Cindy poked her head out of the sleeping bag and opened one eye. Bright morning sunlight filtered through tall pine trees high overhead. The air smelled of pine needles and wood smoke.

Suddenly she remembered that it was her patrol's turn to get breakfast, and she was to make pancakes. She scrambled out of bed, careful not to waken Kate, her buddy, who was still asleep next to her.

After washing in a cold mountain stream Cindy joined the little group around the barbecue pit, where Pinky, their Girl Scout Counselor, had built a fire. Since every girl had a chore, in no time at all the picnic tables were set and the air smelled of pancakes, maple syrup, and steaming hot chocolate.

Cindy poured lemon yellow circles of batter on the hot grill. She saw Kate, who had finally wakened, carrying a small ball of fur in her arms. "Hi, Sleepyhead," Cindy called, waving her pancake turner, "what do you have?"

Kate grinned. "It's the cutest kitten you ever saw! I found her on my way to breakfast."

When the other girls saw Kate, they crowded around, wanting to hold the soft gray striped kitten. "Where did she come from?" "Do you suppose she is lost?" "Who could she belong to way up here?" they wondered.

For the next half hour Cindy lost sight of the newfound kitten. She was busy ladling out batter, turning pancakes, and serving them to the long line of chattering girls. When everyone had been served, Cindy went in search of the kitten. She wanted to play with her just a little before she made her own pancakes.

Cindy found Kate bending over the small kitten, a look of dismay on her face.

"What's the matter?" Cindy asked.

"It's the kitten," Kate answered, trying not to cry. "I don't think she feels well at all!"

The little gray kitten mewed and rolled on the ground in a way that frightened Cindy.

"But what happened to her?" Cindy cried.

"It's all my fault," Kate's voice choked up. "She seemed hungry, so I suggested we feed her."

"That doesn't seem so bad," Cindy answered.

"Well," said Kate, swallowing a sob, "we couldn't find anything but pancakes and French bread. She ate an awful lot. I don't think it agrees with her!"

The small Kitten tried to get up and walk but fell back on the ground again.

"Oh," Kate cried, "I wish I could do something to help her!"

Cindy patted the kitten gently. "I wish I could do something too!" she exclaimed.

Then, suddenly, she thought, "Why, I can do something!"

She turned to Kate. "You go finish your breakfast. I'll watch her."

Cindy carried the kitten to a spot of sunlight at the foot of a pine tree, where it was quiet and warm. The pine needles felt soft as Cindy sat down and cradled the kitten tenderly in her lap.

As a Christian Scientist, Cindy knew she could help the kitten. She could give her a Christian Science treatment.

In Sunday School the teacher had reminded the class that Jesus had clearly said it was not he, the human Jesus, who healed the sick. It was the divine power of God, Spirit, which Jesus understood and demonstrated. Christ Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." ^{John 14:12;}

Cindy knew she had faith in God's power to heal. She turned to Him with all her heart. A sentence from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy came to her: "God is infinite, therefore ever present, and there is no other power nor presence." ^{Science and Health, p. 471.}

When Cindy was a very little girl, she thought of God as being a person who moved from place to place. But as she grew older, she realized that God did not have to move around, because He is already everywhere. He is divine Mind, making and giving all good thoughts to His children.

Because God is divine, His thoughts are so pure, so loving, and so good that when we, His children, reflect them, these pure, gentle thoughts from God replace beliefs of error, and we are healed. Because God is merciful, just, and all-loving, we can trust Him to govern all things.

Cindy thought, "God is right here—with me and with this little kitten. This kitten is really God's creature and expresses God's love and goodness. She expresses God's harmony and perfection. And there is no other power but God, for He is everywhere."

For some time Cindy sat quietly, going over all the prayers she knew. Soon the kitten drifted off to sleep. Cindy smiled. "How good God is!" she thought.

Suddenly Cindy's thoughts were interrupted by a tall man standing over her. He was the Forest Ranger. "Hello, there!" he said. "I see my kitten is in very good hands."

The small fluff of fur stretched and yawned sleepily, completely well.

The Forest Ranger knelt beside Cindy. "She wandered away from home, and we were all pretty worried about her," he said, "especially my children."

Cindy gave the kitten a quick hug and handed her to the Forest Ranger. By this time all the girls had gathered.

The Forest Ranger held out his hand. "Thank you," he said, "for taking such good care of her."

When he left, carrying the small kitten in his arms, Cindy thought she had never been so happy. As she ran back to the picnic tables with Kate, she quietly thanked God that when she was needed there was something she could do to help!