LADY MORGAN. 381 fire, she dashed out into the street and summoned in the the whole tribe of them to the rescue. They put out the fire, but filled the room with soot, greatly to the indigna- tion of the school-mistress, who turned them all out into the street for their pains, and Sydney with them. It was at about this time that she made her first liter- ary Tenture. She was the happy owner of a large number of pets, chiefly among which was a great yellow cat, named Ginger. Ginger and Mrs.. Owenson were not on the best of terms, and the discerning animal was glad to keep herself out of that lady's way, in a snug nook arranged for her underneath the sideboard by her little mistress. One evening, as Sydney was kneeling at her mother's knee, concluding her nightly prayer, with a blessing invoked upon her various friends, a soft purr was heard issuing from this retreat. Moved by so touching an appeal, she added to her usual petition the words, " God bless Ginger the cat ! " Mrs. Owenson, much shocked, caught her by the shoulder and shook her, say- ing: " What do you mean by that, you stupid child ? " " May I not say, l bless Ginger ? ' " asked Sydney. " Certainly not," replied Mrs. Owenson. " Why mama ? " " Because Ginger is not a Christian ! * " Why is not Ginger a Christian ? " " Why ? Because Ginger is only an animal." "Am I a Christian, mama, or an animal?" At this point Molly, the devoted household servant, was abruptly requested to take those troublesome children to bed, and teach them not to ask foolish questions. But even bed did not end the matter. Sydney's warmest feelings were aroused in sympathy with her poor un- christian favorite, and while lying awake she composed a poem in its honor, which was next morning recited in
