The Kitten That Forgot How to Mew
By Stella George Stern
All little girls, and little boys too, like to read stories about kittens. Here is a story about a dear little kitten that belonged to a dear little girl named Peggy.
Peggy had two brothers, and three cousins—all boys—and every boy had a little dog. At first the dogs would tease the kitten, but they soon learned better. The dogs and the kitten played together. All day long, out in the yard, you could hear them going, “Bow-wow!” and “Mew!”
But, you see, there was only one little “Mew” and ever so many “Bow-wows,” and after a while the kitten hardly ever spoke at all.
But one day the kitten wanted to mew, and—what do you suppose?—she had forgotten how to do it! She tried and tried, and all she could say was “M-m-m-bow!”—just as much like a dog as a kitten. She was so sad. She ran out into the yard and cried.
The Big White Hen passed by and asked what was the matter.
“Oh, Big White Hen,” sobbed the kitten, “I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!”
“Never mind, Kitty Cat,” said the Hen; “I will teach you to talk. Listen to this: M-m-m-cut, cut, cut, cut, cut-ca-da-cut!”
“No,” said the kitten; “that’s not the way to talk kitten-talk.” And she cried again.
Then along came the Sheep and asked, “What is the matter?”
“Oh, Sheep,” sobbed the kitten, “I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!”
“Never mind, Kitty Cat,” said the Sheep; “I will teach you to talk. Listen: M-m-m-baa!”
“No,” said the kitten, “that’s not the way to talk kitten-talk.” And she cried again.
Then along came the Horse and asked what was the matter.
“Oh, Horse,” sobbed the kitten, “I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!”
“Never mind, Kitty Cat,” said the Horse; “I will teach you to talk. Listen to this: M-m-m-neigh!”
“No,” said the kitten; “that’s not the way to talk kitten-talk.” And she cried again.
Then along came the Cow and asked what was the matter.
“Oh, Cow,” sobbed the kitten, “I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, as hard as I ever can, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!”
“Never mind, Kitty Cat,” said the Cow; “I will teach you to talk. Listen to this: M-m-m-moo!”
“No,” said the kitten; “that is more like it, but that’s not the way to talk kitten-talk.” And she cried again.
The New Baby was sitting in her high chair at the kitchen door.
“Baby dear,” sighed the kitten, “I am in trouble. I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow! Can’t you teach me?”
The Baby nodded her head and began, “M-m-m-google-google-goo!”
“No,” said the kitten; “that’s not the way to talk kitten-talk.” And she sat on the kitchen step and cried again.
“What is the matter?” asked a soft voice behind her.
“Oh!” sobbed the kitten, without looking up, “I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and nothing can help me. All I can say is, M-m-m-bow!”
“Look at me,” said the soft voice.
The little kitten looked. And there stood a beautiful big gray cat!
“I can teach you to talk,” said the Cat. And she did. She taught her so well that the little kitten never again forgot how to mew, though she played out on the soft, green grass with the dogs every day.
FLEDGLINGS
By Lucy Fitch Perkins
I saw a stork on a chimney high,
And called to him as I passed by,
“O stork! what’ll you bring,
Tucked away carefully under your wing?
A baby sister and a brother,
One for me, and one for mother.”