# Puss and Her Kittens - Source: McGuffey's Second Reader (second-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg - Reading level: Grades 1 and 2 - Subjects: Stories, Animals - Topics: puss, attic, kittens, carried, cellar, servant - Length: 213 words, about 2 min - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: PUSS AND HER KITTENS. - Puss, with her three kittens, had lived in the coal cellar; but one day she thought she would carry them to the attic. - The servant thought that was not the proper place for them; so she carried them back to the cellar. - Puss was certain that she wanted them in the attic; so she carried them there again and again, five, six, seven, —yes, a dozen times; for each time the servant took them back to the cellar. - Poor puss was nearly tired out, and could carry them no longer. - Suddenly she went away. Where do you think she went? - She was gone a long time. When she returned, she had a strange cat with her that we had never seen before. - She seemed to tell him all about her great trouble, and he listened to her story. - Then the strange cat took the little kittens, one by one, and carried them to the attic. After this he went away, and we have never seen him since. - The servant then left the kittens in the attic, for she saw how anxious puss was to have them stay there. - Was not the strange cat kind to puss? This lesson should teach children to be ever ready to help one another. ## Picture credits - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain ()