Part 16

But the little mouse had overheard And declined with thanks to stay. So before the cat could make a spring Dear little mouse did glide Right through a very tiny hole Into the window-frame. Thus did the hungry pussy-cat Upon Thanksgiving Day Lose a gloriously fine feed By musing time away.

JET AND SNOWFLAKE.

_Dialogue for One Boy and One Girl._

SNOWFLAKE—

Good evening, pretty Pussy Cat, I’m glad to find you here, I want a playfellow so much, there’s nothing you need fear. I knew that you were coming soon, for pretty Mistress May Told me she had a pussy-cat that would be here to-day. “Snowflake,” she said, and gave my head a gentle pat. “I hope that you’ll be very kind to my new pussy-cat, She’s really handsome, you will see, her coat is black as jet, But, Snowflake, please remember now, that you’re my earliest pet.”

JET— Oh, doggie, doggie, I’m afraid, you’ll bark and growl and fight, You’ll look so very angry that you’ll put me in a fright. All cats, you know, are timid things, but if you will be kind, I’ll be the merriest playfellow that ever you can find.

SNOWFLAKE— O pussy! I should be afraid to frighten you at all, For I’m a big, strong dog, and you, well, really, you are small. You are quite black, except for one white spot upon your breast; I’m glad you are not a tortoise-shell, I like black cats the best.

JET— Yes, you are white, and I am black, we go together well, Now do you see that from my neck there hangs this little bell; Your pretty mistress gave it me, and said: “Now little Jet, To frighten all the mice away, be sure you don’t forget.”

SNOWFLAKE— Ah! what is that? I hear a sound, ’tis pretty Mistress May; Now, Jet, be good, and let her see you know how to obey. Her eyes are blue, her cheeks are pink, her dress is soft as silk, She is bringing me a fine big bone, and you some nice warm milk.

THE MODEL CAT.

MRS. FREDERICK W. PENDER.

_Written especially for this book._

Now, there’s a cat who’s gaining fame, And Tootsy Werner is her name. And all her manners are so nice, She can’t be bought at any price.

In beauty she is hard to beat; Is clever, too, and very neat; And cats of high or low degree, Can never “Tootsy’s” equal be.

A ball she rolls with grace and skill, Or tangles twine at her sweet will; And often in some box or pail You’ll find her chasing her own tail.

For she is full of fun and play, And sometimes likes to have her way; Tho’ still no fault in her you’ll find, This _model cat_, so good and kind.

She never goes upon the street For fear some tramp cat she might meet, And she will never bring disgrace On WERNER’S CELEBRATED PLACE.

For there Miss Tootsy got her name, And there she made a start in fame; And should you wish, why, more to know, To Tootsy’s home you’ll have to go——

To EDGAR S. WERNER & CO., 43 & 45 East 19th Street, New York City.