And she lapp'd up her milk, 
 And she laughed at all rule, 
 
 Till Dame Trot was obliged 
 To send pussy to school. 
 
 Where at length the dame called, 
 
 And said—" How do you do ? " 
 Grimalkin gave answer 
 
 To the friendly dame—" Mew ! " 
 Dame took her to market 
 
 Where puss rode pick-a-back, 
 To purchase their dinners, 
 
 'Fore to school puss went back. 
 The dame chose pigeon-pie, 
 
 And for puss milk and lights, 
 And she bought ale and wine, 
 And they view'd all the sights. 
 
 13 
 
 While the cats began dancing, 
 And Grimalkin to play ; 
 
 As merry as kittens, 
 On a Midsummer day : 
 
 Master, mistress, and maids, 
 And the men 'gan to sing ; 
 
 The sons and the daughters 
 Made the old farm-house ring. 
 
8 
 
 Taught kittens quick hornpipes, 
 
 Quadrilles, polkas, and reels, 
 They danced to the music 
 
 On their toes and their heels. 
 Then they frolick'd and played, 
 
 And they took a long walk ; 
 And returned home to tea : — 
 
 Cats did mew and dame talk. 
 Said a knowing old mouse, 
 
 " Now the cats are away, 
 As the old saving is, 
 
 All the mice go to play : " — 
 
 A cat and her kittens 
 
 Crept slily around, 
 And carried poor mousey 
 
 From her sport at a bound. 
 
 9 
 
 Then puss mounted Dog Ball, 
 And she had a long ride, 
 
 Through the park and the grove, 
 Without bridle to guide. 
 
 Saw the Queen and the Prince, 
 Heard the Princesses scoff ; 
 
 But all of 'em wondered 
 Pussy was not thrown off. 
 
 12 
 
 Went to visit the farm, 
 And to smell the new hay : 
 
 Men, dame, and the farmer, 
 Gave a hearty huzza ! 
 
 Said he, " Dame, lets treat them, 
 Milk and food that is nice ; 
 
 For the cats have destroyed 
 All the rats and the mice." 
 
 They entered the dairy, 
 And each cat had her fill ; 
 
 And cleared all the vermin 
 From the barn and the mill. 
 
 Grimalkin then mounted 
 Her high charger Dog Ball, 
 
 To shew to the farmer 
 
 How she'd ride round the hall. 
 
 5 
 
 Puss learned better manners 
 
 At the school, by degrees; 
 Pupils stitched, learnt lessons, 
 
 Were as busy as bees. 
 Dame pleased, once invited 
 
 All the scholars to dine, 
 Off a dish of fine fish 
 
 And some gooseberry wine. 
 
15 
 
 Dame Trot in her cottage, 
 
 And her heroine view ; 
 The dame says, " Your servant ! " 
 
 Her pet favourite — " Mew ! " 
 
 Dame Trot was the speaker, 
 
 Pussy sat in the chair ; 
 She talk'd of their travels, 
 
 Just to drive away care. 
 
 J 
 
 Next morning beg'd pardon, 
 Grimalkin and Dog Ball, 
 
 And peace and harmony 
 Reigned in Trot-house hall. 
 
 Good feeling continued, 
 
 And the dame could tell that 
 
 She went to the kitchen, 
 And saw Ball feed the cat. 
 
 14 
 
 In the midst of the mirth, 
 And the dance all around, 
 
 A most dreadful mishap 
 All their jolity drowned. 
 
 Puss at length was thrown off, 
 
 And this caused some high words : 
 
 Dog Ball and Grimalkin 
 
 Then both drew their swords ; 
 
 And a duel was fought, 
 
 And I cannot tell what, 
 Would have ended the strife, 
 
 But the stick of Dame Trot. 
 
 She scolded them soundly, 
 As to Trot-house were led ; 
 
 Good beating she gave them, 
 And she sent them to bed. 
 
 3 
 
 The comical goody 
 
 Was no more and no less 
 Than Grimalkin's teacher, 
 
 The feline governess : 
 
 Tho' the cat was oft deaf, 
 
 When most kindly Trot spoke, 
 
 Leap'd on tables and shelves, 
 Plates and China-ware broke : 
 
6 
 
 The toast that she gave them, 
 As they gobbled the sprats, 
 
 Was — " Good health and long life 
 To the nation of cats ! " 
 
 But one respectable 
 
 Grey-whiskered fine cat, 
 
 In the midst of the feast, 
 Smelt a mouse or a rat. 
 
 I I 
 
 When Hodge and his waggon 
 Near dame's cot were espied, 
 
 She determined to give 
 All the cats a fine ride : 
 
 Grimalkin and ladies 
 
 In the waggon, of course, 
 
 While the gentlemen cats 
 
 Mounted each his own horse ; 
 
 10 
 
 A neighbouring farmer 
 
 Was much troubled with mice ; 
 Savs the dame " We will cle;ir 
 
 Them away in a trice." 
 
 From the school all the cats 
 Went in haste to the house ; 
 
 And at night, they returned, 
 Each one bearing a mouse: 
 
 The farmer was pleased 
 
 That the mice were all gone ; 
 
 And he said — " My fine cats, 
 For what you have done, 
 
 Here take home a fine ham, 
 I will send you some game ; 
 
 And give my best respects 
 To the worthy old dame." 
 
 7 
 
 So, without asking leave, 
 To the garden she ran, 
 
 And received a fat mouse 
 From the hand of a man 
 
 Milk and fish were removed, 
 They then left in a trice ; 
 
 For diversion and fun, 
 Pussy fiddled to mice.