the cat - World eBook Library
the cat - World eBook Library the cat - World eBook Library
The Ratcatcher and Cats The rats by night such mischief did, Betty was every morning chid. They undermined whole sides of bacon, =THE CAT Her cheese was sapped, her tarts were taken; Her pasties, fenced with thickest paste, Were all demolished and laid waste. She cursed the Cat for want of duty, Who left her foes a constant booty. An engineer of noted skill Engaged to stop the growing ill; From room to room he now surveys Their haunts, their works, their secret ways Finds where they scape an ambuscade, And whence the nightly sally's made. An envious Cat from place to place, Unseen, attends his silent pace. She saw that, if his trade went on, The purring race must be undone So secretly removes his baits, And every stratagem defeats. Again he sets the poisoned toils, And Puss again the labour foils. " What foe (to frustrate my designs) My schemes thus nightly countermines ? " Incensed he cries ; " this very hour The wretch shall bleed beneath my power." 132
THE CA^ So said,— a ponderous trap he brought, And in the fact poor Puss was caught. " Smuggler/' says he, " thou shalt be made A victim to our loss of trade." The captive Cat, with piteous mews, For pardon, life, and freedom sues. " A sister of the science spare One interest is our common care." " What insolence ! " the Man replied " Shall Cats with us the game divide? Were all your interloping band Extinguished, or expelled the land, We Rat-catchers might raise our fees, " Sole guardians of a nation's cheese ! A Cat who saw the lifted knife, Thus spoke, and saved her sister's life: " In every age and clime, we see Two of a trade can ne'er agree; Each hates his neighbour for encroaching, Squire stigmatizes squire for poaching Beauties with beauties are in arms, And scandal pelts each other's charms; Kings, too, their neighbour kings dethrone. In hope to make the world their own. 133
- Page 92 and 93: Hodge, the Cat Burly and big his bo
- Page 94 and 95: The dear old Doctor! fierce of mien
- Page 96 and 97: Atossa Thou hast seen Atossa sage =
- Page 98 and 99: THE CAT, grew bold and restless, we
- Page 100 and 101: Moumoutte Chinoise =THE CAT I remem
- Page 102 and 103: =THE CAT object of affection, unles
- Page 104 and 105: The Two Cats THE CAT The spring was
- Page 106 and 107: THE CAT friend sleeping by the fire
- Page 108 and 109: THE CAT her turn to be helped, beha
- Page 110 and 111: Don Pierrot de Navarre THE CAT Pier
- Page 112 and 113: =THE CAT his displeasure by going t
- Page 114 and 115: Nero THE CAT I own that when Agripp
- Page 116 and 117: THE CAT mew, as if fearing he might
- Page 118 and 119: =THE CAT can see him now, standing
- Page 120 and 121: THE CAT and look into my face, foll
- Page 122 and 123: Tom of Corpus The Junior Fellow's v
- Page 124 and 125: THE CAT Oliver A long series of cat
- Page 126 and 127: Mentu =THE CAT The wild nature in M
- Page 128 and 129: The Shah of Persia -THE CAT Cats of
- Page 130 and 131: THE CAT with his two soft paws —
- Page 132 and 133: A passing scent could keenly wake T
- Page 134 and 135: =THE CAT rival, the mutual fear whi
- Page 136 and 137: mdRmuko Apeak concernina /Cab Inmii
- Page 138 and 139: =THE CAT I only know they make me l
- Page 140 and 141: THE CAT The hand, and person genera
- Page 144 and 145: But let us limit our desires, Nor w
- Page 146 and 147: THE CAT The captain's humanity did
- Page 148 and 149: THE CAT without his mascot, but to
- Page 150 and 151: The Point of View THE CAT " Dog," s
- Page 152 and 153: An Encounter THE CAT One day a frie
- Page 154 and 155: The Retired Cat A poet's cat, sedat
- Page 156 and 157: Awaken'd by the shock, cried Puss,
- Page 158 and 159: Moral. Beware of too sublime a sens
- Page 160 and 161: THE CAT An Outcast My father had a
- Page 162 and 163: A Poet to the Rescue =THE CAT Passi
- Page 164 and 165: The Colubriad Close by the threshol
- Page 166 and 167: Discipline THE CAT A female cat is
- Page 168 and 169: THE CAT On the Death of a Favourite
- Page 170 and 171: yiUkJmmi
- Page 172 and 173: Marigold =THE CAT She moved through
- Page 174 and 175: A Sea Fight THE CAT "Prince," said
- Page 176 and 177: Six little mice sat down to spin, P
- Page 178 and 179: The Cattie Sits in the Kiln-Ring Th
- Page 180 and 181: Grisette Dines Always well behaved
- Page 182: The End. World Public Library Assoc
The Rat<strong>cat</strong>cher and Cats<br />
The rats by night such mischief did,<br />
Betty was every morning chid.<br />
They undermined whole sides of bacon,<br />
=THE CAT<br />
Her cheese was sapped, her tarts were taken;<br />
Her pasties, fenced with thickest paste,<br />
Were all demolished and laid waste.<br />
She cursed <strong>the</strong> Cat for want of duty,<br />
Who left her foes a constant booty.<br />
An engineer of noted skill<br />
Engaged to stop <strong>the</strong> growing ill;<br />
From room to room he now surveys<br />
Their haunts, <strong>the</strong>ir works, <strong>the</strong>ir secret ways<br />
Finds where <strong>the</strong>y scape an ambuscade,<br />
And whence <strong>the</strong> nightly sally's made.<br />
An envious Cat from place to place,<br />
Unseen, attends his silent pace.<br />
She saw that, if his trade went on,<br />
The purring race must be undone<br />
So secretly removes his baits,<br />
And every stratagem defeats.<br />
Again he sets <strong>the</strong> poisoned toils,<br />
And Puss again <strong>the</strong> labour foils.<br />
" What foe (to frustrate my designs)<br />
My schemes thus nightly countermines ? "<br />
Incensed he cries ;<br />
" this very hour<br />
The wretch shall bleed beneath my power."<br />
132