about it was very funny to see them until they grew angry and began to pull hair that is nearly always the way side on tabby a wrestle ends in a fight there goes the Maltese cat's father why doesn't he keep out of it a very spiteful looking old Maltese cat seeing that his son was under the gray took it upon himself to interfere where upon another big cat who was on tabby said an uncle to the gray also took it upon himself to interfere the two big old cats and the two young ones had a regular mix-up they were pommeling each other in grand style when a shriek was heard from the orchard the Maltese cat's mother was just arriving and hearing that her son and husband were fighting she threw herself upon their opponents and being promptly seized by the old gray cat got her ears boxed for interfering she was in a fearful temper standing a little aside she just yelled to all her friends and relatives for help there was a dreadful scene after that reserved seats and other seats were vacated and the conflict became general only on tabby sly boots and I sat on the fence oh this is awful I said never in Boston where cats are supposed to have such powerful voices have I heard such yelling and catarwalling they had better look out remarked on tabby or the dogs will hear them they are too near the house for such a racket will anyone come out alive I gasped oh this is terrible surely half will be crippled for life and I gazed in fascinated terror at the big whirling moving hairy bunch of cat figures leaving vaulting yelling and spitting like furies sly boots was grinning I see mother cats pitching entered their own young ones she said sarcastically I guess they don't know what they're about on tabby was not nearly as concerned as we were cats round here often have such bouts she said when they come together you see our lives are quiet and we like a little excitement occasionally but don't they kill each other I'm viewed at the top of my voice in order to make myself heard above the tumult above me when this grimage is over replied on tabby there won't be a bunch of hair the size of your head on the ground it's mostly fuss and fury it's a pity blizzard isn't here he would enjoy this he gets round on such occasions and nips every cat he has a grudge against it's a great chance to pay off any old scores there's the blizzard she cried and your sister and Joker and Rosie sure enough these four cat figures were coming hurriedly around the corner of the barn I learned afterward that blizzard and Joker had attempted a dignified escort of Serena to be the lecturer's hog's head but in hearing the tumult and making the discovery that the dogs were after us they broke into a run Joker stood on his hind legs and sprang in the air just yelling dogs and old blizzard leaping and among the combatants dealt a cuff here and a kick and bite there and shrieked at the top of his voice dogs take to the cranberry bog Aunt Tabby understood come she said and we were to first to leave the scene of the action springing off the fence she ran like the wind across to now dark pasture where little Mary had walked so gaily this morning it was and still is a lovely night for I'm only thinking over the events of a few hours ago the sky was the dark blue the stars were shining the air was sweet and redolent with wild flower blossoms the grass was dewy beneath our feet Aunt Tabby went like a shot down to the meadow over the footbridge and across the plowed land to the big pine root she knew her way to the cranberry swamp and when we got there she quickly chose the best place for us to sit that old stump in the middle will be your sister's place she said to me we were on a little moss covered hillock close to it really we did have about the best place there when their cats arrived mostly out of breath and excited they seemed to be enjoying themselves and showed every emotion much more plainly than city cats do Serena, Rosie, Blizzard and Joker were the last to arrive they came slowly and tried to make a dignified entrance passing in a grand way between their groups and rows of cats almost covering the little bog Blizzard led the way to the big stump there was only room for two cats to sit comfortably on it so he scowled at Rosie and Joker and made them go elsewhere they promptly came and crowded on the hillock beside us and for the rest of the time we were nearly squeezed to death however, I did not think about my own discomfort in my intense interest to know how Serena would act and what she would say I really wished that my parents could see her she sat demurely on the dark stump while Blizzard made the opening speech she had groomed herself while and she looked a very handsome aristocratic figure of a cat compared with the plebian looking Blizzard she introduced her in a flourishing way cats and kittens we have this evening a great and unexpected pleasure fresh from the haunts of culture reeking with the emanations of art bubbling over with the essence of criticism a fair and gentle Boston cat has come to enlighten our dark minds he's making game of her with spurred slide boots in my ear of course he is, I returned fresh, listen for you know, cats and kittens continued Blizzard persuasively we know nothing in the country we are sunk in ignorance our minds are low and degraded our manners are repulsive and vulgar a grown rose from the assembly of cats but