Off went Kitty and Cairo, and they trotted along together with the basket, which was quite light now. Kitty was a heedless little girl, and she soon forgot what her uncle had told her about the rain coming, and she loitered along, and stopped to play with Cairo. Presently Kitty was startled by a loud clap of thunder. Then she saw the bright lightning, and that was followed by a clap of thunder louder than the first. Kitty was very much afraid, and she trembled all over. No one had ever told her that her heavenly Father caused the lightning to cut through the clouds, and that the thunder was made by the clouds rushing together again after the lightning had passed through them. Then she felt the large drops of rain on her neck, and she began to cry; for she did not think about God sending the rain, to make the grass grow and to give drink to the thirsty flowers. The rain fell very fast, and Kitty cried out, “Oh, Cairo, what shall we do?” Cairo seemed to know that Kitty was in distress, and he took hold of her dress with his mouth, as if he would pull her along to a pile of wheat-sheaves, which were bound up in bundles. Kitty crept under them and sat down. The faithful dog stayed close by her and tried to comfort her. He put his paws upon her shoulder and his head close up to her face, as if he would wipe off her tears. Cairo looked as if he would like to say, My dear little mistress, how I do pity you, what can I do for you? [Illustration: ~Third Day.~ Little Kitty Green and her dog Cairo. p. 54. ] Kitty sat there under the wheat-sheaves a long time, crying, and Cairo never left her for a moment. He looked up into her face, and rubbed his nose over her hands and arms, and there he stayed and guarded her as faithfully as any little sentinel could, until the rain was over. When the rain was over, he took the basket in his mouth, and trotted home close by the side of Kitty. * * * * * The children were all so much delighted with the story of Kitty’s affectionate little dog, that they begged Mary to read it twice. Mary gratified them whenever she could, and she read it again to please them. When the occupations of the afternoon were finished, Mary said, “It is time to put up the things:” but no one seemed ready for school to close. Mary liked to have her scholars think school was a pleasant place, but she did not allow them to overstay the usual time. “You know,” said she, “we are to have the Bible-reading yet.” The work was all gathered together by Harry Linn and Lily Forester; the books and slates were put into their places, the desks were neatly arranged, and then, teacher and scholars repaired to the oak tree in the wood, to have the Bible-reading. Mary asked them if they remembered what she had read to them yesterday?