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diff --git a/19333-h/19333-h.htm b/19333-h/19333-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..67c647e --- /dev/null +++ b/19333-h/19333-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4125 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Story of a China Cat, by Laura Lee Hope</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + .right {text-align: right;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 1px;margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Story of a China Cat, by Laura Lee Hope, +Illustrated by Harry L. Smith</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Story of a China Cat</p> +<p>Author: Laura Lee Hope</p> +<p>Release Date: September 19, 2006 [eBook #19333]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A CHINA CAT***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 257px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="257" height="400" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/front_liner.jpg" width="400" height="291" alt="Inside front cover" title="Inside front cover" /> +</div> + + + + + +<h3><i>MAKE BELIEVE STORIES</i></h3> + +<div class='center'>(Trademark Registered)</div> + +<h1>THE STORY OF A<br /> + +CHINA CAT</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>LAURA LEE HOPE</h2> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Author of "the Story of a Sawdust Doll," "The<br /> +Story of a Nodding Donkey," "The Bobbsey Twins<br /> +Series," "The Bunny Brown Series," "The<br /> +Six Little Bunkers Series," Etc.</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +ILLUSTRATED BY<br /> + +<big>HARRY L. SMITH</big><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> + +NEW YORK<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br /> +PUBLISHERS<br /> +<small><i>Made in the United States of America</i></small><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='bbox'> +<h2>BOOKS<br /> +<span class="smcap">By LAURA LEE HOPE</span></h2> + +<div class='center'>Durably Bound. Illustrated.</div> +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> +<h3>MAKE BELIEVE STORIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Make Believe Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A SAWDUST DOLL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A WHITE ROCKING HORSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A LAMB ON WHEELS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A BOLD TIN SOLDIER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A CANDY RABBIT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A MONKEY ON A STICK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A CALICO CLOWN</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A NODDING DONKEY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A CHINA CAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF A PLUSH BEAR</td></tr> +</table></div> +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE BOBBSEY TWINS SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Bobbsey Twins Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN WASHINGTON</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> +<h3>THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap</span>, Publishers, New York</div> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br />Copyright, 1921, by<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP</div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class='center'>The Story of a China Cat</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 275px;"> +<img src="images/p001.jpg" width="275" height="400" alt="The China Cat Has a Ride in Nodding Donkey's Wagon." title="The China Cat Has a Ride in Nodding Donkey's Wagon." /> +<span class="caption">The China Cat Has a Ride in Nodding Donkey's Wagon.</span> +<div class='right'><i>Frontispiece</i>—(<a href='#Page_113'><i>Page 113</i></a>)</div></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Toy-Shop Fun</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Nice Little Girl</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_14'>14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Fire! Fire!"</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_28'>28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Little Black Boy</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_38'>38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rough Play</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_50'>50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Terrible Storm</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_63'>63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rescue</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_76'>76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jennie Gets The Cat</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_87'>87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Old Friend</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_101'>101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Glaring Eyes</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_111'>111</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE STORY OF A<br /> +CHINA CAT</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>TOY-SHOP FUN</h3> + + +<p>Toot! Toot! Tootity-toot-toot!</p> + +<p>"Goodness me! who is blowing the +horn?" asked the Talking Doll, as she sat +up on the shelf in the toy shop. "This +isn't Friday; and we don't want any fish!"</p> + +<p>"Speak for yourself, if you please," +said a large, white China Cat, who had +just finished washing a few specks of dirt +off her shiny coat with her red tongue. "I +could enjoy a bit of fish right now."</p> + +<p>"I should rather have pie," said the +Talking Doll. "But who blew the horn?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +That is what I'd like to know. No one has +a horn in this toy shop that I know anything +about."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't a horn—that was a trumpet," +said another voice. "I'll blow it +again!"</p> + +<p>Then there sounded a jolly noise +through the quiet toy shop, which was in +darkness except for one electric light in +the middle of the store.</p> + +<p>Toot! Toot! Tootity-toot-toot! echoed +the merry notes.</p> + +<p>"What a pretty sound," said the Jumping +Jack, as he jerked his arms and legs +up and down, for he had just awakened +from his long day of sleep.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it nice," agreed Tumbling Tom, +a queer toy who never could stand up, +because he was made in such a funny way +that he always fell down. "I wonder if +there is going to be a parade?"</p> + +<p>"Who is blowing that horn, anyway?" +asked the Talking Doll.</p> + +<p>"I tell you it isn't a horn—it's a trum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>pet, +and I am blowing it," said a voice in +the front part of the toy store. "I came +in only to-day, but I thought perhaps you +other toys would like a little music, so I +tuned up my trumpet. But please don't +call it a horn. I am not a fish man!"</p> + +<p>With that there came walking along the +shelf, from the front part of the store, a +little man wearing a blue coat, dark red +trousers, and a hat with a long, sweeping +plume. I say he was a little man, but I +mean he was a toy, dressed up like a man +such as you see in fairy stories. In his +hand he carried a little golden trumpet.</p> + +<p>As he walked along the shelf, where the +other toys stood, the Trumpeter, for such +he was, blew another blast on his golden +instrument.</p> + +<p>And the blast was such a jolly one that +every toy in the store felt like dancing +or singing. The Jumping Jack worked +his arms and legs faster than they had +ever jerked about before. The Talking +Doll swayed on her feet as though waltz<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>ing, +and even the China Cat beat time +with her tail.</p> + +<p>"That certainly was very nice," said +the Talking Doll, when the Trumpeter had +finished the tune. "Did you say you just +came here to be one of us?"</p> + +<p>"Just to-day," was the answer. "I +came in a large box, straight from the +workshop of Santa Claus, at the North +Pole, and I—"</p> + +<p>"Oh! The North Pole!" suddenly +mewed the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter? Does it make you +chilly to hear about the North Pole, where +I came from?" asked the Trumpeter.</p> + +<p>"No," answered the Cat. "I was just +thinking of a friend of mine who once +lived there. You remember him," she +added, turning to the Jumping Jack. "I +mean the Nodding Donkey."</p> + +<p>"Of course I remember him!" said the +Jumping Jack. "I should say I did! A +most jolly chap, always bowing to you in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +the most friendly way. He isn't here any +more."</p> + +<p>"No, he was bought for a little lame boy +who had to go on crutches," said the Talking +Doll. "I remember the Nodding Donkey +very well. I say he was bought for +a little lame boy. But the truth of the +matter is that the lame boy got well, and +now is just like other boys. Once the Nodding +Donkey's leg was broken and he was +brought back here for Mr. Mugg to fix."</p> + +<p>"Who is Mr. Mugg?" asked the Trumpeter, +as he rubbed his horn to make it +more shiny. "Excuse me for asking, but +I have not been here very long, you know," +he added.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Horatio Mugg is the man who +keeps this toy store," explained the China +Cat. "He and his daughters, Angelina +and Geraldine, keep us toys in order, dust +us off and sell us whenever any one comes +in to buy playthings."</p> + +<p>"Then it seems I am not to stay here al<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>ways," +went on the Trumpeter. "Well, I +like a jolly life, going about from place to +place. I had fun at the North Pole, and +now I hope I shall have some fun here. +That's why I blew my trumpet—to start +you toys into life."</p> + +<p>"We always come to life after dark, +and make believe we are alive when no one +sees us," explained the China Cat. "That +is one of the things we are allowed to do. +But as soon as daylight shines, or when +any one comes into the store to look at us, +we must turn back into toys that can move +only when we are wound up. That is, all +except me. I have no springs inside me—I +move of myself whenever make-believe +time comes," she added, and she switched +her tail from side to side.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have springs inside me," said +the Talking Doll, "and also a little phonograph. +When it is wound up I can say +'papa' and 'mama' and 'I am hungry.' +But when we are by ourselves, as we are +now, I can say what I please."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I, too, have springs inside me," said +the Trumpeter. "That is how I blow my +trumpet. But now, as we are by ourselves +and it is night, why not have some fun? +Let's do something. Perhaps, as a newcomer, +I should let some one else start it. +But I could not bear to lie on the shelf, +doing nothing, especially when it is so +near the jolly Christmas season. So I +just blew my trumpet to awaken you all."</p> + +<p>"And I'm glad you did," said the Jumping +Jack. "I say let's have some fun! +Shall I show you how well I can jump?" +he asked. "If this is your first night +here," he said to the Trumpeter, "you +do not know all the tricks I can do."</p> + +<p>"I should be most happy to see you do +some," replied the Trumpeter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that Jumping Jack. He thinks he +is the only one who can jump!" whispered +a Jack in the Box to Tumbling Tom. "If +I could get out of this box I'd show him +some jumps that would make him open his +eyes!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And as for tumbles!" said Tom. +"Why, I can beat him all to pieces! But +we must be polite, you know, especially +before strangers—I mean the Trumpeter. +Don't let's have a quarrel."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed the Jack in the Box, +or Jack Box, as he was called for short.</p> + +<p>"Now watch me jump!" cried Jumping +Jack. "Clear the shelf, if you please. +The Trumpeter has never seen any of my +circus tricks!"</p> + +<p>So the toys in the shop of Mr. Horatio +Mugg got ready to have a jolly night. +Just as the China Cat had said, the toys +had the power of making believe. They +could pretend to come to life, and talk +among themselves, and do things they +never would think of doing in the daytime. +This was when no human eyes saw +them.</p> + +<p>"Attention now, everybody!" called the +Jumping Jack, just like the ringmaster in +a circus. "First I will climb to the top<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +of the highest shelf, and then I will jump +down."</p> + +<p>"Won't you hurt yourself?" asked the +Trumpeter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I'll land on a big rubber ball +and bounce," the Jumping Jack answered. +"If you want to, Trumpeter," he +added, "you can blow a blast on your horn +to start me off. It will be more exciting +if you do that."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed the new toy.</p> + +<p>Up climbed the Jumping Jack until he +stood on the very highest shelf of the store—the +shelf where all the extra drums were +kept out of the way.</p> + +<p>"It makes me dizzy to look at him," said +the Talking Doll, and she covered her eyes +with her hand.</p> + +<p>"Yes, suppose he should fall," said the +China Cat. "But he must show off, I suppose. +I'd rather have less exciting fun—such +as a game of tag."</p> + +<p>"Hush!" begged the Trumpeter. "He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +is ready to jump, I think. Hello there, +Jack!" he called to the toy on the top +shelf. "Are you ready?"</p> + +<p>"All ready!" was the answer. "Blow +your trumpet, and I'll jump!"</p> + +<p>The Trumpeter raised his golden horn +to his lips.</p> + +<p>Toot! Toot! Tootity-toot-toot! came +the blast.</p> + +<p>"Here I come!" shouted the Jumping +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! Tell me when it is all over!" +begged the Talking Doll, putting both her +hands over her eyes.</p> + +<p>Down, down, down, came the Jumping +Jack, past shelf after shelf of toys, until +he landed with a bounce on a rubber ball +on the very lowest shelf, where the Cat +and the Doll stood.</p> + +<p>Up in the air bounced the Jack again, +for the ball was like the springs of a bed. +Then he came down upon the ball a second +time and bounced up once more, and this +time he came down on the shelf.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ouch! Mew! Mew!" cried the China +Cat.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter? Did the Jumping +Jack fall and break his leg like the Nodding +Donkey?" asked the Talking Doll. +"Oh, I dare not look! Tell me about it!"</p> + +<p>"Of course he didn't break his leg!" +said the Cat. "But he stepped on my tail; +that's what he did! Right on my tail! I +hope it isn't broken," she went on, as she +looked carefully at the tip.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I beg your pardon! I am so +sorry!" exclaimed the Jumping Jack. "I +didn't mean to do that. The ball rolled, +and I slipped."