"
As they drove into the yard, they saw Eleanor coming from the direction
of the barn with something big and heavy in her mouth. She held her head
as high as she could, but even so, her burden dragged on the ground,
bumping softly against the rough places on the path. "Look!" said Betsy.
"Just see that great rat Eleanor has caught!"
Uncle Henry squinted his old eyes toward the cat for a moment and
laughed. "We're not the only ones that are getting ready for winter," he
remarked.
Betsy did not know what he meant and climbed hastily over the wheel and
ran to see. As she approached Eleanor, the cat laid her burden down with
an air of relief and looked trustfully into her little mistress's face.
Why, it was one of the kittens! Eleanor was bringing it to the house.
Oh, of course! they mustn't stay out there in that cold hayloft now the
cold weather was drawing near. Betsy picked up the little sprawling
thing, trying with weak legs to get around over the rough ground. She
carried it carefully toward the house, Eleanor walking sinuously by her
side and "talking" in little singing, purring MIAUWS to explain her
ideas of kitten-comfort. Betsy felt that she quite understood her. "Yes,
Eleanor, a nice little basket behind the stove with a warm piece of an
old blanket in it. Yes, I'll fix it for you. It'll be lovely to have the
whole family there.
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