THE CAT 



Awaken'd by the shock, cried Puss, 

 " Was ever cat attended thus ! 

 The open drawer was left, I see, 

 Merely to prove a nest for me; 

 For soon as I was well composed, 

 Then came the maid, and it was closed. 

 How smooth these kerchiefs and how sweet, 

 Oh, what a delicate retreat ! 

 I will resign myself to rest, 

 Till Sol, declining in the west, 

 Shall call to supper, when, no doubt, 

 Susan will come and let me out." 



The evening came, the sun descended, 

 And Puss remain'd still unattended. 

 The night rolled tardily away 

 (With her indeed 'twas never day), 

 The sprightly morn her course renew'd, 

 The evening grey again ensued, 

 And Puss came into mind no more 

 Than if entomb'd the day before. 



With hunger pinch'd, and pinch'd for room^ 

 She now presaged approaching doom, 

 Nor slept a single wink, nor purr'd, 

 Conscious of jeopardy incurr'd. 



That night by chance, the poet watching, 

 Heard an inexplicable scratching ; 

 His noble heart went pit-a-pat, 

 And to himself he said,—" What's that? " 

 146 



