Full text of "Kittens and cats; a book of tales"

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REFERENCE

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I AM THE QUEEN

I II I I 1 I I I 1 I I I I 1 I I I I I I M I I I H I III 1 I I I I 1 I I II I MM I

KITTENS AND CATS

JFtrst Beater

EULALIE OSGOOD GROVER

AUTHOR OF "THE SUNBONNET BABIES' PRIMER,"

"THE OVERALL BOYS," ETC.

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HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY

BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO DALLAS SAN FRANCISCO

QTbe ftibeuffte Press Cambridge

BT EULALIE OSGOOD GROVER

PICTURES COPYRIGHTED BY THE ROTOGRAPH CO.

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CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

TO FRITZ

WHO LOVES KITTENS AND
CATS AS MUCH AS

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CONTENTS

THE QUEEN 2

GRANNY GRAY 4

GETTING EEADY - 6

I WONDER 7

READY FOR THE PARTY . . . . . 8

A FULL CART 9

TIME TO START 10

Is MY HAT ON STRAIGHT . . . . 12

HIDING 14

AN INVITATION 15

No PARTY FOR ME .16

FM OFF 18

BEING WEIGHED 20

THE PARTY 22

vi CONTENTS

THE COMMANDING OFFICER . . . .23

THE LATEST NEWS ..... 24

WHAT is IT? 25

I'LL SING YOU A SONG . . . . 26

A TALE OF A MOUSE .... 28

WE ARE THE CATS ..... 29
A NURSE'S TALE ...... 30

A FAMOUS MOUSER 32

A LONG TIME AGO .34

DUNCE'S TALE 36

TALE OF THREE KITTENS . . . .38

THE KITTENS THREE 41

A EAINY-DAY TALE 42

A TALE OF LONDON TOWN .... 44

A TALE I KNOW 46

CONTENTS yii

A TALE OF ST. IVES 48

A LITTLE FAIRY'S TALE . . . . .50

A SECRET 52

WHO WAS HE ........ 54

A STRANGER 55

A SAD TALE 56

MY OWN TALE 58

THREE TALES 60

A SIGHT TO SEE 61

A TRAID-CAT'S TALE 62

FROM THE NORTH POLE 64

THE TWINS 66

Do WE LOOK ALIKE 67

WHAT SHALL WE SING 68

WAITING 69

viii CONTENTS

DING, DONG, BELL 70

THE DINING-ROOM ...... 72

I AM so HUNGRY . . . ... 74

THE QUEEN'S TEA-TABLE . , v ; < , 75

SEVEN LITTLE PUSSY-CATS . . . - . 76

MANY THANKS 78

GOOD NIGHT . . . . . . 79

THE LAST TALE 80

KITTENS AND CATS

THE QUEEN

I am the Queen of all the Kittens.

I am the Queen ! the Queen !

Come, all you kittens and cats.

Hear what I have to say.

To-morrow I give a grand party.

The party will be in my palace.

You are all invited from the biggest to
the littlest, from the oldest to the young-
est, from the blackest to the whitest.

So wash your paws and shine your fur.

Forget your naughty tricks and do not
one of you dare be late to your Queen's
party.

To-morrow at one o'clock.

UHMIIIIIIIUI

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1 1 1 1 n i n i n i 1 1 i n 1 1 n 1 1 1 n i it n 1 1

IT IS MY PARTY

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KITTENS AND CATS

GRANNY GKAY

I am Granny Gray.

I am very, very old, but I am going to
the Queen's party.

I am grandmother to a great many
kittens.

When any of them are naughty their
mothers always send for me.

When any of them are sick I always

know what to do.

I teach them how to sing.

I teach them how to scratch.

I teach them how to catch mice.

I am very, very old.

They call me Granny Gray.

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I AM GRANNY GRAY

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6 KITTENS AND CATS

^-^=-^1^.

GETTING KEADY

Hark, hark ! what is that noise ?

No, I cannot play with you now.

I must take my bath.

I must get ready for the party.

I have a new jacket and a new hat to

wear.

My pants were new last week, but they

are not new now.

I tore two holes in them when I climbed
the apple tree in the back yard.

Mother patched them, but someway the
patches show more than the holes did.

Perhaps my new jacket will cover the
patches. I hope I shall look well dressed.

