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Jessys face brightened, and she ran into the house. If any one had been standing near just at that moment, I think it is possible that he might have seen the old gentlemans hand go into his pocket and out again very quickly, and might have heard a little splash in the kettle; but nobody was near, so, of course, I cannot say anything about it. At any rate, when Jessy came out with the spoon, he was standing with both hands in his pockets, looking in the opposite direction. He took the great iron spoon and fished about in the kettle for some time. At last there was a little clinking noise, and the old gentleman lifted the spoon. Oh, wonder and delight! In it lay three great, broad, shining pieces of gold! Jessy could hardly believe her eyes. She stared and stared; and when the old gentleman put the gold into her hand, she still stood as if in a happy dream, gazing at it. Suddenly she started, and remembered that she had not thanked her kindly helper. She looked up, and began, Thank you, sir; but the old gentleman was gone.
Well, the next question was, How could Jessy possibly wait till twelve oclock for her mother to come home? Knitting was out of the question. She could do nothing but dance and look out of window, and look out of window and dance, holding the precious coins tight in her hand. At last, a well-known footstep was heard outside the door, and Mrs. Gray came in, looking very tired and worn. She smiled, however, when she saw Jessy, and said,
Well, my darling, I am glad to see you looking so bright. How has the morning gone with my little housekeeper?
Oh, mother! cried Jessy, hopping about on one foot, it has gone very well! oh, very, very, very well! Oh, my mother dear, what do you think I have got in my hand? What do you think? oh, what do you think? and she went dancing round and round, till poor Mrs. Gray was quite dizzy with watching her. At last she stopped, and holding out her hand, opened it and showed her mother what was in it. Mrs. Gray was really frightened.
Jessy, my child! she cried, where did you get all that money?
Out of the cupperty-buts, Mamma! said Jessy, out of the cupperty-buts! and its all for you, every bit of it! Dear Mamma, now you will be happy, will you not?
Jessy, said Mrs. Gray, have you lost your senses, or are you playing some trick on me? Tell me all about this at once, dear child, and dont talk nonsense.
But it isnt nonsense, Mamma! cried Jessy, and it did come out of the cupperty-buts!
And then she told her mother the whole story. The tears came into Mrs. Grays eyes,
but they were tears of joy and gratitude.
Jessy dear, she said, when we say our prayers at night, let us never forget to pray for that good gentleman. May Heaven bless him and reward him! for if it had not been for him, Jessy dear, I fear you would never have found the Buttercup Gold.
THE PATIENT CAT
The spotted cat said, Eggs may be good, but young birds are better. I will wait. So she waited; and while she was waiting, she caught mice and rats, and washed herself and slept, and did all that a spotted cat should do to pass the time away.
When another week had passed, she climbed the tree again and peeped into the nest. This time there were five eggs. But the spotted cat said again, Eggs may be good, but young birds are better. I will wait a little longer!
So she waited a little longer and then went up again to look. Ah! there were five tiny birds, with big eyes and long necks, and yellow beaks wide open. Then the spotted cat sat down on the branch, and licked her nose and purred, for she was very happy. It is worth while to be patient! she said.
But when she looked again at the young birds, to see which one she should take first, she saw that they were very thin, oh, very, very thin they were! The spotted cat had never seen anything so thin in her life.
Now, she said to herself, if I were to wait only a few days longer, they would grow fat. Thin birds may be good, but fat birds are much better. I will wait!
So she waited; and she watched the father-bird bringing worms all day long to the nest, and said, Aha! they must be fattening fast! they will soon be as fat as I wish them to be. Aha! what a good thing it is to be patient.
At last, one day she thought, Surely, now they must be fat enough! I will not wait another day. Aha! how good they will be!
So she climbed up the tree, licking her chops all the way and thinking of the fat young birds. And when she reached the top and looked into the nest, it was empty!!
Then the spotted cat sat down on the branch and spoke thus, Well, of all the horrid, mean, ungrateful creatures I ever saw, those birds are the horridest, and the meanest, and the most ungrateful! Mi-a-u-ow!!!!