Tales From Catland, for Little Kittens Part 5

Wis.h.i.+e had hardly said it, when something began bubbling up, very gently, as if it was very soft, from the bottom of the bowl, and in a few minutes there floated at her feet, a perfect white sea! an ocean of cream--smooth, delicious, and tempting. It was so conveniently close to the window-sill, too, that by planting her fore-paws on the rim of the bowl, she could stoop down and lap so comfortably! At least she thought so at first; but somehow, when she came to try, the china was so thin and so slippery, that she found she could get very little hold. It was very provoking. But she tried a second time; really, it was _dreadfully_ slippery, and there was nothing that she could stick her claws into--however, she did at last contrive to get her tongue just to the top of the cream; but she had scarcely tasted it, when suddenly her paws shot apart, and she tumbled headlong into the bowl!

The bowl was deep and wide, and there was nothing for her to cling to, to help herself out by. O, what a splas.h.i.+ng and spluttering she made!

but it did her no good; the cream got into her eyes, her mouth, her nostrils, and she could not anyhow lift herself out of it--there she must stay, coughing, choking, and struggling, till she was drowned.

Wis.h.i.+e thought she had quite enough cream! But just as she was sinking down, quite exhausted with her useless efforts, she felt her neck seized, and that some one was drawing her out of the bowl. The next minute she was laid safe and sound on the floor. It was some little time before she could open her eyes, and when she did so, she was exceedingly astonished to see, by the waning light, the beautiful lady with the golden locks and crown of white roses, and glittering dew-drops.

'Well, Wis.h.i.+e,' said the Fairy, 'have you had a pleasant day of it?

You have had everything you wished for, I think?'

'O dear, ma'am!' replied Wis.h.i.+e, shaking her ears to get the cream out, 'I never had such a miserable day in my life! I have met with such dreadful misfortunes!'

'Then,' said the Fairy, 'you think that your day would have been a happier one, if you had _not_ had everything you fancied you should like?'

Wis.h.i.+e hung her head down, and looked very silly; and at last answered that 'she thought it would.'

'I am quite of that opinion,' replied the Fairy; 'and, as you seem by this time to have had pretty plain proofs of the folly of _wis.h.i.+ng_, I will take away my dangerous gift from you; for I hope you will be wiser now than you have ever been before.' So saying, the Fairy gave her a stroke with her wand, and Wis.h.i.+e directly found herself in her own little bed, by the side of her sister Contenta, who was sound asleep. And in a minute Wis.h.i.+e fell asleep too, and never awoke till the sun was s.h.i.+ning in at the windows. She told all her strange adventures to her father and mother and Contenta; upon which they all held up their paws, and declared they had never heard anything so wonderful. But her father and mother scolded her also, and told her it was all her own fault, which Wis.h.i.+e felt was too true; and, from that day forwards, she never mewed for anything, but became as satisfied and good-humored as Contenta herself; and even the housekeeper at last grew quite fond of her.

FINISH.