Little Kitty was an orphan. She lived in an orphans’ home, where she ran errands, tended the babies, and helped everybody who needed her. She was a happy-hearted child, who did her best to be good, and was never tired of hoping that something pleasant would happen.

She had often heard of Cattle Shows, but had never been to one, though she lived near a town where there was one every year.

As October drew near, and people began to get ready for the show, Kitty became more and more anxious to go. She asked many questions about it of old Sam, who worked at the orphans’home.

“Did you say anybody could go in for nothing if she took something to show?” asked the eager little girl.

“Yes, and the one who has the best fruit or cake or butter or cows, or whatever it is, gets a prize,” said Sam, who was busily chopping wood.

“I wish I had something nice to show, but I don’t own anything except puss”; and the little girl stroked the plump white kitten that was frisking all over her.

“Better send her. She’s pretty enough to win a prize anywhere,” said Sam, who was fond of both Kittys.

“Do they really have cats at the Cattle Show?”asked the child, earnestly.

“They ought to, if they don’t; for if cats aren’t cattle, I don’t see what they are,” said old Sam,laughing at his little joke.

“I should like to take her and see the show,anyhow, for that would be splendid, even if she didn’t get any prize. O puss, will you go, and behave well, and get a prize for me, so that I can buy a book of stories?” said Kitty.

Puss turned a somersault, raced after a chicken, and then rushed up Kitty’s back. She perched on the shoulder of the little girl, and peeped into her face, as though asking if pranks like these wouldn’t win a prize anywhere.

“You are going to take Mr. Green’s hens for him,” said Kitty. “Can’t I go with you? I won’t be any trouble, and I do so want to see the pretty things.”

Now Sam had meant all the time to take her, but he had not told her so yet. Being fond of a joke, he thought he would let her take the kitten, just for the fun of it.

“Yes,” said kind-hearted Sam, “I’ll tuck you in somewhere, and you had better put puss into the blackbird’s old cage, so she won’t get scared and run away. You can put the cage among the chicken-coops, and folks will admire puss, I haven’t a doubt.”

Little Kitty was delighted at the plan, though the older children in the house laughed at her.She scrubbed the old cage until it shone, and put a bed of yellow leaves in it for snowy puss to lie upon. Puss was washed, combed, and dressed up with a wide blue ribbon around her neck. When she had been put into the cage on that great day, she made a charming picture.

It would have been hard to find a happier little lass than Kitty, when, dressed in her clean,blue check frock, and her old hat with a yellow ribbon, she rode away with Sam. In the back part of the wagon, with the chicken-coop,was Miss Puss, much excited by the clucking,fluttering hens. CW8waK+xgeK2JiTL+w8TcRpDieBF9verYb0CN2JzivSiEjfwa6celmuq8ScEpdNe