he motioned with his paw and it subsided now friends, listen attentively to this lady like cat this thoroughbred, purebred Angora I groaned myself here for the exquisite sarcasm of his tone told me that Joker had informed him that Serena was only half bread try to remember what she says pursued Blizzard try to live up to it in short, try to be more like city cats less like vulgar countryfied felines and now without further preamble I will introduce to you the learned lecturer and exponent of cat rights and cat culture Miss Serena Angora Maybell Prince of Boston I gasped at the long name my sister had probably improvised it for the occasion she certainly was a very lady like looking cat as she gracefully bowed to Blizzard who was retiring with a grin to the back of the stump and then with equal grace bowed to her attentive audience my friends, she said in a very sweet voice I stand before you this evening quite unprepared I have only a few hastily thrown together notes on cat life and cat character wish a bigger indulgence to receive and then she proceeded to give a most elaborate and carefully thought out interest on cats she began with the cats of ancient times the wild cat inhabiting the mountains then she got to Egypt and told us of the sacred awe in which the cat was held there of the temples raised and sacrifices offered in its honor finally she proceeded to Europe and was on her way to America but long before she got there I became tired although she was my sister and began to look about me half the cats in her audience were asleep many were yawning and wishing they could sleep a few had stolen away a few looked mad I did wish she would stop but she had her head in the air she saw only her glorified self and sailed on and on till I thought I should scream from nervousness Blizzard sat behind her with the most inscrutable look on his face and yet I felt that the longer she lectured the better he was pleased presently I got up I could stand it no longer creeping cautiously around the edge of the bog I came up to the back of the stumbor Serena stood reaching up I stuck my claws in the end of her tail and gave it a slight pull she started irritably and turned round oh do stop I said can't you see that you are tiring everybody to death I see nothing she said blissfully and she shut her eyes Blizzard snickered beside me oh how pleased he was the malicious fellow do wind up Serena I went on desperately everybody is sneering at you she pulled her tail away from me and went on with her lecture but I noticed that she did wind it up in about 5 minutes I think her mind misgave her after all as soon as she concluded Blizzard got up and moved a vote of thanks then as no one responded everybody being too sleepy or too cross he cleared this stump at a bound and running down among the cats went from one to another whispering something in their ears an extraordinary animation took possession of them they sprang up ran to Serena almost in a body and began saying the most extravagant and flattering things to her she immediately began to swim in another sea of glory and darted occasional furious glances at me to say why did she interrupt me see how my effort was appreciated that old scamp Blizzard he had her completely under his influence I was longing to get her to go home with me but she would not do so I knew it was of no use to ask her so I waited after the congratulations were over the cats in the body began to leave the bog Blizzard, Rosie, Serena and Joker were at the head of the procession and there was a great laughing and mew in going on let us follow, I said to Sly Boots Aunt Tabby had left us and with a curious shake of the head when I asked her what was going to happen had run back to the house she said she had had excitement enough for one evening this is the beginning of the mole hunt I whispered to Sly Boots and she nodded her head End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of Pussy Blackface the story of a kitten and her friends this is the Livy Vox recording all Livy Vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer, please visit LivyVox.org Recording by Catherine Pussy Blackface the story of a kitten and her friends by Marshall Saunders Chapter 15 the mole hunt the cats ahead of us were leaving the pinewood and were filing out between the big trees to the plowed land when we reached it we were skipping and prancing over it to the meadow arriving there the cats all stopped and we heard Blizzard's upraised voice friends all who are invited to be present at the mole hunt follow me all others go home this last command was meant for Sly Boots and me but we didn't wish to obey it come on whispered Sly Boots in my ear we'll fool him I ran after her we two cats were the only ones to leave we rushed along over the cool juvie grass Sly Boots said to me let's hide down here they're coming this way I did not think it was quite an honest thing to do however I followed her we pretended to go over the footbridge but instead of that we turned aside and went in among the elders here we found a great clump of friends and nestling down among them listened I could not help thinking what a lovely night it was as I lay there it was so soft against our bodies and the freshness and the smell of it were so delightful to breathe the air just felt as if no cats had ever breathed it before in Boston one often