“‘Do you like to go to school?’ inquired Mary Ethel.

“The girl again nodded.  There was a little pause.  Mary Ethel, who was bent on carrying out Mrs. Morris’ suggestion to help her entertain them, began again on the weather.  I suppose she couldn’t think of anything new to say, so she observed: 

“‘It’s a nice warm day for the first of September, don’t you think?’

“The girl’s head once more wagged up and down in assent, but not a word did she utter.  At this a subdued titter came from Frances and Jessica.  Mary Ethel’s face grew red and she frowned at them.

“Just at this moment in ran Johnny.  He had put on his best suit.  His yellow hair was freshly brushed and his face was wreathed in smiles.  He reminded one of a dancing sunbeam.  It was wonderful to see how quickly he set the social wheel moving in the parlor.  In three minutes he had them all acquainted and talking to each other.  At one side I noticed Naomi and Jessica who were trying to make the parrot talk for the big girl.  Mary Ethel was turning the crank of a small music box, around which were clustered a group of the stranger children.  On a sofa three or four others had the portfolio of pictures spread out.  Others came to my cage coaxing me to whistle for them, while Johnny capered hither and thither and joked and had more funny things to say than anybody in the room.  When he let Bessie out of her cage and put her on the piano to sing the ‘Mocking Bird,’ the joy of the visitors knew no bounds.

“‘Have you a parrot, Jeannette?’ he asked one of the little barefooted girls, whose dancing black eyes showed how much she enjoyed Bessie’s performance.

“‘No, but I have two lovely cats.’  She made the announcement as if very proud of their ownership.

“’I have a cat too.  He dresses in black and wears long white whiskers, and looks just like a respectable old colored man.’  This description amused the children very much.

“‘What’s your cat’s name?’ they shouted.

“‘Jett.  What do you call your cats, Jeannette?’

“’The big one is Boule de Neige and the little one is Jaune Jaquette.’

“‘What queer names!’ exclaimed Mary Ethel.  ’How did you happen to select such names for them?’

“‘Oh, miss, because the names do suit them so well.’

“‘They don’t sound like any cats’ names that ever I heard.  I don’t understand how they would suit.’  Mary Ethel looked perplexed.

“‘Why, miss, on account of the color of those cats, to be sure,’ said Jeannette in surprise.

“‘Pooh!’ explained Johnny, ’that’s easy. Boule de neige is the French for snowball, and jaune means yellow, so jaune jaquette means yellow jacket.  I learned that in our French reader.  I expect one of the cats is all white and the other is a yellow one.  Is that it, Jeannette?’

“‘Yes, sir,’ said the French child, and she tipped him a polite little bow that was very pretty indeed.