Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/81

 to fulfil a very important engagement with Mrs. Polly and the canary.

"Take good care of the kittens, and don't let the rats annoy Major while he is eating. He complains a good deal of them lately."

The little gray kitten promised to do all she was told; and off hurried the barn-cat, having carefully washed herself and smoothed her fur as neatly as she could.

While she was making these preparations, she did not see a pair of sharp little black eyes watching all her movements from a beam above.

"I know what all this means," said the owner of the sharp black eyes, "but you have to get up pretty early to get the start of an old rat;" and he smiled a very vicious smile that displayed his long yellow teeth with one of them broken off.

"I guess I'd better go myself," continued old Graywhisker; "these young fellows