has a feeling that the air entering one's lungs has been breathed over and over again till it is quite tired out and has no life left in it it was not a very dark night and having cats eyes we could see plainly the crowd that we had left behind us then they came toward us just as Slybooth had prophesized we could hear Joker's loud silly voice and Blizzard's crafty one with an occasional remark and Serena's clear high pitched one Slybooth and I were just crazy to fathom the mystery of the mole hunt so we listened most attentively we don't usually have such a gathering for a mole hunt Blizzard was saying but it was so kind and condescending in you to afford us the pleasure of hearing a lecture from you that every cat in the neighborhood and beyond it wished to honor you as Slybooth said the army of cats was coming toward us and every word fell distinctly on our ears in the clear night air let me recapitulate Serena remarked this mole hunt is to be ushered in by Grand Batoo which of course you understand is the act of beating woods and bushes for game exactly kind of ecstasy how you understand things miss Serena how you dive into the heart of an affair and I could just imagine him turning around with the wrapped grin to the cats behind him Slybooth too was disgusted and grunted as Serena went on I as a guest you are delighted to honor and placed by you at the entrance to a mole hill you retire with the other cats and surrounding the game drive it toward me touch it as it is about to enter its domicile and here Serena paused and I could fancy her shutter for she does not like catching things yes yes was ifurated Blizzard true true I wish these country cats to have an exhibition of your physical ability they already know your mental equipment they have had a sample of your powers of mind now I wish them to benefit by that grace of movement that agility without awkwardness which to such a high degree distinguishes the city cat from the country cat there was quite a round of applause and cat yells at this and I could imagine Serena's scruples giving away I have never cared for catching mice she said in an easy voice but you say a mole hunt is quite different oh yes responded Blizzard a mole is an exquisite little animal far softer far prettier than a mouse it has a shorter tail nose and cunning pink claws its eyes are hardly to be seen I assure you you will not mind clasping its little body in your claws and when do we come to the mole hills inquired Serena right here responded Blizzard and the old rascal stopped at a few paces from us get to work cats and kittens find the mole hills choose the best and then we will have the hunt the cats broke ranks and scattered hither and dither it was a regular frolic for them and I don't think any of them did much work but Blizzard and Rosie Joker just stood and grinned at Serena if I had been in her place that idiotic telltale face of his would have warned me but there was a mist before the eyes of my poor deluded sister she saw only what she wanted to see in a few minutes Blizzard and Rosie had fixed upon a place and the mischievous old cat raised his voice cats and kittens immediately all the cats stopped their nonsense and gathered around him I have found three mole hills quite near each other he said now Miss Serena come near stand with your eyes fixed on these three small holes in the ground the moles being night workers are off for food we will form a ring surround them and drive them toward home be all ready to spring as they arrive lay the dead in a little pile then when we think all the moles have been driven from the surrounding fields we will come back and have a celebration over your victory now cats away follow me and the old fellow bounded off as nimbly as a kitten sly boots began to chuckle in a slow enjoyable way I see their little game she said I track them what is it I whispered eagerly I'm all in the dark on chuckling till the last shadowy cat form was out of sight then speaking very low so that Serena would not hear her for she was sitting quite near us on a little mound in the meadow she murmured this is a put up job there ain't no moles near they're fooling Serena she'll sit there a month a forum all comes sly boots I gasped it is all a trick just so closer than all them cats has gone home laughing like to kill themselves at the way they're fooling your sister I'll go tell her I exclaimed indignantly starting up hush she'll catch on and sly boots laid a staining paw on my shoulder there's no use in telling her now she'd scoff at you wait a bit till she gets tired I trembled with anger oh how I wanted to bite Blizzard poor Serena what a blow to her pride the whole aim and object of the gathering this evening had been to make a simpleton of her my dear sister after a long time I said to sly boots I should think if Blizzard is so desirous of humbling her that he would want to wait and see her discomforture when she finds that she has been deceived he may do that said sly boots I should not wonder if he's in hiding somewhere watching or else he may slip back how I would like to find him I said revengefully and beat him you'd better leave him alone remarked sly boots warningly he'd dressed you down in five minutes then don't forget that your sister goes out of her way to show off I know she has brought it on herself I groaned why did she not stay in the city