for him? Where did he go then? Why was he so poor there? Why did not people like his pictures? What do people think of his pictures now?

A FASCINATING TALE

Questions to arouse interest. In what room are these kittens? Why do you think so? Where is the mother cat? the kittens? What are they looking at? Why do you think the mouse does not know that the kittens can see his tail? Which one do you think will catch the mouse? Which one has the sharpest eyes? Which one looks frightened? Which one looks surprised? Why do you suppose they did not catch the mouse before it tried to hide? If they keep very still, what will the mouse think? What will he do? What will happen then? What is on the table beside the kittens? What may happen to the ink bottle if the big cat jumps? What is the color of these kittens' fur? How many of you have a pet kitten at home? Which one of these would you rather have? Why is the picture called "A Fascinating Tale"?

The story of the picture. Early one morning two plump little kittens started out in search of adventure. The library door was open, and both little kittens heard a queer rustling noise on the big library table. Up on a chair they jumped, then up on the table, just in time to see a little mouse darting under some papers. The mouse thought the kittens would not know where it was if it kept very still; but there was its tail in plain sight.

The kittens were so frightened they did not know what to do. They tried to remember all their mother had taught them about catching a mouse, but they could only watch that tail, scarcely breathing for fear it would move. The mother cat came just then, hunting for her kittens. When she saw them keeping so still she knew there must be something the matter.

In the picture she is all ready to spring upon the mouse as soon as he moves, so she can be sure to catch him. How confident she looks, and how pleased she is that the kittens found the mouse and will help her catch it! The kittens are so excited it is doubtful whether they can help very much; but if she can persuade one of them just to touch that tail, then all will be a scramble. More likely they will all keep so still that the mouse will think he is alone and come out.

A Fascinating Tale

Which cat do you think will catch him? The little white kitten is the more daring of the two, as she stands there, paws braced wide apart, all ready to spring either toward the mouse or away from it. She is quite undecided which to do. The little black kitten wants to see all that is going on, but at a safe distance.

How those books and papers will be scattered about when the old cat jumps for the mouse! The ink bottle is in a very bad place, although the inkstand looks as if it were a heavy one and would be hard to overturn, even if the cat does jump on it.

Did you ever watch a cat catch a mouse? My! how fast that mouse will have to run if he is to get away! Notice the long, graceful, curving body of the mother cat, and how she holds her head alert as she plans how to catch the mouse.

Although these three cats are all still for the moment, we are made to feel that each is about to do something, and we wonder just what that something will be. Notice the different colors of the cats' fur and of the books placed carelessly in a row. Let us think how this table will look in just a few moments.

A FASCINATING TALE