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 278px;"> +<img src="images/p024.jpg" width="278" height="400" alt="The Jumping Jack Danced With the China Cat." title="The Jumping Jack Danced With the China Cat." /> +<span class="caption">The Jumping Jack Danced With the China Cat.</span> +<div class='right'><i>Page 12</i></div> +</div> + +<p>"Well, there is no great harm done, I +am glad to say," said the China Cat, again +carefully looking at the tip of her tail. +"But if you had landed a little harder you +would have broken it, and then I should +be a damaged toy, and Mr. Mugg would +have had to sell me for half price."</p> + +<p>"But didn't I do a good jump?" asked +the Jack of the Trumpeter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One of the finest I ever saw," was the +answer. "But suppose we play something +more quiet."</p> + +<p>"Let's have a dance!" proposed the +Talking Doll. "The Trumpeter can play +for us. I love to dance!"</p> + + +<p>"So do I," said a Soldier Captain, who +was one of a number of wooden soldiers in +a box. "May I have a waltz with you, +Miss Doll?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered. "Thank you, +Captain."</p> + +<p>And while the Trumpeter played, the +toys danced. The Jumping Jack danced +with the China Cat, but she said his style +was jerky. Then Tumbling Tom danced +with the white cat, but Tom kept falling +down all the while so that dance was, +really, not a success.</p> + +<p>"Let's play tag," said the Talking Doll +after a while. "I am sure the Trumpeter +is tired of playing so many tunes for us."</p> + +<p>"All right! Tag will be fun!" agreed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +the China Cat. "I'll be it. Scatter now, +so I shall have to run to tag you."</p> + +<p>The toys spread themselves about the +shelves of Mr. Mugg's shop, and the China +Cat, whose shiny coat was as white as +snow, was just getting ready to run after +the Trumpeter when suddenly the toy +pussy gave a loud mew.</p> + +<p>"Take her away! Take her away! +Don't let her come near me!" cried the +China Cat. "Oh, Captain!" she exclaimed +to the wooden soldier, "don't let her +get near me! Take her away!" and the +China Cat acted so strangely that the other +toys did not know what to think.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A NICE LITTLE GIRL</h3> + + +<p>Everybody had been so happy and jolly +in the toy shop, and there was so much +fun going on, that when the China Cat +acted so oddly and mewed so loudly, there +was great excitement for a time.</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me there is a fire!" cried a +little Ballet Dancer, whose skirts of tissue +paper and tulle would be sure to flare +up the first thing in case of a blaze.</p> + +<p>"No, there isn't a fire," said a toy Policeman. +"If there was I should turn in +an alarm."</p> + +<p>"But what is the matter?" asked the +Talking Doll. "Did that crazy Jumping +Jack again step on the China Cat's tail?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed I did not," answered the +Jumping Jack.</p> + +<p>And all this while the China Cat kept +mewing.</p> + +<p>"Take her away! Don't let her come +near me! The black will rub off, I'm sure, +and I shall be ruined and damaged. Oh, +take her away, Soldier Captain!" and the +China Cat, in her white coat, snuggled as +close as she could to the brave officer with +his shiny sword.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter? Who is black? +Please tell me what to do so I can help +you," begged the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you see!" exclaimed the +China Cat. "That black doll is coming to +play tag with us! She belongs on the other +side of the store, among the Hallowe'en +novelties! If she rubs up against me +she'll get me all black, and I can't stand it +to be dirty!"</p> + +<p>All the other toys glanced toward the +toy at which the China Cat pointed with +one paw. Walking along the edge of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +shelf was a fuzzy-haired black Doll, her +face as shiny as the stove pipe. She was +called a Topsy Doll.</p> + +<p>"Whut's de mattah heah?" asked +Topsy, talking just as a colored doll should +talk. "Don't yo' all want fo' me to come +an' play tag wif yo'?"</p> + +<p>"We'd love to have you," said the +Jumping Jack, who, being all sorts of colors, +did not mind one more. "But our +China Cat is afraid some of your black +might rub off on her."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Topsy. "Dat +suah am funny! Why, my black doesn't +come off! I spects maybe I's white inside, +but de black on de outside don't come off! +Ha! Ha! Ha!"</p> + +<p>"Really, doesn't it? Won't you smut +me all up?" asked the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"No, I won't! Hones' to goodness I +won't!" promised the Topsy Doll. "Some +folks do say I's terrible mischievous but +I can't help it. I growed up dat way, I +reckon!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>With that Topsy bent over and pulled +one of the ears of Tumbling Tom.</p> + +<p>"Hey there! Stop it!" cried that toy, +and he leaned over to tickle Topsy, but he +leaned too far and down he fell.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed the black Doll. +"Golly, I's mischievous; but mah black +won't rub off! Look!"</p> + +<p>Topsy took up from the shelf a piece of +the white paper Mr. Mugg used to wrap +up the toys when they were purchased. +Topsy rubbed this piece of paper on her +black, shiny cheek as hard as she could rub +it. Then she held it out to the China Cat. +The paper was as white as before.</p> + +<p>"See!" cried Topsy. "Mah black won't +rub off! Now can't I play tag wif yo' +all?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, let her; do!" begged the Talking +Doll. "She's so cute!"</p> + +<p>"Of course she may play if she will not +smut me," said the China Cat. "Please +don't believe I'm fussy," she went on; +"but I shall never be sold if I do not keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +myself white and clean. I thought at first +that Topsy had been down in the coal bin."</p> + +<p>"No'm," answered that colored Doll. +"I's awful mischievous, but I don't play +in no coal. No indeedy!"</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of that," said the China Cat. +"Now I'll be it, and see if I can tag any of +you. Look out! I'm coming!"</p> + +<p>With that the white Cat began chasing +about on the shelves, trying to tag the +other toys, who, you may be sure, kept +well out of her reach.</p> + +<p>"No fair tagging with your tail—that +is so long!" called the Talking Doll, as +she dodged around the corner of the Jack +in the Box, who could not get loose to join +the fun. "You must tag us with your +paws."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll do that," agreed the China +Cat. "I'll only tag you with my paws. +And I think I'll tag you right now!" she +called to the Topsy Doll.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho! Yo' all here has got to be +mighty lively to tag me!" the black toy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +laughed, and, just as the China Cat was +about to touch her, Topsy dodged to one +side and the China Cat nearly slipped off +the shelf.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear! you must be careful," +cried the Talking Doll. "Think what +would happen if you hit the floor!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't dare think of it!" mewed +the China Cat, with a shudder. "I should +be broken to bits!"</p> + +<p>So after that the Cat did not run quite +so fast. Topsy was a very lively little doll. +She skipped here and there, and kept the +other toys laughing at her funny tricks +and the queer way her kinky hair bobbed +about her head.</p> + +<p>So the game went on, and at last the +China Cat managed to touch the Jumping +Jack with her paw.</p> + +<p>"Tag! You're it!" cried the China Cat. +"Now it's your turn to do the chasing, Mr. +Jack!"</p> + +<p>The game went on faster than ever, and +such jolly fun as there was you never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +would have dreamed could happen in a +toy shop, unless you could have seen it +yourself. But of course that is not allowed. +If you had so much as peeked in +with one eye, all the toys would have become +as quiet as a chocolate mouse.</p> + +<p>At last they grew tired of such exciting +fun. One after another had taken a turn +at being it for tag.</p> + +<p>"I know what let's do," suggested the +Soldier Captain, after they had rested. +"Let's have some riddles."</p> + +<p>"Hi!" cried Topsy, "am riddles good +to eat?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," answered the Talking +Doll. "Riddles are something you have +to guess."</p> + +<p>"Den I mus' be a riddle!" said the colored +Doll.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so?" asked the +China Cat.</p> + +<p>"'Cause some ob de toys in mah pa't of +de store says as how I kept 'em <i>guessin'</i>," +was the answer. "Dey done say dey neb<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>ber +know whut I'm gwine to do nex'. I +suah mus' be a riddle."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, that isn't a riddle," the Soldier +Captain explained. "A riddle is like +a puzzle. For instance, I ask you what +has four legs, and yet can't walk?"</p> + +<p>"Hu! Dey ain't <i>nothin'</i> whut has fo' +legs an' can't walk!" declared Topsy. +"Dat's silly! I's got only <i>two</i> legs, but I +can walk when nobody looks at me. An' +dat Noah's Ark Elephant, he's got <i>fo'</i> legs, +an' he can walk. What is dat has fo' +legs an' can't walk I axes yo', Mr. Soldier +Captain?"</p> + +<p>"A table has four legs and yet it can't +walk," laughed the wooden officer. +"That's a riddle, Topsy. Now see if you +can tell one."</p> + +<p>So the Topsy Doll and the other toys +began to think of riddles, asking them of +one another. But, somehow or other, the +China Cat was very still and quiet. She +did not enter into this fun as she had into +the game of tag.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the Jumping +Jack, when he had guessed a funny +riddle about a little green hen. "Are you +watching for mice, China Cat? There are +some little ones, made of cloth and wood +over in the novelty department where +Topsy came from."</p> + +<p>"No, I am not thinking of mice," +answered the China Cat. "To tell you the +truth, Mr. Jumping Jack, I was thinking +of the Nodding Donkey. He came back +here, you know, to have his leg fixed, and +he spoke about how happy he was with the +little lame boy, who, I'm glad to know, is +lame no longer. I was just wondering if +I would go to a nice home such as he has."</p> + +<p>"I suppose all us toys will be sold, one +after another," said the Jumping Jack. +"But it is so nice here that I dread to +think of going away."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is nice in Mr. Mugg's store," +the China Cat agreed. "But I suppose +we must do as we are told. Dear Nodding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +Donkey! How I should like to see him +again. I wonder—"</p> + +<p>"Hush! Quiet, everybody! Back to +your shelves!" suddenly cried Tumbling +Tom. "Morning is about to come and +Mr. Mugg and his daughters will soon be +here. They must never catch us moving +about!"</p> + +<p>Such a scramble as there was! The +China Cat, the Talking Doll, the Trumpeter, +the Policeman, the Fireman, the +Jumping Jack, Tumbling Tom and Jack +Box all made haste to get on the shelves +where they belonged.</p> + +<p>The Topsy Doll, with her kinky hair, +darted toward the novelty department.</p> + +<p>"I's glad yo' all let me play wif yo'," +she said in her queer talk. "An' I didn't +get any black on yo'; did I, Miss China +Cat?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed. You were very nice," was +the answer. "Come and play with us +again."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then it was time for the toys to be very +still and quiet, for the door of the store +opened, and in came Mr. Mugg.</p> + +<p>"Ah, this is going to be a lovely day!" +said the jolly toy-shop man. "I shall do +a good business to-day!"</p> + +<p>A little later in came his daughters, +Geraldine and Angelina. They began +dusting and setting the store to rights for +the day's business.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear! look at this," said Angelina +to her sister.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked Geraldine, +pausing with a feather duster under +her arm.</p> + +<p>"Why, the lovely white China Cat has +a speck of dirt on her back," said Angelina. +"I must have forgotten to dust her +yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my!" thought the China Cat, who +heard what was said, though she could +not turn around to lick off the speck with +her red tongue, "some black must have +come off Topsy after all."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no, it isn't dirt," said Angelina, as +she took the Cat down to look more closely +at her. "It's just a little speck of black +feather from my duster. It must have +just got on."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad of that!" thought the +white Cat. "I wouldn't want to think that +Topsy's black rubbed off."</p> + +<p>Soon the store was in readiness for customers, +and among the first to enter that +morning was a little girl. She was with +a lady, who was the little girl's aunt.</p> + +<p>"Now, Jennie," said the aunt, as Mr. +Mugg came forward to wait on them, +"what present would you like? You may +pick out anything you please."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Aunt Clara! How lovely of you!" +cried Jennie Moore, for that was her name. +"Let me see now. What would I like +best?"</p> + +<p>While Jennie was looking along the +shelves of toys her aunt said in a low tone +to Mr. Mugg:</p> + +<p>"Jennie has been such a good girl, help<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>ing +her mother who was ill, that I promised +her any toy she wished."</p> + +<p>"That is very kind of you, I am sure," +said Mr. Mugg, rubbing his hands and +looking over the tops of his glasses. "We +have many toys here for good little girls, +and for good boys, too. Not long ago I +sold a Nodding Donkey to a lame boy, and, +would you believe me; that boy isn't lame +at all now," and Mr. Mugg laughed, and +Aunt Clara laughed also.</p> + +<p>But Jennie was looking along the +shelves of toys. The China Cat looked +down, and when she saw what a nice little +girl Jennie was, so neat and clean, the +China Cat thought to herself:</p> + +<p>"If I have to be taken away and belong +to some child, I think I should like to go +to Jennie's house. I'm sure she would be +kind to me and love me, and I would love +her."</p> + +<p>Jennie seemed to be thinking the same +thing about the China Cat, for suddenly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +she reached up and took down the white +toy.</p> + +<p>"Here, Aunt Clara, this is what I would +like," said Jennie.</p> + +<p>She walked toward her aunt and Mr. +Mugg with the China Cat in her hand, +but, just before she reached them, Jennie +tripped over a velocipede on the floor, and +seemed about to fall.