A Quarrel Between a Cat and a Mouse

Southland Times, Issue 25341, 20 July 1935, Page 18

A Quarrel Between a Cat and a Mouse

—First Prize.—

“Pussy-cat, pussy-cat. Where have you been?” “I’ve been to London to visit the queen.” “Pussy-cat, pussy-cat. What did you there?” “I frightened a little' mouse, under a chair.” This adventure was the cause of the quarrel. The cat and the mouse had both come from the same town to see the queen in London, at a reception to be given at the palace; but, when Toby, the cat, arrived, he found that that pesty little mouse had beaten him for uie best place in the room. As soon as the timid little mouse saw the angry cat approaching, she quickly sought a place of safety. Toby immediately took up the deserted position; but just as the queen ’was about to enter, he jumped in pain, as he felt a sharp bite on his tail. Enraged, he turned round and saw his enemy smiling broadly. “You dare disturb me!” roared Toby. “I’ll teach you!” . , ~ , . , £ “Try to do it,” sneered the mouse. This made Toby beside himesif with rage. Without a thought he gave chase. As the little mouse knew that she could quite easily throw off her pursuer, she led him from one room to another, across the courtyard, down the street and eventually out into the country. Toby, for his part, did not heed his direction until he had lost the mouse altogether, and found himself stranded in a forest of waving corn. „ . , . , After many turns and twists, he at last found himself in his own home. It was a very sad and sorry cat that lapped his milk that night, because he had told all his friends of his proposed visit to Royalty; but all he had to brag about was frightening a mouse under a chair—and that could have been done any day at home. —l/6 to Cousin Keith Deal (11), 53 Mitchell street. —Second Equal.— The kitchen cat scampered rapidly down the stairs. It was pursuing a very scared mouse. As soon as the mouse reached the landing where he lived in his hole as a bachelor, he popped in and cheekily pulled an ugly face at the cat, who snarled with rage and anger. Why did he let the little mite get away? That was his dinner gone (of course that day was the day he had had to hunt for his dinner). He angrily put his paw into the hole, pushing it aimlessly to and fro. , “Ho! Ho! Ho! You could not catch me! gurgled Mr Mouse, but he did not have any suspicion of what the tabby cat was doing. Was he planning? Or was he going to leave Mr Mouse alone. He was planning! “Mr Mouse,” he said, “We shall have a race from the first landing down to the floor. If you win I shall steal some cheese from the larder, but if I win I shall have you for my tea,” he added, licking his chops. “Do you agree?” The mouse consented willingly. That afternoon the cat met Mr Mouse where they commenced the race. “Ready, set, go!” said Sam Spider, who was the starter. The two scampered noisily down the stairs. The mouse thought that we would surely win because the cat could not catch him the previous morning. But alas! The cat sped swiftly past the mouse. At this Mr Mouse grew furious. He gathered up speed and caught up with the gleeful cat. They reached the floor abreast. The cat said that he had won, biu - s -ed so ferociously that the cat said “Come with me to the larder and I shall give you the cheese if you are so anxious to have some.” They ran to the cupboard. t( “Jump on my nose,” said the sly cat, “and nibble away at the cheese. Mr Mouse obeyed the orders, but sad to relate, he was popped into the cat’s mouth and chewed up like a delicious morsel of meat. That was the end of the quarrelsome Mr Mouse. —l/- to Cousin Peter Rees (10), 272 Yarrow street. —Second Prize.— One sunny day as Mr Thomas Cat was taking his daily afternoon stroll, he came upon Mickie Mouse nibbling away at a huge piece of cheese. “Hand that over,” ordered Tom, who, being older and stronger than the majority of the inhabitants of the little township was a bully. Poor Mickie, filled with fear, backed away, his eyes pleadingly looking into Tom’s. “Hand that here,” repeated Tom gruffly. “B-B-But I c-c-can’t,” whined Mickie. “You young imp,” exclaimed Tom, licking his lips and brandishing his “B-b-but I’m s-su-supposed to take it h_ho-home to M-Mo-Mother,” lied Mickie, still whimpering. “One more chance, now; hand that over,” roared Tom. At that moment Peter Mouse came upon the scene and seeing the dangerous position his brother was in, began squealing for help. The terrible noise he made, brought Dolly, Tom’s mistress who was at that minute passing down the road in search of her darling pussy, running over to the small crowd. Now, Dolly was very frightened of rats or mice, and upon seeing Peter and Mickie, she hurriedly snatched up Tom and scampered down the road. To this day, Peter and Mickie take the greatest care to keep clear of Tom and not only that, but they also warned their friends to keep away from “Tom the Bully.” —l/- to Cousin Edmund Maloney (11), Makarewa.

