Finally as Boots started to spring after the little mouse again, Raggedy
Ann threw her rag arms around the kitten's neck. "Run, Mamma mouse!"
Raggedy Ann cried, as Boots whirled her over and over.

Uncle Clem ran and pushed the Mamma mouse into the hole and then she was
gone.

When Raggedy Ann took her arms from around Boots, the kitten was very
angry. She laid her ears back and scratched Raggedy Ann with her claws.

But Raggedy Ann only smiled--it did not hurt her a bit for Raggedy was
sewed together with a needle and thread and if that did not hurt, how
could the scratch of a kitten? Finally Boots felt ashamed of herself and
went over and lay down by the hole in the wall in hopes the mouse would
return, but the mouse never returned. Even then Mamma mouse was out in
the barn with her children, warning them to beware of kittens and cats.

Raggedy Ann and all the dolls then went to bed and Raggedy had just
dozed off to sleep when she felt something jump upon her bed. It was
Boots. She felt a warm little pink tongue caress her rag cheek. Raggedy
Ann smiled happily to herself, for Boots had curled up on top of Raggedy
Ann and was purring herself to sleep.

Then Raggedy Ann knew she had been forgiven for rescuing the Mamma mouse
and she smiled herself to sleep and dreamed happily of tomorrow.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]