The cupboard door was not locked, so
they pushed it open and came out.


They went straight to the dough which
was set to rise in a pan before the fire.

They patted it with their little soft paws
--"Shall we make dear little muffins?" said
Mittens to Moppet.


But just at that moment somebody
knocked at the front door, and Moppet
jumped into the flour barrel in a fright.


Mittens ran away to the dairy, and hid
in an empty jar on the stone shelf where
the milk pans stand.


The visitor was a neighbor, Mrs. Ribby;
she had called to borrow some yeast.

Mrs. Tabitha came downstairs mewing
dreadfully--"Come in, Cousin Ribby, come
in, and sit ye down! I'm in sad trouble,
Cousin Ribby," said Tabitha, shedding
tears. "I've lost my dear son Thomas; I'm