“Hallo!” called out the sparrow to the little gray kitten, “how in the world did you turn up here?”
“Do you know her?” asked Mrs. Polly.
“Well, I should rather think I did, seeing as I have lived, as you might say, in the same family.”
“How is little Nancy?” asked the little gray kitten. “I have worried a good deal about that child since I left home. That’s the little girl I told you was so kind to me,” she said in explanation to the parrot.
“She’s well,” answered the sparrow, “but I pity the poor thing with all my heart. This morning she came out and sat on the door-step, and I saw she was crying, and she says to me, ‘Billy’ (she always called me Billy), ‘I can’t give you anything to eat this morning because I haven’t got anything myself, and I didn’t get any supper last night either, Billy, because I couldn’t sell any matches.’ She didn’t know I sensed what she was saying, but I did. Look here! You seem pretty well off around here. I see the little gray kitten has fallen into good hands. Can’t you do something for a poor child that’s half starved and abused?”
“Oh, do, Mrs. Polly!” said the little gray kitten. “You were so kind to me, do find some way to get that poor little Nancy with these good people.”
“Well,” said Mrs. Polly, “I’ll think it over and see what can be done about it.”
“How loud this gray kitten does purr,” said Posy. “I guess her’s telling us how happy her is to get here, don’t you, Tom?”
“Posy and Tom were seated on the kitchen door-step.”—Page [47.]