LESSON 8
THE WHITE KITTEN

WORD LIST

stroke beggar streaks needful counsel

1. My little white kitten's asleep on my knee;

As white as the snow or the lilies is she;

She wakes up with a pur

When I stroke her soft fur:

Was there ever another white kitten like her?

2. My little white kitten now wants to go out

And frolic, with no one to watch her about;

“Little kitten, ” I say,

“Just an hour you may stay,

And be careful in choosing your places to play.”

3. But night has come down, when I hear a loud “mew; ”

I open the door, and my kitten comes through;

My white kitten! ah me!

Can it really be she—

This ill-looking, beggar-like cat that I see?

4. What ugly, gray streaks on her side and her back!

Her nose, once as pink as a rosebud, is black!

Oh, I very well know,

Though she does not say so,

She has been where white kittens ought never to go.

5. If little good children intend to do right,

If little white kittens would keep themselves white,

It is needful that they

Should this counsel obey,

And be careful in choosing their places to play.

STUDY GUIDE

A. Rhyming—Find words in the poem that rhyme. Words that rhyme have the same final sound.For example,the words purr,fur, and her rhyme.How many can you find?Please list them.

B. Discussion Questions—Talk about these questions.

1. What colour is the cat before it goes out?

2. What colour is the cat when it comes back at night?

3. It says, “She has been where white kittens never ought to go.”Where do you think she went?

4. What is your favourite kind of pet? Do you think pets should play inside or outside?

5. Do you agree that good children should carefully choose their places to play? Why or why not?

C. Vocabulary Usage—Use the following vocabulary words in sentences of your own.

1. stroke means to touch an animal's fur softly.

2. A beggar is a person who is very poor.

3. Streaks are long, thin, irregular lines or bands of colour.

4. Needful means necessary.

5. Counsel is advice that is given to someone.