where affectation is more pardonable sly boots slapped softly you can put on airs in Boston but don't you try it in the country it won't go down well I don't know how long we sat there it seemed to me half the night but I suppose it was only an hour or two at last sly boots rose stretched herself yawned and said I'm going home let us go speak to Serena now I said eagerly perhaps she will listen sly boots shook her head however she followed me and we both crapped over the dark cold meadow towards Serena sister I said it's late come home with me she gave me a dreamy glance and then without speaking turned her head again she was crouched in a graceful attitude near a tiny mound of earth the cats are deceiving you I continued they are not coming back she gave me another peculiar glance she seemed sunk in a dose of ecstasy and my words fell on dull ears they are fully used Serena I went on excitedly there are no moles to be driven in I expect they are snugly down below you in the earth Blizzard wishes to make a simpleton of you Serena roused herself slightly at this go away you jealous kitten she said hauthily Blizzard told me that you were eating up with jealousy of me because I am handsomer and cleverer than you I felt like a simpleton and I suppose I looked like one as I stared helplessly at sly boots jealous of her I had never thought of such a thing however I could not persuade her out of it and I had better not try come home whispered sly boots in my ear and throwing Serena one contemptuous glance she walked away I followed her for a short distance I was amazed at the cleverness and cunning of that wicked Blizzard suddenly I stopped short sly boots I said it does not matter what Serena thinks of me I am not going to leave her alone in that meadow tonight I will creep back among the elders and watch sly boots hesitated and looked in the direction of the house where we could see some lights twinkling and then back at the dark meadow I knew she wanted to go home and lie on the feather bed however she kindly turned back with me and we once more went to our old place among the ferns I soon went to sleep and I think sly boots did too I was awakened by a push from sly boots sleepily opening my eyes speaking squealing laughing it was Blizzard and he had come back to torture my sister go home now idiot he was saying go back to your prig of a sister and tell her how we have fooled you oh what a sweet morsel you are how tender how juicy if I hadn't more sapped than you I wouldn't leave my mammy side how did you ever grow up with so little mind what balderdash you gave us this evening cats of ancient times fiddle sticks all the time he was speaking he danced and pranced about my poor sister he was so full of evil that he could not keep still rosie sitting at a little distance seemed to be listening approvingly to what he was saying poor serena if ever I saw a crest fall in cat she was the one what a fearful fall her pride had had she looked as if she could never hold her head up again occasionally she gave him a bewildered glance as if to say are you really speaking the truth surely this is some game in a few minutes you will be yourself again and you will begin to praise me as you did formerly no it was no game in that conviction at last entered poor serena's soul she got up turned sadly from him and with drooping head and dejected limbs began to make her way to the footbridge her tendered imp or demon seemed itching to get his paws on her he ran close beside her he taunted her shamefully he advised her to go back to boston and let country tax run their own show and at last getting bold he began to give her an occasional tap on the head my heartbroken sister resented nothing she traveled slowly on I think blizzard could have killed her if he had wished to do so now is the time for us to show that she had friends without a word sly boots and I stepped from the alders and placed ourselves by her side blizzard had begun to smell us so we had no chance to surprise him nor did we wish to do so we were not hankering for a fight he fell back pretty quick and we three slowly went up the path toward the barn around the building where the dry wood is stored and the carriage house and toward the back door which was wide open for the gleasons never closed doors or windows at night in the first place there are no trams here and in the second we set in if they came on account of the dog Barlow as we come into the house from the east side next to barn there is a small wood house and then the kitchen as we were about to go up the steps leading to the wood house there appeared the figure of cat in the doorway it was joker and running to meet as he began to prance around us in an extravagant manner and to taunt Serena whereas your mole didn't catch one I expected to see you come home from your mouth you're a thoroughbred the cats are all bursting laughing at you you're a half-breed I looked at sly boots it did seem too bad that one of the conspirators should have been under a roof did you ever hear of the laws of hospitality joker I asked sternly laws no he said grinning idiotically but I know what claws be and he pointed to Serena to catch moles he giggled in a most aggravating way we were all tired and sleepy and had stood about all we could sly boots particularly was in a most irritable mood and without one preliminary such as a