SELECT POETRY. CATCHING THE CAT.

Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 14 November 1879, Page 2 (Supplement)

SELECT POETRY. CATCHING THE CAT.

By Margaret Vandkukitt. The mice had met in council ; They ail looked haggard aud worn, For the state i.f affairs was too terrible To be auy longer borne. Jf>t a family out of mourning — Tuere was crape ou every hat. They were desperate — something must be done, Aud done ac once, to tbe cat. An elderly member rose, and said : " It might prove a possible thing To set the trap which they set for us — That one wich the a^ful spiiug ?" The suggestion was applauded Loudly, by one and all, Till somebody squeaked : " That trap would be About muety rive times too small !" Then a medical mouse suggested— A little under his breath — Tuey should confiscate the very first mouse That died a natural death, And he'd undertake to poison the cat, If they'd let him prepare that mease. " There's not been a natural death," they shrieked, " Since the cat came iuto the honse '." The smallest mouse in the council Arose with a solemn air, And, by way of increasing his stature, Rubbed up his whiskers aud hair. He waited until there was silence All along the pantry shelf, And then he saia with dignity, '• / will catch the cat myself ! ' " Wben next I hear her coming, Instead of running away I shall iiurn and face her boldly, And pretend to be at play : She will not see her danger, Poor creature ! I suppose - Uut -JS she sc<«ops to catch me. I shall catch her, by the nose !" The mice began to look hopeful, Yes, even the old ones, when A grey -haired sage said slowly, " And what will you do with her then ?" The champion, disconcerted. .Replied with dignity, ** Well, I think if you'll all excuse me, T would be wiser not to tell ! " We all have our inspirations — " This produced a general tmirk — "But we are not all at liberty To explain just how they 11 work. I ask you, then, to trusts me ; You need have no farther fears — Consider our enemy done for !" The council gave three cheers. " I do believe s-he's coming .'" .--aid a small mouse, nervously. "Run, if you like,'' said the champion, "But /shall wait and see !" And sure enough she was coming — Toe mice all sc .mpered away Except the noble eh impion, Who had made up his imnd to stay. The mice had faith, of course they had — They were all of them noble souls, But a sort of general feeling Kept them safely iv their holes. Until some time in the evening ; Tnen the boldest ventured out, And saw, happily in the distance, The caD prance gaily about ! There was dreadful consternation, Till sume oue at last said, '* Oh, He's not hai time to do it, Lyt us not prejudge him so I" "I believe in him, of course i do," Said the nervous mouse with a sigh, " But the eat looks uncommonly happy, Aud I wish I did know why !" The cat, I regret to mention, Still prances about tae h -use, And no message, letter, or telegram Has come from the champion mouse. The mice are a little d'SCuuraged ; The demand for crape goes on ; They feel they'd be happier if they knew Where the champion mouse had gone. This story has a moral — It is very short you see ; So no one, of course, will ? kip it, For fear of offending me. It is well to be cuiirageou.-*, And valiant, and all that, But — if you are mice — you'd better think twice, Betore you catch the cat.