<h3><SPAN name="PUSSY_WILLOW">PUSSY WILLOW</SPAN></h3>
<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Kate Louise Brown</span></p>
<p>All winter Miss Pussy had been shut up in
her house by the brook; but one bright morning
in early spring, the door of her house
opened. Then she stepped out to see the
world.</p>
<p>The swelling buds were rocking to and fro
on the branches, the grass blades were peeping
above the ground, and a few brave flowers
were opening their sleepy eyes.</p>
<p>“Dear me!” cried Pussy, “the wind is sharp
and cold, if it is a bright day.”</p>
<p>“Why, whom have we here?” asked the
brook in great surprise. “True as I live, it
is Miss Pussy Willow! Good morning,
Pussy, you are out bright and early; but why
do you wear that fur hood? Summer is coming
and the days grow warmer.”</p>
<p>“Oh, Mother Nature told me to wear it,
lest I get a toothache.”</p>
<p>Everybody was glad to see Pussy. The<span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="Page_211"></SPAN>[211]</span>
little brook, the grass, the buds, and the little
spring birds. But they were all very curious
to know why she wore her fur hood.</p>
<p>Poor Pussy! she was tempted more than
once to take it off, so much was said about it.
But she didn’t; she thought best to mind
Mother Nature. Now, it grieves me to say
Mr. Robin was very bold and saucy. He
whispered some unkind things to Pussy’s
friends one day. The next morning, when
Pussy opened her eyes, the birds, the buds,
the brook, the grass, and the flowers began
to whisper to themselves: “Do you suppose
Pussy Willow has to wear her hood because
she has no hair? Poor Pussy Willow!”</p>
<p>Poor Pussy Willow! Brave Pussy felt very
sad. All she said was: “Wait and see.”</p>
<p>How surprised every one was a few days
after this! There was Pussy Willow with no
fur hood on her head, but bright golden curls
were dancing up and down in the breeze.</p>
<p>“Pussy Willow is not a baldhead; she wears
beautiful golden curls,” cried all her friends.
Mr. Robin hid his head and flew away, very
much ashamed.</p>
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<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="Page_212"></SPAN>[212]</span></p>
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