The adventures of picaninny [series]

Title

Creator

Canova, B. Hill

Language

English

Source

The Young Citizen. 3 (4) May 1937

Year

1937

Subject

Children's stories

Cats

Pet care

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

THE YOUNG CITIZEN lla,y, 19-'17 The Adventures By B. HILL (Continued f1"0111 his back. However, he did not forget his mother and sister and the home in the barn. He often longed to go back. One day Pickaninny saw the door open and decided to escape and try to find his way back to the barn. He ran SHE kept coaxing until Pickaninny across the yard, crept under the fence gained confidence and crawled· and hid by a post trying to think which down to her. She carried him in way to start. He crept slowly through her arms along the road asking every- the grass. Soon he saw two boys comone she met if the kitten belonged to ing. "I hope they do not see me," said them. No one claimed him so she took Pickaninny to himself. He crouched him to her own home. She fed him . close against the ground until they had with warm milk and made a bed for gone out of sight. Then he made a him in a box inside the house. Every rush for another fence and followed it day she fed him and brushed him well. to the cor.ner. His fur became glossy and beautiful. Just as he turned, "Meow!" said a One day one of the callers said, "The huge gray cat with his back and tail kitten looks like silk." bowed up. "It can't be silk," corrected the little Pickaninny was so frightened that he girl, "for he is simply covered with fur." could not say a word, but he felt his Pickaninny enjoyed the little girl's hair stand on end. The big cat looked good food and kind treatment. He at him for a second and then passed on liked to sit under the kitchen stove in a and seemed disgusted at being frightnice warm place. Best of all he liked ened by so small a kitten. Pickaninny to coil up on his little friend's lap to went slowly on until he came to a road. purr and sleep while she gently rubbed He wanted to cross the road but there THE YOUNG CITIZEN 115 of Pickaninny CANOVA were many cars, trucks, bicycles, and people. He crouched against a dark stone and no one noticed him. Finally he saw his chance and dashed across, barely missing the wheels of a canomata. Just as he was safely across the road, his mother had been worried. He told up sprang a dog. The poor kitten was her how he had meant only to look over too frightened to know what to do, his the fence, how the lizard had led him feet carried him to a nearby tree just off, and how the little girl thought he in time to escape the dog. Pickaninny was lost and wanted to be kind to him. trembled all over. "I wish I had not He trembled again thinking of the narleft the little girl's house. Most of all, row escapes he had. Then he told of I wish I had not left my mother." his. frightful trip in returning home. The dog remained under the tree "You are looking well and fat. Perbarking until night came. When he haps you caught many nice mice," said went away Pickaninny leaped to the the mother. ground and started· for home. "After "No, but the little girl gave me so all," he thought, "night is the best time much fresh milk and brushed me every for cats to travel." He often looked day. She made me happy except that behind him to see if anything was after l wanted to see you so badly." him. "She was a wise little girl," continued Late in the night the mother heard the mother cat. "No doubt she drinks the "meows" of her kitten. She was so milk herself and knows that it is good happy that she called to her wondering for all growing creatures. It helps to <·hild, "Come up, come up." make you healthy. And good health Pickaninny felt ashamed. He knew helps you to overcome your hardships."

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