Part 18 (1/2)

So quickly she started the mouse to give chase, And over the clover they ran a great race.

But just when it seemed that p.u.s.s.y would win, The mouse spied a hole and quickly popped in; And so he escaped, for the hole was so small That p.u.s.s.y-cat could n't squeeze in it at all.

So, softly she crouched, and with eyes big and round Quite steadily watched that small hole in the ground ”This mouse really thinks he 's escaped me,” she said, ”But I 'll catch him sure if he sticks out his head!”

But while she was watching the poor mouse's plight, A deep growl behind made her jump with affright; She gave a great cry, and then started to run As swift as a bullet that 's shot from a gun!

”Meow! Oh, meow ”our poor Puss did say; ”Bow-wow!” cried the dog, who was not far away.

O'er meadows and ditches they scampered apace, O'er fences and hedges they kept up the race!

Then p.u.s.s.y-cat Mew saw before her a tree, And knew that a safe place of refuge 't would be; So far up the tree with a bound she did go, And left the big dog to growl down below.

But now, by good fortune, a man came that way, And called to the dog, who was forced to obey; But Puss did not come down the tree till she knew That the man and the dog were far out of view.

Pursuing her way, at nightfall she came To London, a town you know well by name; And wandering 'round in byway and street, A strange p.u.s.s.y-cat she happened to meet.

”Good evening,” said p.u.s.s.y-cat Mew. ”Can you tell In which of these houses the Queen may now dwell?

I 'm a stranger in town, and I 'm anxious to see What sort of a person a real Queen may be.”

”My friend,” said the other, ”you really must know It is n't permitted that strangers should go Inside of the palace, unless they 're invited, And stray p.u.s.s.y-cats are apt to be slighted.

”By good luck, however, I 'm quite well aware Of a way to the palace by means of a stair That never is guarded; so just come with me, And a glimpse of the Queen you shall certainly see.”

Puss thanked her new friend, and together they stole To the back of the palace, and crept through a hole In the fence, and quietly came to the stair Which the stranger p.u.s.s.y-cat promised was there.

”Now here I must leave you,” the strange p.u.s.s.y said, ”So do n't be 'fraid-cat, but go straight ahead, And do n't be alarmed if by chance you are seen, For people will think you belong to the Queen.”

So p.u.s.s.y-cat Mew did as she had been told, And walked through the palace with manner so bold She soon reached the room where the Queen sat in state, Surrounded by lords and by ladies so great.

And there in the corner our p.u.s.s.y sat down, And gazed at the scepter and blinked at the crown, And eyed the Queen's dress, all purple and gold; Which was surely a beautiful sight to behold.

But all of a sudden she started, for there Was a little gray mouse, right under the chair Where her Majesty sat, and p.u.s.s.y well knew She 'd scream with alarm if the mouse met her view.

So up toward the chair our p.u.s.s.y-cat stole, But the mouse saw her coming and ran for its hole; But p.u.s.s.y ran after, and during the race A wonderful, terrible panic took place!

The ladies all jumped on their chairs in alarm, The lords drew their swords to protect them from harm, And the Queen gave a scream and fainted away-- A very undignified act, I must say.

And some one cried ”Burglars!” and some one cried ”Treason!”

And some one cried ”Murder!” but none knew the reason; And some one cried ”Fire! they are burning the house!”

And some one cried ”Silence! it 's only a mouse!”

But p.u.s.s.y-cat Mew was so awfully scared By the shouting and screaming, no longer she dared To stay in the room; so without more delay She rushed from the palace and scampered away!

So bristling her fur, and with heart beating fast, She came to the road leading homeward at last.

”What business,” she thought, ”has a poor country cat To visit a city of madmen like that?

”Straight homeward I 'll go, where I am well fed, Where mistress is kind, and soft is my bed; Let other cats travel, if they wish to roam, But as for myself, I shall now stay at home.”