“’I don’t believe she belongs to anybody, papa; but I think she wants to belong to us, for she keeps coming and coming. May I have her for mine?  I am sure mamma will say yes if you are willing.’

“‘Why not?’ said he.  ’Run for a saucer of milk, and we will coax her in.’

“We who are acquainted with Furry-Purry’s private history know how little coaxing was needed.

“As soon as the door was opened she walked in, and, laying the dead mole at Mr. Gay’s feet, rubbed herself against his leg, purred gently, looked up into his face with her round bright eyes, and, in very expressive cat language, claimed him for her master.  When he stooped to caress her, and praised and petted her for the good service she had rendered him, the happy creature rolled over and over on the soft carpet in an ecstasy of delight.

“Then Winnie clapped her hands for joy.

“‘You are our own cat,’ she said.  ’You shall have sugar and cream to eat.  You shall lie on Caesar’s silk cushion; and because you are yellow, and papa says you are worth your weight in gold, your name shall be Gold Elsie,’

“So Furry-Purry became a family cat.

“The first time she met Mrs. Velvetpaw after this change in her life, that excellent tabby looked at her with evident admiration.

“‘How handsome you have grown!’ said she; ’your eyes are topaz, your breast and paws are the softest velvet, your coat is spun gold.  My dear, you are the belle of cats,’

“‘Dear Mrs. Velvetpaw,’ said Gold Elsie, ’my beauty and my prosperity I owe in large measure to you.  But for your wise counsels I should still be a’—­

“’Hush! don’t speak the word.  My dear, never again allude to your origin.  It is a profound secret.  You are received in the best society.  Mrs. Silvercoat tells me it is reported that your master sought far and wide to find a worthy successor to King Caesar, and that he esteems himself specially fortunate in that, after great labor and expense, he procured you.  The ignorance you sometimes exhibit of the customs of genteel society is attributed to your foreign breeding.’

“’Mrs. Tabitha, I feel at times a strong desire to visit my old friends in the barn once more.’

“‘Let me entreat you, my dear Miss Elsie, never again to think of it.’

“’But there is poor Mrs. Barebones almost gone with a consumption.  I should like to show her some kindness.’

“‘Her sufferings are ended.  She has passed to the land of cats,’

“’Poor Mrs. Barebones! and Robber Grim?  Do you happen to have heard any thing of him?’

“Silently Mrs. Tabitha beckoned her to follow, and, leading the way to the orchard, pointed to a sour-apple tree, where Gold Elsie beheld a ghastly sight.  By a cord tied tightly about his neck, his jaws distended, his one eye starting from its socket, hung Robber Grim—­stiff, motionless, dead.

“They hurried away, and presently Gold Elsie timidly inquired after her former playmate, Tom Skip-an’-jump.