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jennie, don't drop that China Cat, +whatever you do!" cried her aunt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>"FIRE! FIRE!"</h3> + + +<p>Had Jennie Moore stumbled and dropped +the China Cat to the floor of the toy +shop that would have been the end of this +book. For if the Cat had fallen she surely +would have been broken to bits. And, +though Mr. Mugg might have been able to +glue the pieces together again, the China +Cat never would have been like herself, +and there would be no story about +her.</p> + +<p>But, as it happened, there was a soft +footstool just in front of the velocipede +over which Jennie stumbled, and the little +girl fell down on that, still holding the +China Cat in her hands. Not once did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +Jennie let go of the toy she had taken off +the shelf.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear little girl! I hope you +did not hurt yourself!" cried Mr. Horatio +Mugg, as he sprang forward to raise Jennie +from the footstool, across which she +had fallen.</p> + +<p>"And I hope she hasn't broken the +China Cat!" exclaimed Aunt Clara.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Mr. Mugg, with a kind +smile, "breaking the China Cat would +not have been so bad. I could easily send +to the workshop of Santa Claus and get +another toy. But nice little girls, if they +fall and hurt themselves, are not so easily +mended. I am glad you are not hurt, my +dear," he went on, as he helped Jennie to +her feet.</p> + +<p>"And I am glad the China Cat is not +broken," said Aunt Clara. "It is a lovely +piece of work."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is one of my choicest toys," +said Mr. Mugg. "It can not talk, like +some of my dolls, nor spring about like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +some of the Jumping Jacks. But the Cat +is so clean and white that it would be an +ornament in any home."</p> + +<p>"She'll look lovely on my bureau," said +Jennie. "Does her head come off, Mr. +Mugg?" the nice little girl asked, as her +aunt was looking carefully at the China +Cat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my, no!" laughed the toy-shop +man. "I once had a cat whose head could +be lifted off, and burned matches could be +dropped down inside her. But this Cat +isn't that kind."</p> + +<p>"I should hope not!" thought the China +Cat, while Aunt Clara was looking her +over. "Not that I don't consider my +cousin, the Match Cat, as nice as I am," +she told herself, "but I'm just different; +that's all! I hope I may go to live with +this little girl. I shall be able to keep myself +spotless and white in her home, I'm +sure."</p> + +<p>But the China Cat was not yet to leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +the toy store. And there were some +strange adventures soon to happen, as I +shall tell you.</p> + +<p>"Well, Jennie," said Aunt Clara, as she +again let the little girl take the China Cat, +"if you think you want this toy you may +have it. But we will not take it with us +now. I have some other shopping to do, +and if we carry the Cat with us something +may happen to her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, can't I take her now?" pleaded +Jennie.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear," her aunt answered. +"Mr. Mugg will put her aside for you, and +I will come in to-morrow and get her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll save the China Cat for you," +promised the toy man.</p> + +<p>"If I may be sure of having her I don't +mind," said Jennie. "But we must be +sure and come after her to-morrow, +Auntie."</p> + +<p>"We will come to-morrow surely," said +Aunt Clara, and then, after Jennie had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +taken one more look at the toy she hoped +soon would be hers, she followed her aunt +out of the store.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mugg and his two daughters were +very busy in their toy shop that day. A +load of packing boxes arrived, direct from +the North Pole workshop of Santa Claus, +and these boxes were stored down in the +basement.</p> + +<p>"We will open those boxes some day +next week," said Mr. Mugg to his daughters. +"Perhaps among the new toys there +may be another China Cat. I certainly +hope so, for when Jennie's aunt comes for +this one we shall feel lonesome."</p> + +<p>Mr. Mugg took a box of matches and +went down into the basement to light the +gas and see about storing away the cases +of new toys. And when the men had +opened some, not taking many of the toys +out, however, the storekeeper was called +up stairs by one of his daughters.</p> + +<p>"Leave the cases the way they are," he +said to the expressmen. "Don't open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +any more. I'll do that later in the week."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Mugg turned the gas down +low, for he thought he might come back +again, and up the stairs he hurried to see +what his daughter wanted. As he walked +across the basement floor the box of +matches dropped out of his pocket, near +some straw from one of the packing cases.</p> + +<p>"I'll get the matches when I come +back," thought the toy man. But the +rest of the day he was so busy he forgot +all about them.</p> + +<p>Back on the shelf, out of sight, the +China Cat thought over what had happened +that day.</p> + +<p>"I surely am glad Jennie didn't let me +fall and break," said the Cat to herself. +"And I am glad I am going to belong to +such a nice, clean little girl." Then, as +one could see her, hidden away as she was, +the China Cat washed her paws with her +red tongue.</p> + +<p>Once again night came. The toy store +was closed, and all the lights turned out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +except a small one in the middle of the +store. For a time it was quiet, and then, +once more, the Trumpeter blew a jolly +blast on his horn.</p> + +<p>Toot! Toot! Toot! went the trumpet.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready for more fun?" asked +the Talking Doll.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the answer. "It is now +night, no one can see us, and we can do as +we please. Let's play tag again," said +a number of toys.</p> + +<p>"Where is the China Cat?" asked +Tumbling Tom. "We don't want to leave +her out of the good times."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm here!" mewed the white +pussy. "I'm just sort of hidden away so I +will not be sold. I am to go to a little girl +named Jennie Moore."</p> + +<p>"Hum! Jennie Moore! Seems to me +I heard her spoken of by the father of the +little lame boy when the Nodding Donkey +was brought back here to have his leg +mended," said the Jumping Jack. +"Wouldn't it be funny, Miss China Cat, if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +you should go to live in a house near your +friend, the Nodding Donkey?"</p> + +<p>"It would be very nice, I think," said +the China Cat. "But I have something +new to suggest," she went on, as she moved +out near the edge of the shelf. "Instead +of playing tag, why can't all of us go down +into the basement?"</p> + +<p>"What for?" asked Tumbling Tom.</p> + +<p>"I heard it said that a new lot of toys +was put down in the basement to-day," +went on the China Cat. "Let's go down +and call on them. It's always polite to call +on new neighbors, you know," she added.</p> + +<p>"Yes, let's do that!" shouted the Trumpeter. +"We'll make them feel at home."</p> + +<p>So down the cellar stairs trooped the +China Cat, the Talking Doll, the Jumping +Jack, Jack Box and many other toys.</p> + +<p>Clip! Clap! Clump! they went down the +stairs.</p> + +<p>"Hello, new toys!" mewed the China +Cat. "We have come to call on you!"</p> + +<p>"That is very kind of you," said a Red<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +Fireman, who was one of the new toys that +had been taken from the boxes. "We were +just wondering what sort of place this +was—so dark and gloomy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is the basement," said the +China Cat. "The toy store is up above. +You'll be brought up there with us, soon, +we hope. But we came to visit you and +cheer you up."</p> + +<p>"And we are very glad," said a Cloth +Doll. "I was getting tired of lying here +on my back."</p> + +<p>"Let us play some games," proposed the +China Cat. "We can ask riddles, have a +game of tag, or, those of you who are unpacked, +can join in a race."</p> + +<p>"I say let's have a race!" cried the Engineer +of a toy train of cars on the floor. +"I haven't had a race with my engine and +cars since Mr. Mugg lifted us out of our +box. Come on! I'll get up steam and +have a race."</p> + +<p>Before any one could stop him, the En<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>gineer +started his train of iron cars over +the floor of the basement.</p> + +<p>Toot! Toot! he blew the whistle.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a crackling sound +and then a flash of flame.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter!" cried the China +Cat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have run over a box of matches!" +exclaimed the toy Engineer. "They have +begun to blaze and the straw from the +packing cases is catching! Oh, look what +I did, but I didn't mean to!"</p> + +<p>Surely enough, the toy cars had run +over the box of matches Mr. Mugg had +dropped, and now the flames and smoke +were filling the basement of the toy shop.</p> + +<p>"Fire! Fire! Fire!" cried the toy Policeman, +banging with his club.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A LITTLE BLACK BOY</h3> + + +<p>So many things began happening at +once in the basement of the toy shop, after +the train of cars ran over the box of +matches, that the China Cat, the Jumping +Jack and even the Policeman, who was +supposed to keep order, never knew half +that took place. All the toys knew was +that they began to choke with the smoke +from the burning straw, and some of them, +who were too close to the box of blazing +matches, felt the heat very much.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 278px;"> +<img src="images/p042.jpg" width="278" height="400" alt=""We Must Hurry Out!" Mewed the China Cat." title=""We Must Hurry Out!" Mewed the China Cat." /> +<span class="caption">"We Must Hurry Out!" Mewed the China Cat.</span> +<div class='right'><i>Page 38</i></div> +</div> + + +<p>"Oh, we must hurry out of here!" +mewed the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"I should say so!" exclaimed the Policeman. +"Come on! Move lively! No +loitering!" he cried, as he had done that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +time when he tickled the Nodding Donkey +in the ribs with the club. "Everybody get +out of the way of the fire!" went on the toy +Policeman, swinging his club. "Where +are the engines and the firemen?" he +called.</p> + +<p>"Here we are! I'm coming," cried an +excited voice, and there clattered along +the basement floor of the toy shop a little +fire engine, on which was perched a toy +Fireman.</p> + +<p>"Let me get at the blaze!" cried this +Fireman, who was dressed all in red. +"Who started it, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"I did," answered the Engineer of the +train of iron cars. "I ran over a box of +matches, but I did not mean to."</p> + +<p>"Well, it is going to be a bad fire!" said +the Fireman. "Everybody must get out."</p> + +<p>"Except you and me," added the Policeman, +"I have ordered them all back to +their shelves, but you and I must stay here. +I will remain on guard while you put out +the fire!" he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Right!" cried the brave Fireman, as +he got down off his engine.</p> + +<p>By this time the straw had set fire to +some of the wooden boxes which Mr. Mugg +had opened that day to take out the toys. +The burning straw and wood made more +smoke than ever, so that the China Cat +choked, and the Talking Doll was coughing +so hard she could not speak.</p> + +<p>"Hurry with that water!" ordered the +Policeman. "Squirt a lot of water from +the hose on the blaze, Mr. Fireman!"</p> + +<p>But the sad part of it was that there +was no water in the toy engine. They are +not made that way, though sometimes +boys, who get engines for presents, put +water in them to play with. But though +the Fireman ran out his tiny hose, and +pointed it straight at the blaze, no water +spurted from the nozzle.</p> + +<p>"It is getting too hot here for me!" +cried the Policeman. "I'm afraid we +can't do anything, Mr. Fireman. We had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +better run upstairs with the rest of the +toys!"</p> + +<p>"What about the toys still in the boxes—those +that Mr. Mugg has not unpacked?" +asked the Fireman. "The toys +still in the boxes can not get out to run +upstairs."</p> + +<p>"No, that's so," admitted the Policeman, +stepping back out of the smoke, and +scratching his nose with his club. "What +shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"I'll get my ax and chop open the +boxes," the toy Fireman answered. "We +fire-fighters have to do that. If only I had +water in my engine I could soon put out +this blaze."</p> + +<p>But there was no use wishing that now, +and, just as the Fireman had said, the poor +toys, still nailed up in the boxes, were +likely to have a hard time.</p> + +<p>"Let us out! Please let us out!" begged +the Dolls, the toy Dogs, the toy Cats and +the other playthings, all shut up as they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +were. They could smell the smoke, if +they could not see the blaze.</p> + +<p>"I'll save you! The Policeman and I +will get you out!" cried the brave Fireman, +as he dashed back to his engine to get +the small ax which hung there.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the China Cat, the Talking +Doll and some of the Jumping Jacks were +hurrying up the basement steps much +faster than they had gone down. They +wanted to get out of the fire and +smoke.</p> + +<p>"If only the Nodding Donkey were +here, I'm sure he could have ridden me +on his back out of danger," thought the +China Cat. "He was very fond of me, +and I like him. But he is not here!"</p> + +<p>There was such a crowd of toys, all trying +to get up the basement stairs at once, +and the smoke was so thick now, that the +Policeman and Fireman had also to run +back, and there might have been a sad +accident, only that the regular fire department +men came along just then.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>Some one in the street had seen smoke +coming from the basement of the toy shop.</p> + +<p>"Fire! Fire! Fire!" was the cry, and +this time it was a real shout, and not such +as the toys had given. Then the man who +had smelled and seen the smoke ran and +pulled an alarm box.</p> + +<p>There was a clang of bells and loud toots +of a whistle. There was a rush of many +feet, and then a loud crash as the real firemen +burst open the door of the toy shop.</p> + +<p>"The fire is in the basement!" cried one +fireman, wearing a rubber coat and hat +to keep himself dry for the water +would soon be spraying from the hose of +the real, big engine.