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I AM TAKING MY BATH

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I WONDER

I wonder if those horrid patches

Upon my trousers white
Would show as much if they were not

As black as black as night ?

8 KITTENS AND CATS

EEADY FOR THE PARTY

Mew ! mew ! mew ! mew !

Come, mother, come quickly !

We are all ready and waiting to start.

Yes, we are all here.

There are one, two, three, four of us.

The carriage is pretty small, but we
think we can all get in.

We will be good this time and not
push each other out.

But please do come quickly, mother.

It is hard to sit so still.

Mew ! mew ! mew ! mew !

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WE ARE ALL HERE

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A FULL CAUT

We are three little cats in a cart
And one underneath on the floor,

The cart is so full we hardly see how
There '11 be any room for more.

10 KITTENS AND CATS

TIME TO START

Dear me! my kittens are in such a
hurry ! They give me no time to dress.

It takes a very long time to shine my
fur and to fix my bonnet.

It is a new bonnet. This is the first time
I have worn it. I hope it looks all right,

I must practice sitting up straight and
proper just for a minute. I want the
Queen to know that I am a fine lady.

I hope my kittens will not rough up
their fur. If they do I shall have to
shine it all over again.

Now we must start.

Where is their father ?

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I HAVE A NEW BONNET

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12 KITTENS AND CATS

IS MY HAT ON STRAIGHT

Here I am. Yes, I am the father of
those four fine kittens.

They are such beautiful kittens their
mother does not eyen tie ribbons around
their necks.

I am glad of that, for I do not like
ribbons.

I must go now and take them all to
the Queen's palace. I am sure they will
be the handsomest kittens there.

I suppose I shall have to push their
carriage.

Come, mother, let us be off. Are my
whiskers stiff ? Is my hat on straight ?

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WAITING FOR THE CHILDREN

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KITTENS AND CATS

HIDING

Don't tell anybody where I am.

I am hiding away from mother.

She wants me to go to the Queens
party and I don't want to go.

I don't like the Queen, she is so grand
and dignified.

She frightens me.

I would rather hide in this pitcher all
day than go to the Queen's palace.

Please don't tell where I am.

You will not, will you ?

DON T TELL ANYBODY

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AN INVITATION

I've had an invitation
To go to see the Queen,

But I 'm a bashful kitten
And I 'd rather not be seen.

16 KITTENS AND CATS

NO PAETY FOE ME

How strange it is that some of us want
to go to the party, and some do wo want
to go. Some of us can go, and some can-
not go.

I am one who wants to go, and I am
one who cannot go.

I have a sick head. It aches. Perhaps
I caught too many mice last night.

The doctor has been here. He told me
to take this medicine every half -hour.

How I wish I could go to the party !

They surely will have something good
to eat there, but I must stay at home and
take my medicine.

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I HAVE A SICK HEAD

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18 KITTENS AND CATS

I'M OFF

I 'm off for the Queen's palace.

I ? na the only cat in our country who
has an automobile.

But I suppose all the fine cats will be
having them soon.

It is really great fun to ride faster
than any cat or kitten can run.

I would invite you to ride too. but

there is room for only one.
So, good-bye !
I 'm off for the Queen's party.

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IN MY AUTOMOBILE

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20 KITTENS AND CATS

BEING WEIGHED

Yes, I am being weighed.

It frightens me to hang in the air like

this.

What if I should fall, with my feet
tied up in this bag !

I am sure I should be killed !

Can you see how much I weigh?

Nearly two pounds ?

You don't mean it!

Then I am big enough to go to the
party all alone, though I am not sure
that I want to go.

I think I had rather stay at home and
play.

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HOW MUCH DO I WEIGH ?

Minium

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22 KITTENS AND CATS

THE PAKTY

Attention, kittens and cats ! The clock
strikes one. The Queen's party has begun.

I am the Commanding Officer of the
palace. Attention to what I have to say !

Our Queen bids you welcome.

She waits for you in her throne room.

As you each pass in you must salute
her and recite for her a cat tale, a rat
tale, or some other tale, long or short, true
or not.

But no fears or tears, for our Queen
has a fine dinner in her grand dining-room
for all brave kittens and cats.

Now who has the best tale ?

niiiiiiiiiiit mi II i mm mum

I VE A FEATHER IN MY CAP

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THE COMMANDING OFFICER

I 'm an officer of the Queen ;

1 5 m proud as proud can be,
For I 've a feather in my cap,

As any one can see.

