She was still too weak to stand,

When he placed her upon one hand,

And over it laid the other,

And looked at me kindly, and said,

“Tip, you’re a proud little mother!”

For they’d left me but one, my kitten, my kitten—

As sweet as a kitten could be—

And I loved her for all the three

They had taken away without warning.

I watched her from daylight till dark,