''CRAMMER'S CAT AND OURSr 237 



='GRAMMER'S CAT AND OURS." 



BY JOHN TABOIS TREGELLAS. 



John Tabois Tregellas (1792-1865), bom at St. Agnes. 

 The greatest master of the niceties of the Cornish dialect, 

 in which he wrote largely, both in prose and verse. The 

 piece quoted from is included in a volume of miscellanies 

 published by Mr. Netherton, Truro, and happily indicates 

 the marked difference between the modern dialect of 

 Cornwall and that of Devon, illustrated in " Girt Ofvenders 

 an' Zmal." The hero of "Crammer's Cat" was a miner named 

 Jim Chegwidden. 



To wash his hands and save the floshing, 



Outside the door Jim did his washing, 



But soon returned in haste and fright — 



" Mother, aw come ! and see the sight ; 



Up on our house there's such a row, 



Millions of cats es up there now ! " 



Jim's mother stared, and well she might ; 



She knew that Jim had not said right. 



" ' Millions ofcats,' you said ; now worn't it so ?" 



" Why, iss," said Jim, " and I beleeve ut too j 



Not millions p'rhaps, but thousands must be theere, 



And fiercer cats than they youll never hear ; 



They're spitting, yowling, and the fur is flying. 



Some of 'em's dead, I s'pose, and some is dying ; 



Such dismal groans I'm sure you never heard, 



Aw, mother ! ef you ded, you'd be affeered." 



" Not I," said Jinny ; " no, not I, indeed ; 



A hundred cats out theere, thee'st never seed." 



Said Jim, " I doan't knaw 'zackly to a cat. 



They must be laarge wauns, then, to do like that ; 