growl or grimace she sprang at joker and didn't she drag him over that door yard he made a fearful wailing and heads began to come out of the open windows on this side of the house then I threw down several pairs of boots and it lasted a lot of water from a picture that stopped the fight or rather the attack for joker did not fight he just yelled sly boots is a master hand at fighting as I very well knew joker will be sore for many a day I am sorry to have him punished and yet he has done very wrong and deserves all he got well, after a time we started again on our way upstairs joker had run off somewhere sly boots and I lie here on her feather bed I cannot sleep for serena needs comforting she is perfectly crushed she keeps moaning that she wants to go back to the city she can't get there now she will have to wait but oh how sorry I am for her her summer here is spoiled she is so ashamed of herself that she does not know what to do she has prided herself so much on her cleverness she thought that these country cats were going to look up to her and have her for a leader and now he sees that they despise her and make fun of her and don't want to have anything to do with anything or any creature from Boston and they have found out that she told a lie about being a pure bread and gora that is about the worst cut of all well, I hope she will soon go to sleep it is not interesting to think things over when such disagreeable things happen it would be vastly more agreeable to think into a sound to eat sleep End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of Pussy Blackface the story of a kitten and her friends this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Pussy Blackface the story of a kitten and her friends by Marshall Saunders the return of the children we had a great surprise this morning I can't help thinking it over as I sit here this evening on the feather bed my body half asleep but my mind awake and lively it was just about dinner time that is, the early noon dinner of the Gleasons Sly Boots and I were on the upper veranda Serena was in here in this closet on the feather bed she feels so terribly about her experiences of last night at the mall hunt that I have not been able to get her to budge out of the house all day well, Sly Boots and I heard carriage wheels and looked down there was a stout looking woman driving a big horse harnessed to a double seated express wagon in which sat beside her three children I knew that they must be the Gleason children coming home so I got up and looked curiously through the veranda railing yes, there they were the two little boys and the little girl and their aunt Mrs. Gleason ran out of the house and kissed her children and Mary and her mother came out too my dear little mistress was greatly excited I knew that she was by the way she looked from her mother to the children she was longing to go and speak to them and presently Mrs. Denville took her hand and led her forward the two boys were the queerest little fellows I ever saw there is only a year's difference between their ages and they look almost like twins Timothy and Robert are their names the girl is a little witch her name is Della the two boys are prim and proper like too little old men they keep together nearly all the time the girl is flying about by herself all over the place she's dancing at first that Mary would like the little boys better than the little girl but now I am beginning to think I was mistaken as soon as the aunt arrived this morning her sister-in-law, Mrs. Gleason said you will, of course, put your horse out the fat woman nodded and Mrs. Gleason went in the house and blew the dinner horn twice that meant dinner and he soon came running to take the aunt's horse to the stable the grown people went inside and Mary and the little Gleasons stood staring at each other those your dogs inquired the little girl pointing to Mona and Dolly Mary nodded her head got any more animals inquired Della yes, some cats and birds replied Mary, let's see them returned Della with a commanding air and Mary led the way upstairs I'm not going to be mauled by strange children and she fled I stood my ground and presently they all trooped out on the veranda the little girl gave a squill when she saw my long hair the boys said never a word but they both stroked me gently say remarked Della let's go see our own critters forgetting all about the birds for which the canaries would be truly thankful for they hate strangers the children rushed downstairs and I came more slowly behind with Mary why don't you go faster inquired Della rebukeingly as she waited for us in the kitchen doorway Mary blushed furiously I can't, she said I have a week back turn around, said the little girl preemptorily let me see it oh, how angry I was I could have scratched her her request or command I was so brutal when I thought of the sensitiveness of my dear little mistress I heard Mary making a choking sound in her throat however, she did as she was told and then Della who if rough, is at heart a very kind child did a very nice thing she passed her hand swiftly but gently up and down Mary's back then she turned her round again and throwing her arms around her neck she kissed her heartily and said I'm sorry, the two boys stared hard at the girls then, by common consent they all walked slowly instead of running to the barn Della