Billy Ruffan.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 3, 18 January 1908, Page 48

Billy Ruffan.

(From “Kat and Kitten Tales,” by Isabel Allardyce.) We had a great reunion in the yard Last Sunday night, and did enjoy it so; It was to welcome back a friend of ours Who went away a kitten, years ago. The older ones remembered him quite well Although he had been gone so many years, And looked so very foreign and so strange With red silk tassels dangling in his ears, He went oil' with a sailor in a ship, And by the tars was Billy Ruffan named; As every scholar knows this person was A man of letters and a Greek much famed. When we had supped and gathered on the fence To listen to the many thrilling tales He had to tell of travels far and wide, Of deep-sea perils, whirlpools, monsters, gales. He thrice was wrecked upon the Spanish Main, And sailed o’er unknown seas to unknown lands, Tramped desert plains, was starved in prisons vile, And overboard was tossed by pirate hands. As he this last indignity recalled, His silken earrings with emotion shook; He saw his finish there and then, he said, But he was rescued by the coloured cook. And then bo told us how, soon after this, He and his friends were east upon a shore Where man eats man at almost every meal. And but for him those friends would be no more. He, in alarm, had hidden in a tree, Whence, nearly dead with fright, he watched the scene,

And saw the savages prepare a fire To cook the mariners, both fat amf lean. Then, making up his mind to save his friends From being served as roast, or boil, or stew, He leaped upon the nearest painted back And let out one loud, long, uncanny mew. The cannibals had never seen a cat, And Billy Ruffan, angry, big and black, With yellow eyes ablaze and tail in air, Looked like a demon on their comrade’s back. They gave a frightened yell, and with a dash Made for the woods, while Billy and the tars Ran off the other way and never stopped Until they all were safe on trolley cars. I couldn’t tell you half the tales he tola; Besides, he talked in such a pleasing way That, as we listening sat, he charmed us so He made us quite forget, the time of day. The stars had slowly faded from the sky, And o’er the distant hills a glint of light Announced the coming dawn. We mewed farewell, But planned to meet again some other night.