Anyhow, everybody whom Beckie and Neddie knew seemed to be at Kittie’s party. Her brothers, Tommy and Joie Kat, waited on the door and let in the guests as they came. Sammie and Susie Littletail, the rabbit children, were there, and Peetie and Jackie Bow Wow, the puppy dog boys, and Lulu and Alice and Jimmie Wibblewobble, the ducks, and oh! everybody.
And such fun as they had! They played all sorts of games, such as little bear in the corner, hide the potato, lose the piano and find the molasses. And whoever found the molasses could have some of the sweet stuff on a spoon. Neddie and Beckie liked this game the best of all.
Then there was another game. Kittie Kat brought in an empty barrel, and in the bottom she put a box of candy.
“Now,” said Kittie, “whoever can reach over in and down and get that box of candy may have it. But, mind you, you’ve got to get it with your paws, you can’t use a stick or a hook to pull it up.”
Now the barrel was quite a deep one, and though all the animal boys and girls tried, they could not reach down and get the box of candy.
“Oh, dear!” sighed Beckie, “this is just the kind of a trick Uncle Wigwag would play!”
“Well, it’s only in fun,” said Kittie Kat, with a laugh, “and when you’ve all tried and can’t do it, I’ll turn the barrel upside down, the candy will drop out and we’ll all have some.”
“Wait! I haven’t finished yet!” called Neddie Stubtail. “I think I can claw up that candy!”
So he leaned over the edge of the barrel and stretched his paw down in for the candy. At first he could not get hold of the box. Farther and farther he leaned over the edge, and his hind paws came up off the floor.
“Look out, Neddie! You’ll fall in!” cried Beckie.