24 KITTENS AND CATS

THE LATEST NEWS

We are here to bring great news, O
Queen !

We are here to bring great news !
Do you know !
Do you know !

Do you know a balloon

Has gone up to the moon !
The moon has been found
By a great, big balloon.
' Up in a balloon, boys,
Sailing round the moon, boys.'

Just think of that !
Hurrah for the balloon !
Hurrah for the big moon !

BREAKING THE NEWS

WHAT IS IT

What's the news of the day,
Good neighbor, I pray ?

They say a balloon

Has gone up to the moon.

26 KITTENS AND CATS

I'LL SING YOU A SONG

I am a famous singer among kittens
and cats. I sing in the kitten choir and
in big concerts.

I wear a French bonnet when I sing.
My voice is very soft and very sweet.
I have come here to-day to sing for my
Queen.

Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r !
I '11 sing you a song.
Though not very long,
Yet I think it is as pretty as any.
Put your hand in your purse.
You'll never be worse,
And give the sweet singer a penny.

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THE SWEET SINGER

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28 KITTENS AND CATS

A TALE OF A MOUSE

Listen, O Queen, to this tale of a mouse !
' Hickory, dickory, dock, .
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory, dickory, dock. 5
And we gobbled him up.
So, dear Queen, no mouse shall trouble
your party while we two brave cats are
here.

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TWO BRAVE CATS

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WE ARE THE CATS

Oh! we are the cats that caught the

mouse.

That ran up the clock so fast.
The clock struck one, and down he run,
And we gobbled him up at last.

30 KITTENS AND CATS

A NURSE'S TALE

I 'm the nurse who takes care of kit-
tens and cats when they are sick.

Sometimes they eat too much and have
the stomach-ache.

Sometimes they fall down stairs and
bump their heads.

Sometimes they get their tails bitten

by bad dogs.

Then their mothers send for me and I
take care of them until they are well.

I always wear a white dress and a
white bonnet.

If you ever get sick just send for me
and I will take care of you.

IIIMHIMIll II I M Illllf Illllllllllll MUM 111

A LITTLE NURSE

32 KITTENS AND CATS

A FAMOUS MOUSER

I am a famous mouser. I have caught
more mice than any other cat.

I can see them afar off .

I can hear them afar off.

I can scent them afar off.

They are all afraid of me.

They scurry away whenever they see
me coming.

I wear soft pads on the bottom of my
feet so they cannot hear me.

I keep my teeth white and sharp.

My friends call me * the Mouse Trap.'

But I know a Kitty who is not a good

mouser. I will tell you about her.

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'THE MOUSE TRAP'

34 KITTENS AKD CATS

This is my story:

A LONG TIME AGO

Once there was a little Kitty,

White as the snow;
In the barn she used to frolic,

Long time ago.

In the barn a little Mousie.

Ran to and fro;
For she heard the Kitty coming,

Long time ago.

Nine pearl teeth had little Kitty,
All in a row;

A BOOK OF TALES 35

And they bit the little Mousie,
Long time ago.

When the teeth bit little Mousie,

Mousie cried, Oh!
But she got away from Kitty,

Long time ago.

No mouse ever slipped through my
paws like that, I am glad to say.
I am a great mouser.
Yes, I am a famous mouser, O Queen!

36 KITTENS AND CATS

A DUNCE'S TALE

The other day in school I couldn't do
my sums.

I could n't tell how many two and two
make.

I could n't read my lesson.

I couldn't say my A B C's.

I could n't sing my song.

So the teacher made me stand on a
stool. Then she put this cap on my head.

I have had to wear it ever since.

After this I am going to study hard.

I don't like to be called a dunce.

I don't like to sit on a stool.

Would you?

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YES, I AM A DUNCE

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niiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimnimTi

38 KITTENS AND OATS

A TALE OF THREE KITTENS

We will tell you a tale of ourselves, dear

Queen. A tale of three little kittens.
' Three little Kittens lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
" O mother dear,
We very much fear
That we have lost our mittens."

' " Lost your mittens !

You naughty Kittens !
Then you shall have no pie."

"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!"
" No, you shall have no pie."

"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!"

