Her carriage was a bandbox, big enough to avoid crushing the cap and
tail, with a hole cut in the cover for ventilation; and Miss Pussy
set off for town.

"A whole day gone, and no cat!" exclaimed Miss Mary--, as the family
rose from tea. "The joke is over now, whatever it was."

No sooner were the words spoken than a rousing knock and ring
startled the silence, and a bandbox appeared covered with brilliant
red letters spelling, "This side up with care," and several other
phrases with the same meaning. "Open carefully" stood prominent
among them. The direction was, of course, to Miss Mary. With careful
hand, she raised the lid, when the cat, tired of long confinement,
bewildered by the sudden light, and scared by the roars of laughter
that greeted her, leapt from the box, and sped around the room like
lightning. The dress held on well, while she galloped about like a
gayly caparisoned circus pony. At last, she took a leap and fell
into the midst of her predecessors. Rag cats, China cats, Noah's
cats, yowling cats were upset and dashed to pieces.

At this moment, the author of all the nonsense poked his head into
the door. "My dear Miss Mary, I trust I have, at last, satisfied
your taste for cats. I hope you like your New Year's gifts."