Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/30

 *ner; but the barn-cat was not so gentle in her ways as the house-cat, and the little house-kitten thought her pretty rough.

"You mustn't be a baby and cry for nothing," said the barn-cat, when the kitten gave a mew as the rough tongue lifted her off her feet; "I see you've been coddled too much already."

Just then a plaintive cry was heard from the kitchen, and with one leap the barn-cat was out of her nest and running up to the kitchen door. She didn't dare go in; for there was Hannah, and she knew by experience that she would be driven out if she attempted to enter. What was to be done?

The barn-cat jumped on the window-*sill and looked in. There was her darling in the box by the stove and crying helplessly for her. The mother cat gave a low mew, which the baby kitten heard and understood just as a human baby understands when its mother speaks soothingly to it.