—Highly Commended. — In the kitchen, when all was quiet, a poor little mouse, when out looking for food, was pounced upon by the family cat, who was lying quietly by the fire. As usually happens the cat played with the mouse before eating his victim. Though half-dead with fright the mouse kept her wits about her and thought out a plan to trick the cat. “Will you grant me one favour before I die? I would love that piece of cheese under the table.” The cat, looking towards the table, did not notice the mouse slip from between his paws. She was too quick for him, and reached the safety of her home trembling with fear. You may guess she did not venture out again that day, and ever after that. Whenever she wished to annoy the cat, she just had to whisper “Cheese,” always making sure she was safely out of his reach. —3 marks to Cousin Ronald Deal (9), 53 Mitchell street. —Highly Commended. — Master Montague Mouse had just come up from his hole for a “breather,” when who should pass by but his most dreaded enemy—Cathie Cat. Quickly he dodged back into his hole, and just then, in a very innocent and plausible tone Cathie said, “Good day” “Hallo!” said Montague in return. “Do you want to come to my party next week?” “Oh! I know that trick.” “All right, smarty. You know everything,” said Montague. This was too much for Cathie—she sprang at Montague and just missed his tail by an eighth of an inch. That sent the impudent little mouse into a panic, but sure enough he came back to continue the quarrel. Cathie, however, had already thought of a plan. She crouched behind the coal bucket and when Montague came up and thought that the “coast was clear” she pounced upon him. “A dainty morsel for my supper,” said Cathie, dragging the unfortunate Montague to an obscure corner. —3 marks to Cousin Albert Moore (9), 231 Gala street. —Commended.— There was once a little girl who owned two pets, namely, a cat and a mouse. Tabby, the cat, had been very annoyed when Mickey the mouse entered the household, and more so when he was not allowed to tease him. As the girl was too fond of them to send either of them away, she had many a hard time keeping peace between them. One day when the mistress went away, a thing she very seldom did, Tabby saw his chance. Mickey was hiding in the pantry, and Tabby, springing into the air, almost landed on him, scaring him out of his wits. “You good-for-nothing lazy creature !” screamed the mouse. “How dare you disturb me?” The cat was highly amused at the antics of the small mouse, and looked scornfully at the tiny thing beside him. “Out this minute!” he ordered. Mickey, who was scared stiff, did not move. Tabby repeated his order in a voice of thunder, but as Mickey still did not move, Tabby thought him obstinate, and tossed him out the door. At this moment their mistress came home, and, seeing the situation, hurried to Mickey’s rescue. —2 marks to Mary Maloney (10), Makarewa. —Commended.— There was once a grand Cheshire cat, who, when angry was very fierce. Now this cat lived in a very splendid house, in which the mice were plentiful. By night and day the cat watched upon the loft for the mice, and she only came down for meals which she didn’t often have. One hot summer day she saw her mistress bring home a big jug full to the brim with cream. That night the cat slunk down from the loft to the pantry. Then what' should she see but a mob of mice. , Silently and slowly she crept up behind them. Then suddenly she sprang out. “I saw that cream first,” she cried. “You didn’t,” said the mice. “When did you see it,” said the cat. “Never you mind,” said the mice. At this the cat became enraged. She caught and ate one of their number, thus putting an end to the quarrel. —2 marks to Cousin Lindsay McMillan (10), Beatrice street.

—Commended.— Kitty Cat was verj' hungry and she was going to the cupboard to see what she could find. When she arrived there she found that' Minnie Mouse had reached there before her. Kitty though that because she was the biggest she should have the cheese that Minnie had.