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's in the basement," said a real +policeman, who had arrived almost as soon +as had the firemen. "And Mr. Mugg has +a lot of new toys down there. We must +carry them out for him!"</p> + +<p>Of course as soon as the door of the shop +had been burst open, and the real firemen +and policemen had come in, not a toy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +dared move or speak, for they would have +been seen.</p> + +<p>So they had to stay just where they +were. Some were half way up the basement +stairs; the China Cat had just +reached the middle of the first floor, when +she had to come to a stop; the Talking +Doll was on the top step of the stairs, and +there she had to stay. It was there that +a fireman saw her as he was about to rush +down into the basement. The firemen carried +lanterns so they could see in the darkened +store.</p> + +<p>"The toys are scattered all about," said +the fireman, picking up the Talking Doll. +"There must have been an explosion!" +Of course he did not know that the toys +themselves had gone down into the basement +to play, and that the fire was caused +by the train running over the box of +matches.</p> + +<p>"We must carry out some of these toys +before we begin to squirt the water, or +they will all be spoiled," said the fireman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +who had picked up the Talking Doll. +"Water will ruin them as much as the +blaze. Come on, boys!" he called. "Save +the toys!"</p> + +<p>Here and there about the store, and +down in the basement, rushed the firemen +and policemen. Toys that were scattered +about were hastily piled in open +boxes. Then the boxes were dragged out +on the sidewalk. Quite a crowd gathered +in the street, for more engines, firemen +and policemen were arriving all the while.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is dreadful!" thought the +China Cat, as a whiff of smoke blew in her +face. "I shall be all blackened and +ruined!"</p> + +<p>Clang! Clang! rang the bells on the real +fire engine. Toot! Toot! blew the whistles.</p> + +<p>"Here is a toy cat! Put her in that +box!" called one fireman to another, who +was dragging out a wooden box into which +he had tossed the Talking Doll, a Jumping +Jack and a dozen Green Pigs. "Take +them out; and then we must begin to use<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +the water! The fire is getting too hot!"</p> + +<p>The China Cat could feel the heat, and +she noticed that the red color on the cheeks +of a Painted Doll was all running down, +making her look very streaked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a bump!" thought the China +Cat, as she felt herself tossed into the +packing box. She landed in between the +Talking Doll and a Jumping Jack.</p> + +<p>"Out on the sidewalk with that box!" +cried the fireman, and he and some others +began dragging out the one in which was +the China Cat.</p> + +<p>There had been a great deal of noise +and excitement in the store, but there was +five times as much noise out on the sidewalk. +Just as the box containing the +China Cat was dragged toward the door, +a shower of water sprinkled down.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me!" thought the China Cat. +"I can't bear to be wet, and now it is +raining! But I hope it will wash from me +some of the black smoke."</p> + +<p>However, it was not rain that the China<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +Cat felt, but water from the hose of a real +engine. The firemen were beginning to +squirt water on the blaze, to save as much +as they could of Mr. Mugg's store and of +his toys, and some of the water from the +hose sprayed on the China Cat.</p> + +<p>By this time it was getting to be morning, +and crowds of men and boys, with a +few women, on their way to early work, +stopped to look at the fire. Smoke was +pouring out of Mr. Mugg's basement, and +some one had hurried to the toy-shopkeeper's +house to awaken him and his +daughters and tell them what was happening.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look at the toys!" cried a group of +boys, as they came running up the street +to see where the fire was. "Oh, look at +'em!"</p> + +<p>"Keep back now! Let those toys +alone!" warned a policeman who was on +guard.</p> + +<p>Most of the boys stepped back off the +sidewalk, but when the policeman's back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +was turned a little black boy, who stood +somewhat apart from the others, sneaked +up to the packing box into which the +China Cat and the Talking Doll had been +thrown.</p> + +<p>"Golly, what a lot ob toys!" murmured +the little negro boy, whose name was Jeff. +"I reckon as how I kin git one fo' nuffin, +if dat p'liceman don't see me."</p> + +<p>Jeff, who was dirty and ragged, watched +his chance. He had come from his home +in a tenement house, not far from the fire, +and his eyes glistened when he saw so +many toys out on the street.</p> + +<p>"Um-ah! Jest look at 'em!" murmured +Jeff. "Golly! I kin git one as easy as not +outen dat open box! Wait till dat p'liceman +turns around."</p> + +<p>Jeff watched his chance. The policeman +on guard moved off to one side. In +an instant Jeff, the dirty little black boy, +sneaked up, and, thrusting in his hand, +which was black with dirt as well as being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +covered with black skin, he took up the +pure, white China Cat.</p> + +<p>"Dis am just whut I want!" whispered +Jeff.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my, how dirty he is! Oh, I can't +bear to have him touch me!" thought the +China Cat. "I dread dirt more than I do +water! Oh, what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>But she had no chance to do anything +just then, for, with a quick motion, Jeff, +the colored boy, thrust the China Cat inside +his dirty, ragged blouse.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll be smothered!" thought the +poor China Cat. "What a dreadful fate +to be taken away by a dirty boy! And +only an hour ago I was so happy! Oh, +dear! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>ROUGH PLAY</h3> + + +<p>You can just imagine how the China +Cat felt. Always so clean and white, always +washing herself if she found the +least speck of dirt on her, always keeping +as much as possible away from dust and +grime—and now to be spattered with +water, blackened by the smoke of the fire, +and finally thrust inside the soiled blouse +of a not very clean boy! Oh, it was terrible!</p> + +<p>The China Cat said it was, over and over +again; to herself, of course, for she dared +not speak aloud, nor so much as mew, +while Jeff, the colored boy, had her. And +Jeff certainly had the China Cat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jeff's eyes sparkled with delight as he +pressed the toy up under his blouse, out +of sight, and then he darted away from +the pile of toys, on the sidewalk—toys +that had hastily been carried out of the +burning store.</p> + +<p>"Hi, golly! I's done gone fool dat p'liceman," +murmured Jeff, as he stepped off +the sidewalk and made his way out of the +crowd in front of the burning store. "He +tole me to keep away from dem toys! But +I sneaks up when he isn't lookin', an' I +gits de bestest toy ob all! Golly! I's +smarter dan a p'liceman, I is!"</p> + +<p>Jeff grinned, showing two rows of white +teeth in his black face. Indeed, Jeff's +teeth were the only clean things about him, +it seemed. At least they were white, +though I can not say that he ever used a +tooth brush. His teeth were as white as +was the China Cat when she was her very +cleanest. But she was not at all clean +now. And you know how unhappy this +made her feel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was so much excitement now in +front of Mr. Mugg's toy shop, with the +fire, the smoke, the water, the fire engines, +the firemen and the police, to say nothing +of the crowd that had gathered, that no +one paid any attention to Jeff. Away he +sneaked, with the China Cat under his +blouse.</p> + +<p>"I's smart, I is!" said Jeff to himself, +grinning. "I could 'a' tooken a lot ob +toys; but I liked dis Cat bestest ob all. +She's so white!"</p> + +<p>Jeff did not mind the black specks +from the fire that had settled on the cat, +and he cared nothing about the grimy +marks his own dirty hands had made.</p> + +<p>It was broad daylight now, and the firemen +were getting the best of the fire. By +pouring a lot of water from their hose +down in the basement, the blaze had been +put out, though there was still much +smoke.</p> + +<p>Jeff, the negro boy, shuffled off down the +street on his way back to his home. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +he was nearly there he met some other +colored boys.</p> + +<p>One of these lads, named Sam, saw that +Jeff was hiding something under his +blouse.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jeff!" called Sam. "Whut +yo' got there? Something good to eat?"</p> + +<p>"Nope, 'tain't nuffin to eat!" declared +Jeff. He and Sam talked negro talk, of +course, just like Topsy, the colored doll, +whom the China Cat at first thought +would rub off some of her black.</p> + +<p>"Whut yo' got then?" asked Sam. +"Show me!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, show what yo' got, Jeff!" cried +the other colored boys.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I ain't got nuffin much!" Jeff +answered, as he moved away from Sam +and the other boys. Sometimes they had +taken things away from Jeff, and Jeff was +afraid that was what they were now going +to do. Inside the blouse of the colored +boy the China Cat heard what was said, +but she could see nothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wonder what is going to happen?" +she thought.</p> + +<p>"Jeff has got something!" declared +Sam to his chums. "Let's catch him an' +take it away!"</p> + +<p>"All right!" agreed the other colored +boys. They made a rush for Jeff, but he +was too quick for them. Pressing his +hands over his blouse, at the spot where +the China Cat was stuffed, so she would +not bounce out, Jeff ran down the street.</p> + +<p>"I's got something yo' can't have!" he +cried. "An' yo' all can't catch me, an' git +it; dat's whut yo' can't!"</p> + +<p>Away he sped, and he was such a good +runner that the other boys could not come +up to him. Around the corner of one +street, down another and up a third ran +Jeff, and then he darted down the stairs +into what was almost a cellar, though it +was called a basement. It was here, in +some poor, miserable rooms, that Jeff lived +with his brothers and sisters.</p> + +<p>"Whut de mattah, Jeff?" asked his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +mother, a large, fat, colored washerwoman. +"Am de p'licemans after yo' +a'gin?"</p> + +<p>Jeff had run so hard that he was out of +breath, and could not speak for a few moments. +Hidden as she was, inside his +blouse, the China Cat could feel Jeff's +heart pumping hard, and notice his rapid +breathing.</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" thought the China Cat, +"this is a dreadful state of affairs. I wonder +if I am ever to get out of this smothering +place. I don't like it, cooped up like +this! I want to get out in the air, and have +Geraldine or Angelina wash me!"</p> + +<p>You see the China Cat did not know all +that had happened to her. She hoped she +would soon be back in Mr. Mugg's store, +washed nice and clean, and set on a shelf. +But the store of poor Mr. Mugg was in a +sad state now, even though the fire had +been put out.</p> + +<p>As Jeff's breathing became easier, his +brothers and sisters, who were just get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>ting +up out of their beds, crowded around +him. His mother, who was getting breakfast, +asked him again:</p> + +<p>"Jeff, am de p'licemans tryin' to git +yo'?"</p> + +<p>"Nope!" answered the colored boy. "I +runned 'cause I wanted to git away from +Sam Brown an' his crowd. Dey was +gwine to take mah cat away from me!"</p> + +<p>"Yo' <i>cat?</i>" cried Jeff's mother. +"Where'd yo' git a <i>cat?</i>"</p> + +<p>Jeff wiggled and twisted as he reached +his hand inside his blouse and pulled out +the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"Dere she am!" he cried, holding her +up. "Dere's mah pussy! I done got her +at de fire, an' de p'liceman didn't see me!"</p> + +<p>For a moment there was silence in the +dingy basement tenement where Jeff +lived. His brothers and sisters, all smaller +than he, crowded up around him as he +held the China Cat high in the air.</p> + +<p>"Ain't she jess boo'ful!" murmured +one little black girl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Kin she wiggle her haid, like I done +see a Donkey shake his haid in de toy +shop?" asked one of Jeff's brothers.</p> + +<p>"Lemme hab her!" pleaded the littlest +black girl of all.</p> + +<p>"No, suh!" declared Jeff. "Dis am +mah white pussy, dat I done took outen +de fire an' de p'liceman didn't see me, an' +I's gwine to keep her, I is!"</p> + +<p>He held the China Cat higher above his +head.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mercy me!" thought the poor +white pussy, "I hope he doesn't let me fall. +Oh, how miserable I am! So dirty, and in +such an unpleasant place! I thought I'd +be back in the toy shop with the Talking +Doll and my other friends!"</p> + +<p>The China Cat did not at first know +where she was when Jeff pulled her out +from beneath his blouse. It had been dark +in there, but it was lighter in the kitchen, +and this confused the toy animal. But +when she had a chance to look around, held +up high in the air as she was, she did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +at all like her new home. And she was +very much afraid that Jeff would let her +fall.</p> + +<p>But the colored boy did not. He set +the China Cat on the table, right down in +a little puddle of molasses that had been +spilled when the table was set for breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me, this is worse and worse!" +thought the China Cat, as she felt the +sticky stuff on her tail. "I shall never get +clean and white again now!"</p> + +<p>As for Jeff and his brothers and sisters, +they did not seem to mind a bit of molasses +on the table. Indeed, one of the little +colored girls put her finger in the sweet, +sticky puddle, and then she put her finger +in her mouth.</p> + +<p>"Dat's good!" she murmured. "Me +'ikes 'lasses, me does!"</p> + +<p>But the others were more interested in +the China Cat. They stared at her with +all their eyes, and Jeff's mother asked:</p> + +<p>"Where yo' done say yo' got her?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At de fire," Jeff explained. "I heard +de engines puffin' past early dis mawnin', +an' I gits up an' goes out. Dere was a toy +store on fire, an' dey frowed a lot ob toys +out in de street. Dere was Jumpin' Jacks, +an' Dolls, an' Steamboats, an'—an'—"</p> + +<p>Two of the older colored boys started on +a rush for the door, one of them crying:</p> + +<p>"I'se gwine to git a steamboat!"