212 



A CAT-ASTROPHE. 



"Oh! yah! Come on!" said the cat, with a grin of defiance; and 

 she scampered oif down the street, with Mr. Dog in full pursuit. 

 Down that street and up the next; round the corner, across the 



square, through the alley-way, 

 along the avenue beyond; on 

 went the vagrant cat at light- 

 ning speed, and on went the 

 great Mr. Dog in pursuit, his 



green coat- 

 tails flying, 

 his hat off, 

 his ears and 

 tail stream- 

 ing in the 

 wind. 



" Yah ! " 



cried the 



cat, looking back over her shoulder. " In one instant you'll be 



with them again, eh? F-f-f-f! S-s-s-s! H-a-a-a-h! Come on, 



old Yellow-legs!" 



Up the next avenue, across the square, down the street, through 

 the court; what is that queer-looking place at the end of the court? 

 There is a rush, a squeal, a scramble, a splash, and a howl; and the 

 vagrant cat is sitting on top of a brick 

 wall, and the great Mr. Dog is wallow- 

 ing in a muddy pool at the foot of it. 



Oil, dear! me! ! ! Just look at the 

 green cut-away coat, and the yellow 

 Nankeen trousers, and the patent-leather 

 boots ! And think of Mrs. Dog's feelings, 

 and little Tray's feelings, when they see 

 their husband and father in this con- 

 dition. 



But the vagrant cat danced a horn- 

 pipe on the top of the brick wall. " Ha ! 

 ha! ha!" she said. "Ye-a-ou-ow! 

 F-sssssssssss ! Yah ! " for such was her__^j;^; 

 impudent disposition. 