“I want that cheese,” exclaimed Kitty Cat. “But it isn’t fair,” said Minnie. “Your mistress feeds you well, while I have to feed on what I find.” “You are always looking around for crumbs, while I onlj' get meals twice a day,” grumbled Kitty. With that she chased Minnie out of the cupboard, after which she ate the cheese herself. But mousie was not to be outdone. He spied a huge cake on the pantry shelf, and he was now nibbling away at it happily and contentedly. —2 marks to Cousin Nellie Maloney (8), Makarewa. —Commended.— One day Mister the cat was feeling very hungry. He went up into the loft to catch a mouse. Hours and hours went by but not one mouse showed a whisker. Mister began to cry. At last a small mouse came out to see.what was the matter. The cat looked up at her. “I am lonely, come and sit beside me.” “Oh! No!” squeaked the mouse. “You would eat me.” “I don’t like mice to eat,” replied Mister. “Why! I saw you eat one yesterday.” “Yesterday!” said the cat, “I haven’t had a feed for three days and I am hungry.” “Well, I won’t go and sit beside you,” said the mouse. “Why?” asked the cat. “You’ll eat me, because you’ll eat anything when you are hungry,” squeaked the mouse. With that he ran away. Mister tried to follow but he couldn’t. —2 marks to Cousin Elsie Heath (6), Lilburn, Tuatapere. —Commended. — One night a cat met a mouse. The cat said to the mouse, “Will we go over to that hollow tree,” and he pointed to a small tree nearby. “Yes,” replied the mouse. So they walked over towards the hollow tree. When they reached there they sat down and began talking. They had not been talking long before the cat said, “Will you go over to that tree, this is too cold ?” “Yes,” said the mouse. They lived together happily for a long time. One day the cat said, “We must store away some food. When winter comes we will have nothing to eat.” The mouse agreed with this so they set out. They had not gone far when they found a jar of butter, so they decided to hide it somewhere. Finding a nice hollow tree they hid it there. After that they went home. All went well. The cat made several excuses to go out and visit the butter. At last winter came and the cat and the mouse went to the jar of butter. When they reached there the cat said “All gone.” Then the mouse saw his greedy friend had eaten it. The mouse began talking about it. The cat said, “Speak another word and I will spring on you,” but the mouse was so angry that she could not help it. The cat sprang up, the mouse jumped into a little hole. The cat was too big to get into the hole and did not see the mouse again. —2 marks to Cousin Willis Patterson (8), Waikiwi. —Commended.— Once upon a time there was a cat and a mouse who lived together. One night the cat said to the mouse, “I am going to a concert to-night. Are you coming?” The mouse said, “No, I haven’t enough money.” The cat set off alone and soon forgot about the mouse, but the mouse had not forgotten the cat. About nine o’clock the mouse thought the cat would now be having supper. Suddenly he thought of a huge jar of butter they had in the cellar and away he went and ate half of it. . Anothei - day the cat went to his sister’s wedding. When he had left the mouse ate the rest of the butter. When the cat came home that night,