UM minium

Illlllllll II HI 1 I III! 11

THE KITTENS THAT LOST THEIR MITTENS ^

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40 KITTENS AND OATS

; The three little Kittens found their

mittens,
And they began to cry,

" O mother dear,

See here, see here,
See! we have found our mittens/'

4 " Put on your mittens,

You silly Kittens,
And you may have some pie."

" Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r,
Oh, let us have the pie !

Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r."'

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MEE-OW, MEE-OW

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THE KITTENS THREE

Did you ever see the kittens three
That lost their mittens so red ?
They hopped in chairs and looked
about,

And ' mee-ow ' and < mee-ow,' they said.

42 KITTENS AKD CATS

A RAINY-DAY TALE

One day it rained and we could not
go out of doors.

So my brothers and sisters and I played
Hide and Seek in the attic.

All of a sudden one of my brothers
said, ' I '11 tell you what let 's do ! '

'What's that?' we all asked together.

6 Let 's dress up! It's lots of fun.'

So we ran to the closet where father
and mother keep their Sunday clothes.

I put on father's trousers, and now I
wear them every day.

My brothers and sisters laugh at me.

But I think I look fine, don't you !

"Jin " '" nimnnn 11 n Mini nimiimii MUM in

HIS FATHER S TROUSERS

Illl Ill I1HHI III I 111 III I I III III

44 KITTENS AND CATS

A TALE OF LONDON TOWN

If you should say :

< Pussy-cat, pussy-cat,

Where have you been ? '
I should say :

' 1 9 ve been to London

To look at the Queen.'
If you should say :

' Pussy-cat, pussy-cat,

What did you there ? '
Then I should say :

' I frightened a little mouse

From under her chair.'
And she gave me these fine clothes.

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THE HERO

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46 KITTENS AND CATS

A TALE I KNOW

Hey! diddle, diddle,
The cat and the fiddle.
The cow jumped over the moon;

The little dog laughed

To see such sport,
While the dish ran after the spoon.
I know, for I was the cat with the fiddle.
[ saw the cow jump over the moon.
[ heard the little dog laugh.
[ saw the dish run away with the spoon.
Poor spoon!
I saw the whole of the fun.

Hey! diddle, diddle,

The cat and the fiddle!

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HEY! DIDDLE, DIDDLE

48 KITTENS AND CATS

A TALE OF ST. IVES

Listen, O Queen! to my wonderful
tale.

' As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives
Every wife had seven sacks,
Every sack had seven cats,
Every cat had seven kits:
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,
How many were there going to St.
Ives ? '

I have thought and counted, and
counted and thought, but I cannot tell
how many were going to St. Ives.

Can you help me, wise Queen?

I II 1 1 1 1

ON THE WAY TO ST. IVES

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50 KITTENS AND CATS

A LITTLE FAIRY'S TALE

I am called Little Fairy.

Would you know that I am only a
kitten, dear Queen?

Even the mice do not know it, for
they play with me and we have fine
frolics together.

One day a little mouse told me just
where to find his house.

If he had known that I was a real,
live kitten, I am sure he never would
have told me.

Would you like to know where the
little mouse lives ? A friend was with
me and she will tell you. Listen !

INN in miiiiiiini i mi 1 1

THEY CALL ME LITTLE FAIRY

ii I Mil ii linn ii i ii i ii i linn i ii i in i i ii 1111 in i mi in i

52 KITTENS AND CATS

A SECKET

Yes, listen to my wonderful secret!
I asked the mouse,
6 Where is your house ? '
The mouse then said to me,
' Tell not the cat
And I '11 tell thee.
Up stairs and down stairs,
Then straight ahead;
To the right, to the left,
Then bend down your head;
For there is my house
With the door so small,
That even a mouse
Can't go in if he 's tall.'

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miiiiiiiumiiiiinuiHiiininmmiHiiliniD

I KNOW A SECRET

54 KITTENS AND CATS

WHO WAS HE

I have a strange tale, O Queen.

The other day I found a round glass.

An old man was looking into the glass,
so I looked in, and guess what I saw.

I saw a cat looking straight at me.

His face was white just like mine.

His eyes had black spots in them just
like mine, and his whiskers were long
just like mine.

When I said ' Mew ! ' he said ' Mew ! '

When I moved my paw, he moved his
paw.

When I ran away, he ran away too, so
I never have found out who he was.

