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the cat - World eBook Library

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THE CAT<br />

Sad Memories<br />

They tell me I am beautiful, <strong>the</strong>y praise my silken<br />

hair,<br />

My little feet that silently slip on from stair to stair<br />

They praise my pretty, trustful face, and innocent<br />

grey eye;<br />

Fond hands caress me oftentimes,— yet would that I<br />

might die<br />

Why was I born to be abhorr'd of man, and bird, and<br />

beast ?<br />

The bulfinch marks me stealing by, and straight his<br />

song hath ceased;<br />

The shrewmouse eyes me shudderingly, <strong>the</strong>n flees;<br />

and, worse than that,<br />

The house-dog he flees after me,— why was I born a<br />

<strong>cat</strong>?<br />

Men prize <strong>the</strong> heartless hound who quits dry-eyed his<br />

native land,<br />

Who wags a mercenary tail, and licks a tyrant hand.<br />

The leal true <strong>cat</strong> <strong>the</strong>y prize not, that, if e'er compelTd<br />

to roam,<br />

Still flies, when let out of <strong>the</strong> bag, precipitately home.<br />

They call me cruel. Do I know if mouse or song-<br />

bird feels?<br />

in

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