Once upon a time there was an old cat, called Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit, whowas an anxious parent. She used to lose her kittens continually, andwhenever they were lost they were always in mischief!On baking day she determined to shut them up in a cupboard.She caught Moppet and Mittens, but she could not find Tom.Mrs. Tabitha went up and down all over the house, mewing for TomKitten. She looked in the pantry under the staircase, and she searchedthe best spare bedroom that was all covered up with dust sheets. Shewent right upstairs and looked into the attics, but she could not findhim anywhere.It was an old, old house, full of cupboards and passages. Some of thewalls were four feet thick, and there used to be queer noises insidethem, as if there might be a little secret staircase. Certainly therewere odd little jagged doorways in the wainscot, and things disappearedat night--especially cheese and bacon.Mrs. Tabitha became more and more distracted, and mewed dreadfully.