</p> + +<p>"Yo' can't git none now, Sim!" shouted +Jeff. "De p'licemans is all aroun' de +place. Dey won't let you take nuffin. But +I done fooled 'em. Anyhow, de fire's out +now, an' dey'll be puttin' de toys back. +But I done got a white cat!"</p> + +<p>So he had, but the China Cat was not so +very white now. Besides the dirt from the +fire and the grime from Jeff's hands, she +was sticky with molasses, and every bit of +dust flying about the basement room +seemed to settle on the poor toy pussy.</p> + +<p>"Lemme hab her, Jeff!" pleaded one of +his sisters.</p> + +<p>"Well, I done let yo' hold her for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +minute," said Jeff, and he gave the China +Cat into the hands of the little black girl. +But as this girl had been eating bread and +sugar, she got the poor China Cat stickier +than ever.</p> + +<p>"Lemme hold her now, Jeff!" pleaded +another black tot.</p> + +<p>"Nope, I ain't held her long 'nuff!" +declared the first.</p> + +<p>"Heah! Gib her to me!" ordered the +second.</p> + +<p>"No! No! Jeff said I could hab her!" +cried the first.</p> + +<p>One tried to take the China Cat away +from the other, and in the scramble a chair +was upset and the toy nearly fell to the +floor.</p> + +<p>"This is the most dreadful place I was +ever in!" thought the China Cat, who, of +course, could do nothing to save herself. +"If they let me fall I shall be broken, all +dirty and soiled as I am."</p> + +<p>But Jeff was not going to let that happen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Heah! Gib me back mah cat, whut I +done got at de fire!" he said, and he +grabbed it from his sister's hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! Oh!" wailed the little black +girl.</p> + +<p>"Heah! Hush yo' noise now!" called +Jeff's mother. "Set up to de table an' +hab yo' brekfus'! Stop playin'!"</p> + +<p>"Dear me, they call that <i>playing!</i>" +thought the China Cat. "I wonder what +they would do in a game of <i>tag?</i> Oh, what +is ever to become of me?"</p> + +<p>Jeff took the toy and set it on a shelf in +the kitchen, and then he sat down to his +breakfast. Every once in a while he +would look up at the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"I's glad I done got yo'," Jeff would +murmur. "Yo' suah am a fine toy!"</p> + +<p>After breakfast he took the China Cat +down off the shelf and let his sisters look +at her. But no sooner did one of the little +colored girls have the cat in her hands +than she darted out of the basement.</p> + +<p>"Now I's got her, an' I's gwine t' hab<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +some fun!" cried Arabella. Arabella was +the name of this one of Jeff's sisters. "I's +gwine to hab fun wid dis cat!"</p> + +<p>Up the stairs and out into the street she +ran, holding the China Cat in such a tight +grip that, had the toy been a real pussy, +she would have been choked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>A TERRIBLE STORM</h3> + + +<p>Jeff was not going to let his China Cat +be taken from him in this fashion. With +a yell he darted up the basement steps and +ran after his sister.</p> + +<p>"Come back heah! Bring back mah +cat!" yelled the colored boy.</p> + +<p>"No! No!" screamed his sister. "I +done got her, an' she's mine now! She +suah is mine!"</p> + +<p>Faster and faster the little colored girl +raced down the street, but of course she +could not run as fast as Jeff, who soon +caught up to her. Reaching forth his +hands, which were now dirtier than before, +Jeff caught hold of his sister's kinky +hair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ouch! Oh, yo' stop dat, Jeff!" she +wailed.</p> + +<p>"Gib me back mah white cat!" he demanded, +and he took the toy roughly from +his sister. Arabella began to cry, and a +man who was passing stopped and looked +at the colored children.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we's only playin'," answered Jeff. +"She took mah cat, an' I wanted it back."</p> + +<p>"Hum!" mused the man. "That's a +queer kind of play, I think. And if you +drop that cat on the sidewalk you won't +be able to play with her, for she'll be +broken to pieces."</p> + +<p>"What a dreadful thing! Oh, if that +should happen!" thought the China Cat, +who heard all that was said.</p> + +<p>"I ain't gwine to drop her," declared +Jeff, as he turned away with the China +Cat in his dirty hands. With tears on +her black cheeks, Arabella followed her +brother back to the tenement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jeff put his toy down on the table again. +On one wall of the room was a looking +glass. It was cracked and not very clean, +but as a ray of sunshine entered the dingy +basement the China Cat, by the gleam of +it, saw her reflection.</p> + +<p>"Why, I hardly know myself!" she +whispered, not daring, of course, to speak +aloud or to move and make believe come +to life. There were too many colored +children looking at her. "Oh, what a +fright I am!" thought the China Cat and +sighed.</p> + +<p>Well might she think that. On her nose +was a big speck of dirt, and there were +other specks on her back and sides. Her +tail, too, that was always so spotless, was +now daubed with molasses and smoke +grime from the fire. The China Cat was +white now only in spots.</p> + +<p>"The Nodding Donkey would hardly +speak to me if he saw me now," she +thought. "I'm glad he isn't here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now don't yo' touch my cat!" warned +Jeff, as he got up from the table, where +he had been playing with the toy.</p> + +<p>"Whut yo' gwine do?" asked Arabella, +who had got over her crying spell.</p> + +<p>"I's gwine make a stable fo' my cat," +answered the colored lad.</p> + +<p>"Cat's don't live in stables! Dey lives +in under de back porch," said Arabella. +"In a box."</p> + +<p>"Cats do so live in stables, 'cause I done +seen 'em!" declared Jeff. "An' dey +catches rats an' mice. I's gwine make +a stable fo' my cat whut I done got at de +fire an' de p'liceman didn't see me!" and +he laughed as he thought of how he had +fooled the officer.</p> + +<p>Jeff hunted around in the woodpile until +he found what he wanted. This was a +large cigar box, and with a knife Jeff +soon cut a hole in one side, large enough +to slip the China Cat through.</p> + +<p>"Dere's her stable!" he declared with +satisfaction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>As for the China Cat, when she was shut +up in the cigar box, she wanted, most +dreadfully, to sneeze. For the box smelled +very strongly of tobacco, and it made her +nose tickle. But she dared not so much +as utter a faint <i>aker-choo</i> for fear she +would be heard. So the China Cat held +back the sneeze, though it made her nose +ache, and she was very glad when Jeff +took her out of the cigar box stable.</p> + +<p>During the remainder of that day the +colored boy and his sisters and brothers +took turns playing with the China Cat. +For, after a while, Jeff allowed the others +to handle his toy. And the China Cat was +passed around among the colored children +so often that she kept getting more and +more dirty. And on account of having +spots of molasses on her, every bit of dirt +and grime that touched her stuck right +there. Jeff and his brothers and sisters +did not think of washing themselves, +much less of washing the China Cat.</p> + +<p>At last, after having been much han<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>dled +and passed from one to another, the +China Cat was set on a shelf in the kitchen +of the basement tenement where the colored +family lived. Many other colored +folk lived in the same house, and in adjoining +houses.</p> + +<p>"At last I have time to breathe, but I +am so dirty I do not know what to do," +said the China Cat to herself. "I do not +believe that any of the other toys that +came from the workshop of Santa Claus +ever had such an unpleasant adventure +as I am having."</p> + +<p>But if the China Cat had only known it, +the Lamb on Wheels, about whom one of +these Make Believe books has been written, +had an adventure almost as sad. The +Lamb went down into a coal bin, which +was a great deal blacker than the negro +tenement.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what will happen to me +next?" thought the China Cat, as she +found herself perched on the kitchen +shelf. She could look down and see Jeff,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +his brothers and his sisters, and his father +and mother, eating supper. They did not +offer the China Cat anything to eat, of +course. Toys don't have to eat, which is +very lucky sometimes.</p> + +<p>"Come now, chilluns! Off to bed wif +yo' all!" called Jeff's mother, when supper +was finished. "Yo' was up early, an' +yo' mus' git to bed early."</p> + +<p>"Can't I play with my China Cat?" +asked Jeff.</p> + +<p>"No, indeedy!" declared the colored +woman, shaking her head. "Yo' leave +dat cat alone, an' git to bed!"</p> + +<p>So to bed went Jeff and the other children. +Their beds were down in the basement, +in a room just off the kitchen. It +was not a very nice home, but it was the +best they could get.</p> + +<p>Soon it began to grow dark, but there +was a street lamp that shone in one of the +basement windows, so the China Cat, who +could see pretty well in the dark anyhow, +managed to look about her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the same shelf where she sat, and +not far away, was a little Cloth Dog.</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" said the China Cat, speaking +out loud now, for there was no one in +the kitchen, all the family having gone to +bed. "Dear me, I didn't know you were +here!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I'm here!" barked the Cloth +Dog. "That is, what's left of me."</p> + +<p>He and the China Cat did not quarrel, +though in real life very few dogs and cats +are friends. But it is much different +with toys.</p> + +<p>"Why, has anything happened to you?" +asked the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"Gracious, yes!" exclaimed the Cloth +Dog. "Can't you see that my tail is +pulled off?"</p> + +<p>The China Cat stretched her neck and +looked at the Cloth Dog. Surely enough, +in the gleam from the street light she saw +that he had no tail.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how dreadful!" mewed the Cat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +"How did it happen? It must pain you?"</p> + +<p>"Not so much as at first," said the Dog. +"I'm used to it now. One of the colored +children pulled my tail off. I think it +was the one they call Arabella. She's always +grabbing things away from the +others."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she grabbed me," said the China +Cat. "But I'm glad she didn't pull off +my tail. I'm dirty and sticky, and I +hardly know myself, but, thank goodness, +I'm <i>all</i> here."</p> + +<p>"That's more than I can say of myself," +said the Cloth Dog sadly. "And +I'm afraid you will not be all there after +a few days in this house. It's a dreadful +place, and the children are so rough!"</p> + +<p>"How did you come to be here?" asked +the China Cat. "Were you brought here +from the workshop of Santa Claus?"</p> + +<p>"Bless your whiskers, no!" barked the +Cloth Dog. "Of course I <i>once</i> came from +North Pole Land, but that was years ago.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +I was a good-looking toy then, and I had +a fine tail. But after a while the children +with whom I lived grew tired of me. I +was tossed about, thrown into corners, +and at last put out in the ashes. There +one of these colored children found me, +and brought me here. And the very first +day there was a scrabble and a fight over +me, and my tail was pulled off."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that!" sighed +the China Cat. "If you could only be +taken to the store of Mr. Mugg he would +put a new tail on you. He mended the +broken leg of the Nodding Donkey."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it is too late," whined the +Cloth Dog. "But I am sorry for you. +You are such a fine toy, and almost new."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am quite new. In fact, I have +never been sold as yet," said the Cat. "I +wouldn't be out of the store now, except +for the fire. I was going to be taken by +a very nice little girl named Jennie Moore. +But now, alas, it is too late for that!"</p> + +<p>"Tell me about the fire," begged the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +Cloth Dog. "It will make me forget that +I have no tail."</p> + +<p>So there on the shelf in the tenement +kitchen, the China Cat told the Cloth Dog +the story of the fire in the toy shop, and +how she had come to be taken away by +Jeff.</p> + +<p>"I wondered where he had found you +when I saw him bring you in this morning," +barked the Dog, when the Cat finished +her story. "Indeed, you have had +many adventures; almost as many as I."</p> + +<p>The two unfortunate toys became very +friendly there in the half darkness of the +night. The Cat was just telling about the +Nodding Donkey, and how he had made +the lame boy smile, when she suddenly +stopped mewing.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the Cloth +Dog.</p> + +<p>"I heard a noise," said the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's only rain," went on the +Dog. "It is raining hard outside, and +you hear it more plainly here because we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +are so near the street. Don't worry. +Though this place is dirty, no rain comes +in."</p> + +<p>So the Cat went on with her story, but +as the rain came down harder and faster +it brought her another adventure.</p> + +<p>Not far from the tenement was a river. +And because there had been much rain +before this last hard shower, the river had +risen very high, until it was almost ready +to overflow the banks.</p> + +<p>Down pelted the rain, and soon there +was a louder roar in the street outside.</p> + +<p>"Is that just the rain?" asked the Cat +of the Dog.</p> + +<p>"It does sound a little different," the +Dog replied. "I wonder if anything is +happening? And see, what is that on the +floor?"</p> + +<p>"It is water!" cried the Cat, catching +the gleam of it in the light of the street +lamp. "Water is running in under the +door!" she added.</p> + +<p>"Then the river must be overflowing,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +barked the Dog. "The water is running +in here. Oh, what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>As the two toys watched they saw the +puddle of water on the floor grow larger. +The rain pelted down harder than before, +and all at once there was a shouting in +the streets.</p> + +<p>"Get out! Get out, everybody!" came +the cry. "There's a big flood! The river +is rising! Get up and get out, everybody!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE RESCUE</h3> + + +<p>For a few moments after this wild +shouting in the street there was no sound +in the negro basement where the China +Cat and the Cloth Dog without any tail +were perched on the shelf. The rain +pelted down harder than before, a regular +flood in itself, and to the noise of the drops +was added the roar from the flooded river.