put her arm around Mary's waist it had not taken them long to get acquainted my dear little mistress's face just beamed and I saw that she would like these children when we reached the barn Della went straight to the grain room there she filled the pockets of her blue cotton dress with oats and cracked corn then she led the way to the horse stalls oh, how glad the horses were to see those children they stretched their heads over the door and knade and winnied and Della and the boys rubbed and hugged them as for the pony, he almost went crazy and coolly opening the door of his doll Della let him out he followed her just like a dog occasionally putting his nose over her shoulder to sniff at the oats in her hand the cows were all out to pasture Della unfastened the calves and let them play a little about the barn floor I never saw such extraordinary antics in any young creatures they were so awkward with their legs and heads Mary laughed till the tears came in her eyes after a while Della fastened up the calves said, come on and going out of doors led the way round to the back of the barn where a big door opened into the barn cellar she would not go down the staircase because the pony wanted to go with her Mary and the boys followed meekly behind Della went up to the first pink pin the pigs knew her and began to squeal she had no food for them so she got a stick and scratched their backs what dirty creatures pigs are remarked Mary with a shudder they ain't dirty said Della reprovingly pigs are clean men are dirty because they don't give them clean bedding but they are playing in such black stuff said Mary that stuff is nice sods from the meadow said Della they have to work it over don't you know root hog or die like to play in the dirt but my paw says a pig always wants a clean bed sometimes we keep pigs out in the pasture and they make lovely clean beds for themselves of leaves and grass how do they do that asked Mary they carry the stuff in their mouths replied Della and when it's going to rain they run fast and hurry to make a fresh bed you can always tell when a storm is coming by the pigs they looked doubtfully at the boys but they nodded their heads as if to say our sister is right Della went from one pen to another I looked through the cracks in the board fence about the pens the pigs were nice looking and although each one was playing in the black earth there was a clean bed of straw in the corner for them at the last pan Della opened the little gate leading to it and let a pig out the pig called Bobby and he was as pleased to see her as a dog would have been he grunted with delight and tried to rub himself against her and she leaped and danced to get out of his way for he was covered with mud and the more she sprang in the air the harder the boys and Mary laughed finally they all went out in the sunshine again the pig and pony following now for the hens and she lifted up her voice bitty bitty bitty chicky chicky chicky have you chickens inquired Mary eagerly I haven't seen any yet yes two broods said Della but the hens stole their nests away and are pretty shy however I think I can get them you and the boys stand here and she went on a little way the pony and the pig followed her seemed to mind them bitty bitty bitty she called again and then the hens came running from the meadow the orchard and one old hen with a following of lovely yellow chickens came out of the barn cellar behind us and hurried toward Della the little girl sat down on the ground and it was most amusing to see the hens gather around her some even got on her lap and looked in her pockets in the rain that they knew she had one old thing gave her a loving pack on the neck that made Della squeal what friends exclaimed Mary admiringly how they love her she's always fussing around them said timothy the elder of the two boys they ought to like her come on Robert let's go down to the river and have a swim Mary looked at them curiously she could have stayed here all day looking at the hens then she said don't you like animals timothy looked at robert and robert looked at timothy and finally the elder one said yes but we don't want to live and die with them the way Della does just then the dinner horn sounded and without waiting for the girls the two boys ran like the wind toward the house Della dismissed the hens put the pig back in the pen took the pony to his stall accompanied by Mary went to the house her father made a great fuss about her oh ho he laughed catching her up in his arms big girl though she was oh ho I'm glad to have my tomboy back and my little sissies and he winked at the two demer little boys Della wriggled away from him and went to her mother's bedroom to tidy herself the farmer and his man always washed their faces and hands and brushed their hair in a little washroom off the kitchen in a few minutes everyone was ready for dinner Mr. Gleason sat at the foot of the table his wife at the head then there were the four children the two men and Mr. Gleason's sister Mr. and Mrs. Denville not caring for such an early dinner were going to have theirs later the food smelled very nice potatoes turnips and lettuce and a big plum pudding with a nice sauce I sat under the table and listened to all that was said it was pleasant to have everyone so happy there was a good deal of laughing and joking and no crosswords End of Chapter 16