So they sat in a tree, And said, "Beautiful! Hark! " Then sang, by the fireside, A song without words They called the next day Home in a barrow. "You shall all have some sprats For your humani-ty, My seven good cats," Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. The Dame's heart was nigh broke, So she sat down to weep, When she saw them come back Each riding a sheep. She fondled and patted Each purring tom-my: The Dame was unable Jump up to its mother. The Farmer soon heard Where his sheep went astray, For their kindness he had them All drawn by his team; And gave them some field-mice, And raspberry-cream. He sent his maid out For some muffins and crumpets; And when he turn'd round They were blowing of trumpets. Said he, "I suppose She's as deaf as can be, Or this ne'er could be borne By Dame Wiggins of Lee." To show them his poultry, You see them arrived At their Dame's welcome door; And sit down with me; THE MICE, THE CAT, AND THE BELL. There was a sly Cat, it seems, in a house, and the Mice were in such fear of her, that they had a court to find some way that she might not catch them. "Do as I say," cried one of the Mice; "hang a bell to the Cat's neck, to tell us when she is near." bright plan made the Mice jump for joy. "Well," said an old Mouse, "we have a pretty plan. Now, who shall hang the bell to the Cat's neck?" Not a Mouse would do it. This THE FIELD MOUSE AND THE TOWN MOUSE. A Field Mouse had a friend who lived in a house in town. Now the Town Mouse was asked by the Field Mouse to dine with him, and out he went and sat down to a meal of corn and wheat. "Do you know, my friend," said he, "that you live a mere ant's life out here? Why, I have all kinds of things at home; come, and enjoy them." So the two set off for town, and there the Town Mouse showed his beans and meal, his dates, too, his cheese and fruit and honey. And as the Field |