</p> + +<p>Presently there came a pounding on +the basement door of the tenement where +Jeff, the colored boy, lived.</p> + +<p>Bang! Bang! Bang! came the loud +knock.</p> + +<p>"Who's dat?" asked Jeff's mother +from the bedroom where she was sleeping. +"Who's dat knockin' at de do'?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bang! Bang! Bang! came the sound +again.</p> + +<p>"Can that be thunder?" whispered the +China Cat to the Cloth Dog.</p> + +<p>"No, this isn't a thunderstorm," answered +the Dog. "It is much worse than +any thunderstorm I ever heard. There is +going to be a bad time here, with a flood +and everything."</p> + +<p>"Who's dat?" asked the voice of Jeff's +mother again, as the pounding at the door +sounded a second time.</p> + +<p>"The police!" was the answer.</p> + +<p>Jeff, who had been awakened, heard +this answer. He covered his head with +the clothes, and cowered down in the +bed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mah good land!" thought Jeff +when he heard this. "De p'lice has done +come to git me 'cause I took de China +Cat! Oh, good land! I ain't so smart +as I thought! Oh, dey's gwine 'rest me +suah!"</p> + +<p>But the police had not come to get Jeff.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +Once more the officer pounded with his +club on the basement door.</p> + +<p>"Come there!" he cried. "Get up and +dress and skip out if you don't want to +be drowned! The river is rising. It will +flood all these basement tenements! +You'll have to clear out—all of you! +Wake up and get out! We'll help you! +Open the door!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, massy me! A flood!" cried Jeff's +mother. "Does yo' heah dat, Rastus?" +she called to her husband. "Dere's a +flood an' we's done got to run out! Git +up an' open de do' an' I'll roust up de +chilluns!"</p> + +<p>"I'll open the do,' Ma," said Jeff, slipping +out of his bed, and as he swung the +door open there stood a policeman.</p> + +<p>"Come, boy; lively!" cried the officer. +"You were long enough answering my +knock. You've all got to leave here! +How many of you are there?"</p> + +<p>"Ten," answered Jeff, and he looked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +over the mantel shelf to see if the officer +noticed the China Cat.</p> + +<p>But the policeman had something else +to do just then. He and others had been +sent to the tenement district, near the +rising river, to rouse and save the poor +people from the flood.</p> + +<p>"Ten, eh?" cried the policeman. +"That's quite a family. Well, don't stop +to put on more than a few clothes. There +isn't any time to save things. The river +will be pouring in here soon."</p> + +<p>"Some of it's heah already," remarked +Jeff, as he saw the water on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Lively now!" called the policeman +again. "Here, let me take some of those," +he said, as Jeff's father came out of a +bedroom carrying in his arms two sleepy +little colored girls.</p> + +<p>The policeman wore a big rubber raincoat, +which was dripping wet, and in the +gleam of a light, which Jeff's father made, +the wet rubber coat glistened brightly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>The policeman took the two little sisters +of Jeff, and tucked them under his +rubber coat. They were too sleepy to cry, +having just been lifted from bed.</p> + +<p>"This will keep you dry," said the +officer. "I'll put you in the wagon and +send you to the station house."</p> + +<p>"Is yo'—is yo' gwine to 'rest 'em?" +asked Jeff.</p> + +<p>"Arrest 'em? No. What for?" asked +the officer, with a smile, as he splashed, +with his rubber boots, into the puddle of +water on the tenement floor. "They +haven't done anything, and you haven't +done anything to be arrested for, have +you?"</p> + +<p>Jeff looked at the White China Cat, but +did not answer.</p> + +<p>"I'll just carry these youngsters out to +the wagon, and then come back for more," +the policeman went on. "You'll all be +kept safe in the station house, or some +place, until the river goes down."</p> + +<p>Jeff breathed easier. He was afraid it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +had been found out that he took the China +Cat. He darted quickly back into his bedroom +and began putting on his shoes. +That was all he had taken off when he +curled up to go to sleep. He had only a +few clothes, and he slept in them. So did +most of the other children of the tenements +in cold weather.</p> + +<p>Out into the rain splashed the policeman +carrying the two little colored girls. +They were softly crying now, but he comforted +them as best he could, and kept +them dry under his coat. The rain was +coming down harder than ever and the +roar of the rising river was louder. When +Jeff's father and mother and the other +children were ready to be taken out, the +water on the floor of the tenement was up +to the policeman's knees.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to hurry!" he called to +the frightened family. "We have to rescue +a lot of other people. Skip out +and get into the wagon and you'll be +safe."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>As Jeff and the others made their way +up the steps to the sidewalk they saw and +heard more of the terrible storm. There +was water in the streets. With the rising +of the river and the rain, the streets were +almost like little creeks themselves. Outside +the tenement stood the police patrol +wagon. As many of the poor people as +possible had been crowded into it, Jeff and +his folks among them.</p> + +<p>"Are any more left in your rooms?" +asked the officer who had pounded with +his club on the door to awaken the +sleepers.</p> + +<p>"No, we's all out," answered Jeff's +mother.</p> + +<p>"Think I'll take a look and make sure," +said the policeman. Back through the +flood he waded in his rubber boots, and +down he went into the basement where the +lamp was still burning.</p> + +<p>"Any one here?" asked the officer.</p> + +<p>He listened, but there was no sound +save the pelting of the rain, the roar of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +the river, and the trickle of water as it +rose higher and higher in the basement. +Up on their shelf the China Cat and the +Cloth Dog sat and looked down. They +had not dared to speak or move while any +one was in the room. But they had just +begun to feel that it was time for them +to do something to save themselves when +the policeman came in again. Then they +had to remain quiet, though they were +much afraid of being drowned in the +flood.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" suddenly exclaimed the police +officer as he saw the China Cat. "Seems +to me I know you! I remember about +you! I wonder how you got here? You +were among the toys taken from Mr. +Mugg's shop during the fire. Well! Well! +To think of finding you here, Miss China +Cat! I shouldn't be surprised but what +that oldest colored boy might know something +about you. But I'll take you along, +and hand you back to Mr. Mugg, where +you belong."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>With that the policeman reached up, +lifted down the China Cat, and thrust +her into an inside pocket, where his rubber +coat would keep her nice and dry.</p> + +<p>"Though if he only knew it," thought +the China Cat, "I'd just as soon be rained +on a little, to clean me off. Oh, but I am +so dirty!"</p> + +<p>However, the policeman did not stop to +think that perhaps the Cat might like to +be cleaned. In fact, he did not think she +had any feelings at all, for it was a long +while since he had been little enough to +play with toys and enjoy make believe +games.</p> + +<p>Into his pocket went the China Cat. +Then the policeman looked at the Cloth +Dog on the shelf.</p> + +<p>"You never came from the toy shop, +that's certain," said the officer. "No use +taking you!"</p> + +<p>So he left the poor Cloth Dog, without +any tail, alone on the kitchen shelf, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +he took the China Cat away with him in +his pocket, the policeman did.</p> + +<p>Out into the rain-soaked street the +officer made his way once more.</p> + +<p>"Nobody left in here, Jim," he called +to the other officer on the police wagon. +"Get those people to the station, and then +come back. There's a lot more who will +have to be rescued this night. It's going +to be a bad flood."</p> + +<p>And so it was, though the China Cat +saw little of it, for she was safe and snug +in the officer's pocket. It was black and +dark in there, but it was warm, though a +bit smothery. And it was clean, which the +China Cat liked best of all.</p> + +<p>"Though I am very dirty myself," she +said. "I hope I get somewhere so I can +wash."</p> + +<p>All night long the rescue of people from +the flood was kept up. Jeff and his family +were taken to a place of refuge where +they were given something to eat and beds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +on which to lie down. All night long the +policemen worked, and when morning +came all those who had been in danger +were saved.</p> + +<p>The officer who had the China Cat in +his pocket walked into his station house +just as day was breaking.</p> + +<p>"Here is something you'll like to hear +about," said the policeman to the sergeant +behind the desk, as he set the toy on the +top of it.</p> + +<p>"A cat! My land! where'd you get +her?" asked the sergeant. "She'll be just +what we want to catch mice around here! +Here, puss, puss!" he called.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my! he thinks I'm alive," said the +China Cat to herself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>JENNIE GETS THE CAT</h3> + + +<p>The policeman who had rescued the +China Cat from the flood in the basement +of the negro tenement stood and looked +at the sergeant behind the desk in the +station house. Then the policeman looked +at the China Cat which he had set on top +of the desk.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with you? Why +are you acting so funny?" asked the sergeant +of the policeman.</p> + +<p>"Funny? I'm not acting funny. You +are," the policeman laughed.</p> + +<p>"How am I funny?" the sergeant +wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Why, you're calling that cat, and asking +her to catch mice, and—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Of course I'm asking her to catch +mice," said the sergeant. "There's a lot +of mice around here and—"</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha!" laughed the policeman. +"<i>That</i> cat will never catch any mice. +She's a toy, a China Cat, and she was +stolen from that toy shop where there was +a fire yesterday. It was Horatio Mugg's +place. A lot of the toys were set out on +the sidewalk, and some negroes who live +near by walked off with quite a lot. Mr. +Mugg, after the fire, made out a list of +his toys that were missing, and among +them was this China Cat. I had one of +the lists.</p> + +<p>"Then, when I was sent to rescue the +people from the flood, I saw this Cat on +the mantel. I brought her here, as I do +with all stolen things I find, and you can +send her back to Mr. Mugg."</p> + +<p>The sergeant put on his glasses, for he +was rather an elderly man, and looked +carefully at the China Cat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bless me!" exclaimed the sergeant, +"she <i>is</i> a China Cat after all. I took her +for a real black and white pussy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me!" thought the China Cat. +"He thought I was partly <i>black!</i> I must +be <i>very</i> dirty indeed. My toy friends +would never know me! Oh, shall I ever +be clean again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is only a toy China Cat," said +the policeman who had rescued the pussy, +as well as the negro family. "I guess she +was pure white once. But she got blackened +in the fire, and it didn't wash off in +the flood, though goodness knows it rained +enough!"</p> + +<p>"I should say so," agreed the sergeant. +"Well, leave the China Cat here, and I +will send her back to Mr. Mugg. You +didn't see any of his other stolen toys, +did you?"</p> + +<p>"No," the policeman answered, "I did +not. There was a little Cloth Dog on the +same shelf, but he had no tail and one eye<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +was almost gone, so I knew he didn't belong +in the toy store, and I let him stay +there."</p> + +<p>"Poor little Cloth Dog!" thought the +China Cat. "I wonder what will become +of him?"</p> + +<p>However, she never heard, nor did she +ever again see her little friend without +any tail. But I might tell you that the +little Cloth Dog was still on the mantel +when the flood went down and Jeff and +the family moved back into their basement. +The Cloth Dog was not drowned, +and he lived for many years after that, +even without his tail, though I cannot say +he was very happy.</p> + +<p>"Well, you take care of the China Cat. +I am going to get my breakfast," said the +policeman who had brought the white +pussy into the station house.</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of her, and send her back +to Mr. Mugg as soon as I have a chance," +the sergeant promised.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he set the China Cat off the top of +the big desk, and on a smaller one, so she +would not get broken. All the remainder +of the morning the China Cat was in the +police station, though she was not arrested, +you understand. Oh, my, no! She +had done nothing wrong, even though she +was very dirty. But of course being dirty +was not her fault.</p> + +<p>The China Cat saw many strange sights +as she sat in the police station, and some +of the sights were sad ones. She heard +much about the flood, too, for it was a very +high one, the river having overflowed its +banks in many places.</p> + +<p>At last all the poor people were rescued, +and the police sergeant, who had been +very busy, was given a few moments' rest. +He leaned back in his chair and looked at +the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"I think I shall telephone Mr. Mugg +and tell him to come here and get his +China Cat," the sergeant said. "This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +may not be his toy. It may have been +stolen from some other store. But I'll +soon find out."</p> + +<p>So the police sergeant telephoned to +Mr. Mugg. The toy-store keeper and his +daughters, Angelina and Geraldine, were +very busy, getting things to rights after +the fire. It had not been as bad as was +at first supposed, being down in the basement. +Some smoke and water got up on +the main floor, however, but this was soon +cleaned up and the store put to rights +again.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" cried Mr. Mugg over +the telephone, though of course the China +Cat could not hear what he said. "You +have my white China Cat? Oh, I am so +glad! I'll be right down to get her."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered the sergeant. +"She is here waiting for you. Though +I would not call her very white," he added +as he hung up the telephone.