Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/151

 the barn-cat is going to bring her kittens out. Do look at her!"

The barn-cat sat in the doorway of the barn, and moved her tail gently backward and forward, occasionally uttering a low "meaw" in a very coaxing tone and looking behind her. Soon a little head appeared, and then another, and two tiger-kittens began to play with her tail. Then the barn-cat stepped down from the doorway into the yard, and went through the same performance again. The tiger-kittens came to the edge of the step and looked cautiously over. The barn-cat pretended not to see them, but kept her tail gently moving.

Then the tiger-kittens put first one paw over the edge of the step, and then another, and all at once they tumbled over into the yard. Then what a play they did have! They lay on their sides and kicked against their mother, and then they made believe frightened and galloped sideways up to her,