
A bright‑eyed eight‑year‑old named Fred discovers a delicate Maltese cat that has wandered into his home, and his heart immediately swells with the desire to do a good deed. He persuades his sister Hatty to help him care for the tiny creature, sharing milk and gentle words before setting out on a muddy trek to return it to its owner, the mischievous Ned Perry. Along the way Fred faces the challenges of a slippery field and an uncooperative feline, yet his determination turns the simple act of delivering a lost pet into an adventure that tests his sense of responsibility and his hope for a grateful thank‑you.
When Fred finally reaches Mrs. Perry’s door, the reception is far from the appreciation he imagined, leaving him to confront the sting of unacknowledged effort. The episode captures the everyday trials of rural life in the late 1800s, where kindness is often offered without promise of reward, and where children learn that true generosity persists even when thanks are scarce. This gentle tale invites listeners to reflect on the quiet courage found in small, heartfelt actions.
Language
en
Duration
~39 minutes (37K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards, Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2008-04-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1815–1893
A prolific 19th-century American writer for children, she published hundreds of stories and books filled with moral lessons, domestic scenes, and lively adventures. Writing under the name Madeline Leslie, she became a familiar presence in young readers’ lives across the Victorian era.
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