The Tale of Tom Kitten

THE TALE OF TOM KITTEN BY BEATRIX POTTER

Author of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", &c.



Once upon a time there were three little kittens, and their names were Mittens, Tom Kitten, and Moppet.



They had dear little fur coats of their own; and they tum-bled about the doorstep and played in the dust.



But one day their mother—Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit—expected friends to tea; so she fetched the kittens indoors, to wash and dress them, before the fine company arrived.



First she scrubbed their faces (this one is Moppet).



Then she brushed their fur, (this one is Mittens).



Helen Beatrix Potter (1866 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was her first commercially published work in 1902. Her books, including 23 Tales, have sold more than 250 million copies. An entrepreneur, Potter was a pioneer of character merchandising. In 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the oldest licensed character.