One day Molly was playing with her three kittens.

Mother said, “I think that we have too many cats.

Three kittens and a mother cat are too many to keep in the house all winter.”

Father said, “Yes, indeed. We shall have to give away one or two of the kittens.

We must keep the mother cat to catch mice.”

Two of the kittens were black and white and looked very much alike.

They were called Spot and Dot.

Molly did not want to give one of them away.

Then there was Snowball, who was as white as snow.

Mother said, “We might give Snowball away and keep Spot and Dot.”

“Oh, oh,” said Molly. “Snowball is so pretty and cunning.

We can not give him away.

I want to keep all three kittens.

I do not know which one I love best.”

The next day Mr. Brown came to Molly’s house.

He lived across the river and sold apples.

He saw the kittens by the fire.

They were having a good sleep.

“What pretty kittens!” said Mr. Brown to Molly’s mother.

“We have no kittens at our house.

May I have one of yours?”

Mother said, “They are Molly’s kittens.She may give you one.”

Molly did not say anything.

She did not want to give a kitten away.

“Do you like apples, Molly?” said Mr.Brown.

“I will give you a basket of apples for one kitten.

Then you will have two kittens left.”

Molly looked at the big, ripe apples. She liked apples very much.

“I will give you Snowball,” she said.

Mr. Brown gave her the basket of apples.

Molly waked Snowball up and told him he must go with Mr. Brown.

Mr. Brown took Snowball and went away.

When Mr. Brown had been gone a little while, Molly began to cry.

“I do not want the apples,” she said.

“I want Snowball back again.”

Mother said, “Maybe he will come back to you.

Sometimes cats come home from places that are far away.”

“But poor Snowball can not come home,”said Molly.

“He is on the other side of the river, and there is no bridge.”

Mother said, “We will wait and see.”

Molly played with the other kittens, but she was not happy.

“I love Spot and Dot,” she said, “but I love Snowball just as much.

I want him to come home again.”

Early the next morning Mother opened the door.

In walked Snowball!

There was mud on his pretty white coat.

“Molly, Molly!” called Mother. “Are you awake? Here is Snowball.”

In a minute Molly came.

Soon Snowball was in her arms.

“You dear kitten!” cried Molly. “How did you get here?”

Mother said, “I think he came on a boat.”

“Oh, Mother, may I please keep him?”cried Molly.

“Mr. Brown may have his apples back.”

“I will pay Mr. Brown for the apples,” said Father.

But when Mr. Brown came again, he would not take the apples or the money.

He said, “Snowball loves his home.

That is why he came back.”

Molly and the kittens played together all winter.

—— The Youth’s Companion 7IhHAiDNT8Kl9cHzj5U8lAxn5fuazfpCMQjDnVMCgle9sGBNKKojXhmCJX1Rrx0h