the mouse was getting tea ready. The | cat suddenly said, “Why, there is no ; butter. I’ll go down and get the other jar.” He soon came back with the jar and said, “It’s very light.” The mouse said, “Oh, is it?” When the cat opened it he cried out, “You’ve eaten it all.” I Then they began to fight and they have | been enemies ever since. —2 marks to Cousin Constance Lloyd (11), Section 5, Glencoe R.D. —Commended.— There was once a cat named Fluff. She had two little kittens. They were always getting into mischief. One day Mrs Cat wanted to go hunting so she asked Mrs Mouse to come and mind her kittens while she was away. Mrs Mouse would not come. So Mrs Cat and her kittens all chased Mrs Mouse into her hole. Mrs Mouse gathered some mice and had a fight. Soon nearly all the mice were killed so that ends the story about the cat and the mice. —2 marks to Cousin Helen Goldsmith (10), Dacre. —Commended.— Once upon a time there lived an old dame who was very poor. The only things she owned was a cat, a house and some money. There were a good many mice running about and the cat was very lazy. The cat’s name was Daisy. The mice were getting very tame. One day Daisy was feeling very hungry. The butcher did not come that day and the old dame did not have any tit-bits to spare. Daisy thought she would catch a mouse for her dinner. She saw a fine, fat, big mouse running by. She made a spring and caught it. Tire mouse got such a fright that it thought it was only another mouse pretending to be a cat. He turned round and bit the other mouse (as he thought it was). The cat was very angry so she bit the mouse’s tail off. “Oh please give me back my tail,” said the mouse. “Give you back your tail,” replied the angry cat. “I will not annoy you again or go near you,” said the trembling little mouse. The cat was too hungry to wait so she killed the mouse. —2 marks to Cousin Dulcie Tuffery (9), Dacre. —Commended.— There once was a cat who thought that the mice family should give him one of their children every day. Then he would not eat the others. The mice, however, said that if they kept out of his way none of them would be killed. The cat, not agreeing, said, “I will come down and kill you all if you do not come up.” The mice only laughed and said, “Come down if you can, but we do not think you can.” The cat was very angry and cried all through the night at the mice hole. In the morning the cat said, “I am going away because you will not feed me.” A 'cry from the mice was, “Go, for we will not come out to feed you.” The cat instead of going away went round to the side of the shed. An inquisitive little mouse crept out. The cat saw his chance and sprang upon him. Now that is how the quarrel ended, the cat winning. —2 marks to Cousin Catherine Cowie (9) Otapiri R.D. —Commended.— “Squeak! Squeak! Get away, you great big black cat, and leave a poor wee thing like me alone.” “I will not. You should come into our pantry. Why! The cook told me to watch for you and you will make a nice dainty breakfast for me.” “Oh dear! Take your big paw off my neck, and we will talk about it.” “All right. We will first play. You try and get to that hole, and I will i try and stop you.” “Oh dear! There you go again. You have taken all my breath away jumping at me like that.” “Well, my little friend, you were not playing. You were trying to get away.” “No, truly I was going to try a taste of that cheese on that wee piece of board.” “Ho! Ho! That would have been worse than being caught by me. That is a trap and the cheese is bait, my friend.” “Oh please! Mr Cat, if that big black dog caught your kittens, you would be cross. Please let me go.” “But the girls all like my kittens and they squeal if they see you. I think I will have my supper, now—a wee bite of your tail for a start.” “Oh please! Mr Cat I will send my cousin to see you in the morning if you will let me go. I have such lovely whiskers. Surely you would not spoil them. They are the finest in the world.” “Mine are the best in the world. I wil leat you. What a cheeky wee thing you are. Now for a game of basketball first, up you go. Ah!” “Squeak! Squeak!” —2 marks to Cousin Dulcie Lewis (10) c/o Kilkelly Bros. Otautau R.D. —Commended.— Perhaps you all have heard about the cats being the very bad enemy of the mice. In this story you will soon see if the cat is an enemy to the mice. The Queen of Cats was having a large feast, for she had a beautiful little baby bom that very morning. She had invited fifty guests in which there were twelve mice. The twelfth mouse could not come, for she had a sore leg. The feast was going on in fine style and each mouse gave the baby cat a wish. The first mouse gave it a ring and said, “You shall be pretty and handsome.” The second one said, “You shall have golden curls when you are twelve.” Another and another said things. Then suddenly the twelfth mouse came in; she had slipped out of bed and came along all by herself. She said, “You have not invited me but I will give that baby a wish. She will be pricked by a thorn when she is fifteen and faint.” Then she ran out of the room, sulking. “She doesn’t deserve to be in the land. Soldiers, go out and find her at once!” said the Queen of Cats. The soldiers set out to find her and soon they heard a noise in the loft. “Search up in the loft,” said the leader. They saw a band of % mice with the girl they were searching for. “Give us that girl at once,” said the cats. “We won’t.” “You will so.” “You give us some money and we will give her back to you.” “Give us that girl I tell you, or we’ll soon have you behind bars.”

“We won’t.’ “You will.” “We won’t.” “You will, I tell you, and if you don’t we will put you in jail.”

They made such a noise that all the people in the farm house came to a standstill. They were soon shooed off by the farmer. The soldiers received a reward for finding the girl but they had a very bad quarrel. —2 marks to Cousin Ray Rees (9), 272 Yarrow street.