The Good soLdier

kept

pressed

box

hat

kitten redder

squeak wood

“What a good soldier;” said Frank.

1. The soldier was made of wood. He had a red coat and a black hat.

2. He stood still and held up his gun. He never took his eyes away from Frank’s toy kitten.

3. The kitten sat on a little box. When any one pressed the box, there was a squeak.

4. You might think it was the kitten that squeaked. Maybe the little soldier could tell if it was the kitten, but he did not.

5. Frank had set the soldier to watch the kitten. As long as the soldier held up his gun and kept his eyes on her, she did not try to run away.

6. But if he had put down his gun, who knows what she would have done?

7. “What a good little soldier!” said Frank. “I can run out and play now, for he will watch my kitten.”

8. “Yes,” said Frank’s mother; “he will watch better than a little boy I know. The little boy was to watch the baby. But he went off to play with his ball, and let the baby burnits hand.”

9. The little soldier still stood there, and did not say a word. He kept on looking at the kitten. His coat looked as red as ever, but Frank’s face was redder. Frank was thinking of the baby’s hand.

sing sang sung song

ring rang rung long

king hang hung gong