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 caught a little field-mouse, and so did my brother; and our mother praised us, and said that after all perhaps we would turn out smarter cats than if we had been brought up to have everything we wanted, for then we might have become lazy."

"Very true, indeed," interrupted the barn-cat, with a triumphant glance at the house-cat. "Your mother must have been a very sensible cat!"

"Well, then what happened, little one?" asked Mrs. Polly; for the gray kitten was again thrown off her balance by the interruption.

"The next is very sad, indeed," said the gray kitten. "We were going home, so happy to think our dear mother was so pleased with us, when all at once we heard a dreadful noise. My brother and I were frightened half to death, for we had never heard a noise like it. My mother said it was a dog, and there was a boy with it,—*