EVELYN was a little girl who lived with her parents and brother Harry in a pretty house in the country. Her friend Mary, who lived nearby, was moving away, and Evelyn knew she would miss her very much.
Mary had a pretty little kitten which she offered to Evelyn as a parting gift, but Evelyn’s mother said that she couldn’t have it. “There are so many birds about that it would be cruel to bring a cat into the house, Evelyn,” her mother said. “We must get you some other pet.”
But Evelyn was not comforted by this promise and still thought about the little kitten she wanted so badly.
The next morning she filled a little basket with flowers and took them over to Mary. Mary was watching at the gate. “Oh, Evelyn,” she said, “You’ve brought a basket for the kitten. I’ll just take out the flowers and put Buttons in. See, she’s here all ready,”
Evelyn was tempted by the sight of the pretty little kitten and knew that she should tell Mary that her mother didn’t want her to have the pussy. But she said good-by to her friend and hurried home across the fields. On the way she met her brother Harry and showed him what she had in the basket.
“I thought I’d just show her to Mother. Perhaps she’ll change her mind,” said Evelyn.
“I’m sure she won’t,” Harry replied. He was quiet a few moments, then said, “Could you keep a secret, Evelyn?”
“Who from?”
“Everyone,” said Harry.
“Even Mother?”
“Yes, because if you could, I know a place we might hide the pussy and no one would ever know, for I’ll promise not to tell.”
“Where, Harry?” asked Evelyn.
“In the large store room at the top of the house, You can make a nice bed behind the pile of old boxes and we can easily bring up food when no one is looking.”
“Would it be very wrong, Harry?” asked Evelyn.
“Well, I don’t see much harm,” answered Harry. “Mother was only worried about the birds and we must take great care to keep the door shut.”
When they reached the house, they found their mother was out and though the kitten mewed and made quite a commotion in the basket, the two children managed to get her upstairs and into the store room.
But though Evelyn had her wish she was not happy. She was always afraid someone would find out her secret, and deep down in her heart she knew there was an all seeing eye from whom no secrets are hidden, and this made her uncomfortable.
All went on smoothly for a few weeks and Evelyn and Harry were careful to keep the door shut.
At last an invitation came for Evelyn to visit her cousins for a few days, This was usually a great pleasure, but this time she seemed anxious to stay at home. However, her mother said she was to go, and Harry promised to take care of the little kitten. And so she went to pay her visit.
Harry faithfully looked after the kitten, but one day he met the maid, just as he was leaving the store room. The maid asked him what he was doing there and told him she had heard something moving in the old store room. Harry told her it must be rats and so frightened the girl that she wouldn’t go near the door.
When Evelyn came home again, she wanted to see her pet kitten and started up the stairs. But the maid met her and warned her not to go near the store room as she had set a trap just inside the door, to catch any rats that might be there.
Now Evelyn was really afraid for the kitten and soon found Harry and told him her trouble. Together they went up to the store room. Alas, there was their dear little kitten, lying stiff and perfectly still, caught in the rat trap, Poor Evelyn! All she could do was to run to her mother and sob out the story of her secret, confessing all. But best of all, she and Harry went to the Lord Jesus, and on their knees, told Him all about it and asked His forgiveness. They asked Him to forgive all their sins and to wash their hearts clean in His precious blood, which He did, for they were truly repentant.
ML-08/14/1960