The Cricket's Friends Tales Told by the Cricket, Teapot, and Saucepan   By: Virginia W. Johnson

Tales told

BY THE CRICKET, TEAPOT, AND SAUCEPAN

BY COUSIN VIRGINIA.

NEW YORK: WORTHINGTON CO., 747 BROADWAY. 1888.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by NICHOLS AND NOYES, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

Press of J.J. Little & Co., Astor Place, New York.

TO Minnie Slack, with all fresh young hearts and loving souls akin to her's, this little book is dedicated, BY COUSIN VIRGINIA.

My little friends, who read the first volume of the "Kettle Club" last Christmas, will remember an allusion to the introduction of new members this year. Their history will here be presented.

CONTENTS.

THE TRAVELLED SPIDER 14

THE AMBITIOUS WASP 41

THE DISAPPOINTED CATERPILLAR 73

THE FOUR SILVER PEACHES 82

GOING MAYING 101

GRANDPAPA MOUSE AND HIS FAMILY 116

THE ENCHANTED BABY HOUSE 152

THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA 179

THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS 194

THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS.

The Club were all curiosity for some time to see the new members who were to be introduced into the select circle.

"I am afraid of spiders," remarked the Teapot, with a lady like shiver.

"If a caterpillar touched me, I should run a mile," exclaimed the Saucepan.

"None of them can reach me," laughed the Kettle with a gurgle of satisfaction.

At last the Cricket marched the strangers in one night, and gave them places about the hearth.

"Allow me," said he, flourishing his right feeler in the air, "to introduce to you, friends, some very distinguished additions to our number, the travelled Spider, the disappointed Caterpillar, and the ambitious Wasp."

"How do you all do?" inquired the Kettle very politely, for the Saucepan and Teapot seemed rather stiff in their manners.

"Very well, thank you," growled the Spider.

"Quite so," croaked the Caterpillar.

"In excellent spirits," echoed the Wasp, folding his gauzy wings in a satisfied way.

"If it is agreeable to the rest, I propose your all joining the Club," continued the Cricket briskly.

"Certainly," assented the Kettle; "the more the merrier, you know."

"I think we should be extremely careful about admitting strangers to our circle, unless they bring letters of introduction," said the Teapot primly.

As for the Saucepan, she contented herself with looking sideways at the Caterpillar, and coughing contemptuously. This was not very pleasant; so the Cricket trotted up to the two rebellious members, and gave them a pretty sharp lecture upon the laws of courtesy and good breeding, which served effectually to make them ashamed of themselves. The visitors now became angry, and began to talk together of leaving without delay, which naturally distressed the good hearted president, who was so much affected by a desire to do something pleasant, that he swung himself wildly upon the hook, and thereby sprinkled those below with a stream of scalding water.

"Mercy!" shrieked the Wasp, dancing on one foot in an agony.

"Oh, my back!" groaned the Caterpillar, rolling himself about in a ball.

"What ails you, Kettle?" cried the poor Cricket, running about with his eye almost put out from receiving a whole drop in it. "Do keep your hot water to yourself."

The Spider alone was unhurt; so he merely shook himself, and sat chuckling at the discomfiture of the others.

After doing all this mischief, the Kettle subsided, with many meek apologies.