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of that, Geraldine—Angelina!" +called Mr. Mugg to his two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +daughters. "Our China Cat, that was +stolen when the toys were carried out on +account of the fire, has been found!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so glad!" said Geraldine.</p> + +<p>"Where is she?" asked Angelina.</p> + +<p>"In the police station," her father replied. +"I am going down to get her."</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you," offered Geraldine. +"I want to see the China Cat again. I +hope she isn't chipped. Who had her?"</p> + +<p>But this Mr. Mugg did not know, for +the sergeant did not tell him the whole +story over the telephone. A little later +Mr. Mugg and Geraldine were in the +police station.</p> + +<p>"I have come for my China Cat," said +Mr. Mugg, rubbing his hands and looking +over the tops of his glasses.</p> + +<p>"Here she is," said the sergeant, and +he handed over the pussy who had been +rescued from the flood.</p> + +<p>For a moment the toy-store keeper +looked at the plaything. Then he sadly +shook his head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, I am sorry to say that is not my +China Cat," he said.</p> + +<p>Well, you can just imagine how the +China Cat felt. Her heart, such as she +had, was beating with joy when she saw +Mr. Mugg and Geraldine come into the +station house. But now to hear Mr. Mugg +say she was not his Cat! Oh, it was terrible, +I do assure you!</p> + +<p>"Not your Cat?" exclaimed the sergeant. +"Why, I understood a lot of toys +were stolen from your shop after the fire, +and a China Cat was among them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is so," answered Mr. Mugg. +"But my China Cat was a white one, and +this is black and white. No, she does not +belong to me."</p> + +<p>He turned away, and the China Cat +would have shed tears if China Cats ever +cry. But Miss Geraldine stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"Please let me look at that toy," she +said.</p> + +<p>The sergeant handed her the China Cat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +Geraldine looked closely at her. Then she +gave a joyful cry.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course she is our Cat, +Father!" said Geraldine. "She is just +grimy and dirty. That's the reason you +think she is black and white. If I could +only wash her you'd see that she is our +own China Cat."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" asked Mr. Mugg, +hopefully.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it!" declared his daughter. +"Oh, if I only had a little soap and +water."</p> + +<p>"We can let you have some, lady," said +the sergeant. "You may take the cat to +the washroom and clean her."</p> + +<p>This Miss Geraldine did. Under the +stream of water, when some soap had been +rubbed on the China Cat, a great change +took place. Off came the grime of the +smoke! Off came the spots of sticky molasses! +Off came the soiled marks made +by Jeff's dirty hands! The White Cat, +not coming to life while Miss Geraldine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +had her, of course got no soap in her +eyes, as would have happened if she had +been real.</p> + +<p>Soon all the black, the grime, and the +dirty spots were washed away. Geraldine +dried the China Cat on a towel the sergeant +gave her, and then held the plaything +up in front of her father.</p> + +<p>"Now isn't that our Cat?" asked Miss +Geraldine.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mugg looked carefully over the +tops of his glasses. He ran his hands +through his hair and then through his +whiskers, and then rubbed his hands together.</p> + +<p>"Why—er—yes—er—my dear—that <i>is</i> +our China Cat!" he said. "We'll take +her right back to the store! Oh, I'm very +glad to get her back. Thank you, very +much," he said to the police sergeant.</p> + +<p>"You are welcome," replied the officer. +Then Geraldine and her father hurried +back to the toy shop, carrying the China +Cat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>As for the white pussy, you can imagine +how glad and happy she was to be clean +again. Nothing else mattered for the +time, and she would have mewed out a +song if she had been allowed to do so. But +of course she could not.</p> + +<p>"Put her in the window," said Mr. +Mugg, when he and his daughter reached +the toy shop. "That little girl who was +going to buy her may see the Cat and +come in for her."</p> + +<p>So the China toy was again put in the +show window of the shop, which had been +cleaned and put to rights after the fire. +In the same window was some doll's furniture, +and on the bureau was a looking +glass. The China Cat caught a glimpse +of herself. She was as clean and white +as a new snowball.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how glad I am!" she said to herself.</p> + +<p>She looked all around. There in the +window with her were most of the toys +she had known for a long time. They did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +not seem to have been burned or scorched +by the fire. In fact, though some of his +playthings were damaged, Mr. Mugg did +not, of course, put any of these in his +show window.</p> + +<p>Near the China Cat was a Jumping +Jack, a Jack in the Box, the Talking Doll, +a Policeman and a Fireman—not the +same Policeman and Fireman who had +been in the basement, but some just like +them. Throughout the store was a smell +of smoke; but this could not be helped.</p> + +<p>The China Cat would have liked very +much to speak to some of the other toys, +but she was not allowed to do so.</p> + +<p>"But when night comes," she said to +herself, "I shall have a chance. Then we +can all talk about the fire. I wonder if +any of my friends had such adventures +as I had?"</p> + +<p>But the China Cat did not get the +chance she hoped for. That very afternoon, +the same day that she had been put +in the show window, a little girl and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +lady came to a stop outside the toy shop, +to look in through the glass.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Aunt Clara! See!" cried the little +girl. "There is the China Cat you +were going to buy for me! Mr. Mugg +thought she was smashed in the fire, but +she wasn't and here she is. Oh, please +take me in and get me the China Cat!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, my dear," said Aunt Clara. +"I promised you the toy and you may +have her."</p> + +<p>The China Cat heard what was said, +and, looking out of the window, she saw +the same nice little girl who had once held +her in her hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope nothing happens this +time," whispered the Cat. "I should like +to live with that nice little girl."</p> + +<p>"We have come for the China Cat, Mr. +Mugg," said Aunt Clara, as the toy man +came forward to wait on his customers. +"We called right after the fire, but everything +was so upset we did not come in."</p> + +<p>"Oh, wasn't that fire dreadful!" sighed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +Mr. Mugg, raising his hands. "I thought +my whole place would burn! But the firemen +carried out a lot of the toys, and +though this white China Cat was stolen, I +have her back. So you want her, do you, +little girl?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I want her very much!" said Jennie +Moore, and the China Cat was placed +in her hands.</p> + +<p>"Now for some new adventures," +thought the toy, as she felt the nice little +girl softly rubbing her white head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>AN OLD FRIEND</h3> + + +<p>Jennie Moore's aunt paid Mr. Mugg +for the white China Cat, and the little girl +carried the toy out of the store, not even +waiting to have wrapping paper put +around her.</p> + +<p>"She is afraid the China Cat may be +caught in another fire, or that something +will happen," laughed the aunt, as she +followed her niece.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope there will never be another +fire!" exclaimed Mr. Mugg, as he +bowed his customers out of the door. "I +can't imagine what started this one. But +I am glad the China Cat is safe, though +she did get very dirty."</p> + +<p>"She is clean now," said Jennie, turn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>ing +her China Cat over and over, and not +finding a speck of dirt on her.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to call your China +Cat, Jennie?" asked Aunt Clara, when +they had almost reached the home of the +nice little girl.</p> + +<p>"I will call her Snowball," was the answer. +"She is white, just like a snowball."</p> + +<p>"And from what Mr. Mugg said, I imagine +she was as black as coal after the +fire," laughed Aunt Clara. "Well, I am +glad Snowball is clean and white now, +and that you at last have her. Take good +care of her and don't drop your cat, for +I think she will break easily."</p> + +<p>"I'll be careful," promised Jennie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how different this is from the time +when that terrible black boy, Jeff, had +me," thought the China Cat, as she was +taken into Jennie's home. There the +rooms were bright, cheerful and sunny, +with soft carpets on the floor and beautiful +ornaments all about.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now we'll have some fun, Snowball," +said Jennie to the China Cat, as she set +her toy down on a table, while she took off +her hat and coat, for it was winter and +the weather was cold, even though it did +rain at times, instead of snow.</p> + +<p>"You will not have to be afraid of a +flood here, Snowball," went on Jennie, +"for we are far from the river."</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness for that," thought +the China Cat, who heard all that was +said, though she could not move when +Jennie, or any one else, was looking at +her.</p> + +<p>Jennie played with the China Cat all +the rest of that day. Once the nice little +girl dressed the China Cat up in doll's +clothes and pretended she was a doll.</p> + +<p>"Though I cannot say I liked that," +said the China Cat, telling her adventures +afterward to her friend, the Talking Doll. +"The clothes sort of tickled me. But Jennie +was so kind and good I did not want +to make a fuss."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>When evening came Jennie put her +China Cat away in a closet in her room, +where there were many other toys. At +first it was so dark that the China Cat +could see nothing, but, after a while, she +saw where some light came in through the +keyhole, and then Snowball could look +about her. The light that came through +the hole was not daylight, for it was now +night, and Jennie was going to bed. It +was the light from a little lamp that +burned all night just outside Jennie's +room, and the China Cat was glad of that, +for by the gleam she was able to see her +way around the closet.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness now I can move and +stretch myself a bit," said the China Cat, +speaking out loud, in toy language. "I +haven't had a chance to do as I pleased +since just before the fire."</p> + +<p>"What's that about a fire?" suddenly +asked a voice just behind the China Cat. +She looked around the shelf on which she +sat but could see no one, though a Wood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>en +Doll, with funny, staring eyes, was +looking straight at her.</p> + +<p>"Did you speak?" asked the China Cat +of the Wooden Doll.</p> + +<p>"No," was the answer. "Though I was +just going to. I'm glad you have come +here to live with us. You'll like it here. +Jennie is such a nice little girl."</p> + +<p>"We're all nice!" cried the same voice +that had asked about the fire.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" asked the China Cat, +for, as before, she saw no one.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's probably Jack," answered the +Wooden Doll. "He's always playing +jokes."</p> + +<p>"Jack who?" asked the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"Jack Box," answered the Wooden +Doll. "He's one of those funny, pop-up +Jacks in a Box, and he's always trying to +fool some one. I suppose, because you are +the newest toy to come here, that he is +playing a trick on you."</p> + +<p>"No trick, Wooden Doll! Just trying +to be friendly and jolly—that's all!" went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +on the voice, with a laugh, and from a box +near the China Cat sprang one of the +queer Jacks that have such a sudden way +of appearing.</p> + +<p>"Oh! How you surprised me!" mewed +the Cat.</p> + +<p>"That's just my way! Can't help it! +Have to jump when my spring uncoils!" +said the Jack, with a broad grin on his +face. "Let's have some fun!" he went +on. "It's our chance to make believe +come to life, now that Jennie has gone to +bed. Sweet child. I like her, don't you?" +he asked Snowball.</p> + +<p>"Yes. But how you rattle on," said the +China Cat. "You don't give one a chance +to think."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Jack is always like that," said +the Wooden Doll.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's have some fun," went on +Jack. "What do you say to a game of +tag?"</p> + +<p>Leaning over, which he could readily +do, as the coiled spring inside him was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +so easy to bend, Jack touched the China +Cat. But Jack must have leaned too far, +or too suddenly, for he brushed the +Wooden Doll to one side.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look out!" she cried. "You have +knocked me off the shelf! Oh, there I +go!" and the Wooden Doll fell straight +down!</p> + +<p>"Now you have done it!" mewed the +China Cat.</p> + +<p>"I hope her neck isn't broken," said a +tiny Celluloid Doll. "Oh, what an accident!"</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't mean to do it," said Jack +sadly. "I'll go down and pick her up."</p> + +<p>"Hush! Keep quiet, all of you!" suddenly +mewed the China Cat. "Some one +is coming!"</p> + +<p>On the other side of the closet door, in +the room where Jennie slept, the toys +could hear the voice of the little girl calling:</p> + +<p>"Aunt Clara! Aunt Clara! Come +here! There's something in my toy closet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +I heard a noise! Maybe that colored boy +is trying to get Snowball, my China Cat."</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 278px;"> +<img src="images/p124.jpg" width="278" height="400" alt="The China Cat Gazed Out of the Window." title="The China Cat Gazed Out of the Window." /> +<span class="caption">The China Cat Gazed Out of the Window.</span> +<div class='right'><i>Page 110</i></div> +</div> +<p>"Nonsense, Jennie. You imagined it, +dear. Go to sleep now," replied her aunt, +coming in from her room and turning up +the light.</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't imagine it," declared +Jennie. "I heard a noise in my closet. +Please look, Aunt Clara."</p> + +<p>So Aunt Clara opened the door, and +there she saw the Wooden Doll on the +floor. The Doll had fallen on some felt +slippers and so was not in the least hurt.