Belling The Cat

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1939, Page 2

Belling The Cat

(Sent in by Mabel Timperley, Parua Bay. Age 13).

A number of mice were annoyed by a watchful cat that lived in the.same house as they.

They never knew when they were safe, for she was on the hunt for every hour of the day and'night. So at last they held a-meeting to decide what should be done about the matter.

‘if you will take my advice,” said one mouse, “you will lose no time in hanging a bell round Mistress Pussy’s neck. That will give us warning whenever she is coming, and we can run out of her way.” “A good idea,” said another mouse. “Are wo all in the same mind?” The rest of the mice agreed heartily. “Then,” he went on, “there is nothing to do except to decide who of.us will undertake to fasten the bell on the cat's neck.” But after these sensible speeches the fine scheme came to nothing for among all'the mice, not one of them was brave enough to bell the cat. Poetry (Sent in by Shirley Rowland. Maungatapere. Age 9). A teacher was taking the poetry lesson and told the class to follow the one he was writing on the board. The verse he gave was: “The swallow is a roving bird, In winter he goes to Spain; But when the warm, glad summer comes, He hastens home again.” There was silcnce for a while and a small boy stood up and recited: “An', on Ms ’omeward journey, ’E meets a bloomin’ ’awk, Oo pinches all Ms fevvers, Saying, ‘Now, yer blighter, walk.”’ .