</p> + +<p>"There it is," said Jennie's aunt. +"Your Wooden Doll fell off the shelf. +You couldn't have put her far enough +back."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" murmured Jennie sleepily. +"I'm glad she wasn't broken, and I'm +glad my China Cat is all right."</p> + +<p>Then Jennie went to sleep again, but +she never knew, nor did her aunt, that +Jack had knocked down the Wooden Doll.</p> + +<p>"Behave yourself now, Jack," said the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +Celluloid Doll, when the toys were once +more left alone. "If you play, let it be +some easy game, like telling stories or +riddles."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Jack. "Suppose +the China Cat tells us the story of the +fire and the flood."</p> + +<p>So the China Cat did, just as they are +set down in this book. And after that the +toys played guessing games, and told riddles +until it was time for them to stop, as +morning was at hand.</p> + +<p>Jennie awakened early, and got her +China Cat from the closet.</p> + +<p>"You are one of my nicest toys," said +the little girl. "To-day I am going to put +you in the front window where you can +see everything, and where the other children +can see you."</p> + +<p>So after breakfast the China Cat was +set in the front window of the house, while +Jennie sat near in a chair reading a book +of fairy stories. After a while Jennie was +called away to help her aunt, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +China Cat was left alone. For the first +time that day she could look about as she +pleased, moving her head and stretching +her paws, as no one was in the room.</p> + + + + + +<p>The China Cat gazed out of the window +toward the house next door, and what was +her great surprise to see in the front window +there an old friend.</p> + +<p>"Well, I do declare!" mewed the China +Cat to herself. "How did he get here? +Oh, if I could only speak to him! See, +he is bowing to me! Oh, isn't this just +wonderful!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE GLARING EYES</h3> + + +<p>Snowball, the China Cat, was so excited +that she felt she must really jump +out of the window and go across the yard +to her old friend, when Jennie, the little +girl, came back into the room. Of course +the China Cat had to be very still and +quiet then.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Joe has his Nodding Donkey in +the window!" exclaimed Jennie. "That's +a sign he wants me to come over and play +with him. I'll go and ask Aunt Clara if +I may go!"</p> + +<p>Out of the room sped Jennie again, and +the China Cat, who had heard what the +little girl said, mewed to herself:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At last I shall have a chance to see the +Nodding Donkey again." For it was this +old friend at whom the China Cat had +looked through the window, watching him +nod his head.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Jennie. What is it?" asked Aunt +Clara, as the little girl called to her.</p> + +<p>"Please may I go over and see Joe?" +begged Jennie. "He has set his Nodding +Donkey in his front window, and that +means he wants me to come over. He always +does that when he wants me. I'll +take my new China Cat over to see him."</p> + +<p>"Very well, dear," agreed Aunt Clara, +and a little later Jennie was crossing the +yard, carrying Snowball under her arm. +The China Cat was very glad that she was +going to be taken to see the Nodding +Donkey, with whom she used to live in +Mr. Mugg's store.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you came over, Jennie," said +Joe, as he opened the door for the little +girl. "What have you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My new China Cat, named Snowball. +I brought her over so she could play with +your Nodding Donkey."</p> + +<p>"I guess maybe they know one another," +said Joe. "They came from the +same store, you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so they did!" exclaimed Jennie.</p> + +<p>"I have a toy wagon," said Joe. "I'll +hitch my Nodding Donkey up to it, and +we'll give your China Cat a ride."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be fun!" cried Jennie. +"Only don't upset her, for if she falls +out she may break off her tail."</p> + +<p>"I'll be careful," promised Joe, and +then he and Jennie had a lot more fun +with the Nodding Donkey and the China +Cat. They were just thinking up another +game to play when Joe cried:</p> + +<p>"Here come Dorothy with her Sawdust +Doll and Mirabell with her Lamb on +Wheels."</p> + +<p>"I should like to meet those toys," +mewed the Cat to herself. And, a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +later she did, as two other little girls came +in to play with Joe. Then along came +Dick, who was Dorothy's brother, and he +brought his White Rocking Horse, though +it was rather a large and heavy toy to +carry. And Arnold, who was Mirabell's +brother, brought along his Bold Tin Captain +Soldier and his men.</p> + +<p>Now began a very gladsome time for +Snowball. She lived in a fine house, with +a dear little girl for a mistress, and she +had no more troubles.</p> + +<p>Thus Winter passed and Spring came, +with warm, sunny days when the children +could play with their toys on the porches. +One day Joe took his Nodding Donkey +and went over to call on Jennie and her +China Cat. But just as Joe was going +up the porch steps he heard a hand organ +down the street.</p> + +<p>"Maybe there's a monkey with that +hand organ!" said Joe to himself. So, +without stopping to ring the bell, or letting +Jennie know he had come to call, Joe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +set his Nodding Donkey down on the +porch and ran out of the yard.</p> + +<p>And now I must tell you what happened. +The hand organ was quite a distance +from Jennie's house, and it took +Joe some little time to reach it. While +he was gone, having, as I said, left his +Nodding Donkey on Jennie's porch, along +came sneaking Jeff, the colored boy.</p> + +<p>Jeff's family had moved back into their +basement tenement after the flood, and +Jeff was the same dirty, careless colored +boy as before. He, too, had heard the +music of the hand organ down the street +and he wanted to see if there was a +monkey.</p> + +<p>But as he was passing Jennie's house +he looked toward the porch, and there he +saw Joe's Nodding Donkey.</p> + +<p>"Oh, golly!" whispered Jeff to himself, +"dis yeah is mah chance! I kin git dat +Donkey, suah!"</p> + +<p>Sneaking along, Jeff softly opened the +gate and went into Jennie's yard. On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +tiptoes he approached the porch where +the Nodding Donkey was slowly shaking +his head up and down.</p> + +<p>"Dis yeah suah is a fine toy!" muttered +Jeff. "It's a heap sight better dan de +China Cat I got at de fire! I'll take dis +Donkey!"</p> + +<p>Jeff reached the porch and stretched +out his black, dirty hands to take the Nodding +Donkey. But, as he did so, the negro +boy happened to look up at a side window, +and there, on a table behind the glass, sat +the China Cat!</p> + +<p>The China Cat had big, staring eyes, +and now because of the way the sun shone +on them, they seemed to glare straight at +Jeff. They even seemed to open wider, +and move and blink, did those glaring +eyes of the China Cat.</p> + +<p>Jeff stood still and pulled back his +hands that had been about to take the +Nodding Donkey.</p> + +<p>"Oh, golly!" he murmured. "Oh, dey's +lookin' straight at me, dey is! Dat's de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +China Cat I tooked from de fire, an' she +must have come to life! Oh, I dassn't +take dat Donkey while she's glarin' at me +wif dem big eyes! Oh, I's skeered, I is!"</p> + +<p>With that Jeff turned and started on a +run out of the yard. The Nodding Donkey, +who had been very much afraid he +was about to be stolen, was so thankful +he did not know what to do. And the +China Cat, who had feared that her friend +was about to be taken from her, kept on +staring as hard as she could.</p> + +<p>Jeff ran faster. He gave one look back +over his shoulder to see if any one might +be chasing him, and he caught sight of +the Cat's eyes again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, golly!" cried Jeff.</p> + +<p>At that moment his foot caught in a +loose board of the walk, and down fell that +bad boy Jeff with a bang, bruising knees +and his nose and his chin.</p> + +<p>"Ouch!" cried Jeff, as he got up and +limped away.</p> + +<p>"It serves him right," said the China<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +Cat to herself, "for trying to take my +friend, the Nodding Donkey."</p> + +<p>"I guess you won't come back here in +a hurry," said the Donkey to himself, as +he saw Jeff going off down the street as +fast as he could go. And the colored boy +never did.</p> + +<p>Joe came back, after having seen the +hand organ and the monkey, and Joe carried +his Nodding Donkey into Jennie's +house. There the children played with +their toys.</p> + +<p>"How can I ever thank you?" said the +Nodding Donkey to the China Cat. +"With your big, glaring eyes you saved +me from that colored boy."</p> + +<p>"I am glad I did," mewed the Cat. "I +didn't want you to be taken away from +me. You are the best friend I have."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you think so," brayed the +Nodding Donkey. "I had another very +good friend in the workshop of Santa +Claus, at the North Pole, but I have not +seen him for a long time."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who was that?" asked the China Cat.</p> + +<p>"He was a Plush Bear," answered the +Nodding Donkey. "A most wonderful +Plush Bear! When he was wound up he +moved his head and his paws and he +growled as natural as anything."</p> + +<p>"Oh, tell me about him!" mewed the +China Cat. "Tell me about the Plush +Bear."</p> + +<p>The Nodding Donkey was just going to +do this when Jennie and Joe came into +the room and the toys had to remain quiet, +not even talking.</p> + +<p>But I happen to know the story of the +Plush Bear, and it is to be the very next +one I tell you of these Make Believe +Stories.</p> + +<p>Of course Snowball had many more +good times while she lived with Jennie, +which she did for many years. She often +had fun with the Nodding Donkey and +other toys.</p> + +<p>One day Joe came over to Jennie's +house, carrying his Nodding Donkey, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +toy which was seldom out of his arms.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jennie!" cried Joe, "let's have a +picnic in the woods for our toys. I'll take +my Donkey, you can take your China Cat +and I'll get Dorothy, Dick and the others +to bring their toys."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what fun to have a Toy Picnic!" +exclaimed Jennie.</p> + +<p>And the Nodding Donkey and the China +Cat looked at one another most happily. +They liked good times. The Toy Picnic +was a great success, and how the boys and +girls did laugh when the China Cat fell +into the brook!</p> + +<p>"But it doesn't hurt her," said Jennie, +"and I was going to give her a bath, anyhow, +'cause I got some sticky candy on +her tail."</p> + +<p>The Cat, herself, was glad to be washed +and clean, and here we must leave her, +having fun as she is with the other toys.</p> + + +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>HAPPY HOME SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By HOWARD R. GARIS</h3> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>Individual Colored Wrappers and Colored Illustrations by</b><br /> +<b>LANG CAMPBELL</b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Mr. Garis has written many stories for boys and +girls, among them his Uncle Wiggly volumes, but +these books are something distinctly new, surprising +and entertaining.</p> + + +<p>ADVENTURES OF THE GALLOPING GAS STOVE</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A tale of how Gassy mysteriously disappeared, and how he +came riding home on the back of an elephant. It is also related +how he broke his leg, and fed a hungry family in a cottage near +a lake.</p></div> + + +<p>ADVENTURES of the RUNAWAY ROCKING CHAIR</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Racky creaked and groaned when fat Grandma sat on him too +hard. He felt himself ill-treated, so he vanished. He did not intend +to take Grandma's glasses with him, but he did. And he +rocked a bunny to sleep.</p></div> + + +<p>ADVENTURES OF THE TRAVELING TABLE</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Tippy, the table, always wanted to travel and see the world, +but he did not know how to start. Until, all of a sudden, a diamond +ring was hidden in his leg and a balloon carried him off +through the air.</p></div> + + +<p>ADVENTURES OF THE SLIDING FOOT STOOL</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Just because he did not want to be used as a milking stool by +the Maiden All Forlorn, Skiddy slid away Christmas eve. With +him went Jack the Jumper, and they had a wonderful time in the +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'top'">toy</ins> shop.</p></div> + + +<p>ADVENTURES OF THE SAILING SOFA</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Skippy always wanted to be a sailor. When the high water +came in the spring, the sofa went sailing. He had a Rooster for +a crew, while Tatter, the rag doll with one shoe button eye, was +Captain.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PUSS-IN-BOOTS, Jr. SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By DAVID CORY</h3> + +<div class='center'>Author of "The Little Jack Rabbit Stories" and "Little<br /> +Journeys to Happyland"</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated.<br /> +Each Volume Complete in Itself.</b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>To know Puss Junior once is to love him forever. +That's the way all the little people feel about this +young, adventurous cat, son of a very famous father.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Puss-in-Boots Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FURTHER ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span> IN FAIRYLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TRAVELS OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span>, AND OLD MOTHER GOOSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span>, IN NEW MOTHER GOOSE LAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span>, AND THE GOOD GRAY HORSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span>, AND TOM THUMB</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span>, AND ROBINSON CRUSOE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS-IN-BOOTS, <span class="smcap">Jr.</span>, AND THE MAN IN THE MOON</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/back_liner.jpg" width="400" height="289" alt="Inside back cover" title="Inside back cover" /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A CHINA CAT***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 19333-h.txt or 19333-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/3/19333">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/3/3/19333</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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