BEHIND THE LOOKING-GLASS

.11 HI I. Ill 1.1 II HI . 111! .[.......

A STRANGER

I 've met the cat that lives behind
The looking glass, you see.

He's very handsome, and he looks
For all the world like me.

56 KITTENS AND CATS

A SAD TALE

Ding, dong, bell !
My pretty pussy is drowned, is drowned !

Ding, dong, bell !

Pussy 's in the well.

Who put her in ?

Little Tommy Lin.

Who pulled her out ?

Great Johnny Stout.
What a naughty boy was that.
To drown the poor, poor pussy-cat,
Who never did him any harm,
But killed the mice in his father's barn.

Ding, dong, bell !

I am sad, so sad, dear Queen!

10.IIIM1M II II I MMMII MM 1 M 1 M M MM MM IMMI Ml II MM I M

MY PUSSY S IN THE WELL

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58 KITTENS AND CATS

MY OWN TALE

Pussy-cat Mew jumped over a coal,
And in her best petticoat burnt a great
hole.

Poor Pussy's weeping, she'll have no

more milk
Until her best petticoat 's mended with

silk.

Mew! mew! mew!
I am Pussy-cat Mew.

1 . ' ' ' I 1 1 I I I 1 I I I 1 V IJ I 1 1 I I I 1 (

I II I I 1111 1111 HIM I III 1 11

PUSSY-CAT MEW

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60 KITTENS AND CATS

THREE TALES

I am the cat, that caught the rat.

That ate the malt,

That lay in the house that Jack built.

I am the dog, that worried the cat,

That caught the rat,

That ate the malt,

That lay in the house that Jack built.

I am the kitten all forlorn,

That scratched the dog,

That worried the cat,

That caught the rat,

That ate the malt,

That lay in the house that Jack built.

11 1111 1! I Mil .1 I.I ..III I.. I..... .......... I .............. 1. .

PRIZE-WINNERS

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mifttiiiim

A SIGHT TO SEE

The cat and the dog arid the kitten
Were as brave as brave could be,

But when they came to visit the Queen^
Why, they were a sight to see !

62 KITTENS AND CATS

A 'FRAID-CAT'S TALE

Once I was a 'fraid-cat, dear Queen.
All the kittens and cats laughed at
me and sang this song about me.

C was a cat who ran after a rat,
But her courage did fail
When he seized on her tail.

Now what do you think that cat did do?

She jumped in a chair and cried,

Mew! mew!

I was the cat who ran after the rat.
But my courage did fail
When he seized on my tail.

Mew! mew!

MY COURAGE DID FAIL

64: KITTENS AND CATS

FROM THE NORTH POLE

I came from the land of the snow,
from the land of the Eskimo, where the
summer is all day and the winter is all
night.

We dress in fur coats up there.

It 's cold, so cold one can hardly wink.

But I am proud of my land, for the
North Pole is there.

The dogs have seen it. They tell us
so.

And what the dogs say is true, you
know.

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A LITTLE ESKIMO

'I "1""1 HI llllllll II II I II lllllll I I 1 I II I I

66 KITTENS AND CATS

THE TWINS

We are twin kittens.

There are two of us, and we look just
alike.

Our brothers and sisters cannot tell us
apart.

Even our mother cannot tell us apart.

When one of us says "Mew!" the
other says "Mew!"

When one is hungry, the other is
hungry.

When one is sleepy, the other is sleepy.

We are afraid, dear Queen, that we are
beginning to be sleepy right now.

We have had such fun at your party!

I. **....... I II

TWO SLEEPY KITTENS

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DO WE LOOK ALIKE

We look alike and dress alike.

And act alike, they say.
And that is why we 're called the Twins

By good old Granny Gray.

68 KITTENS AND CATS

_^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ t

WHAT SHALL WE SING

We are twins too, and they say we
look alike.

We are so hungry just now we simply
cannot tell you a tale.

But we will sing you a song, if we
can think of one.

Hey ding a ding, what shall we sing ?

How many holes in a skimmer ?
Four and twenty, we're feeling quite
empty ;

Dear Queen, give us some dinner.
Hey ding a ding, what shall we sing?

Dear Queen, give us some dinner.

.......... .............. 11

WE RE FEELING QUITE EMPTY

ii ii i mini i M linn in in i in 11 i ii 1 1 11 11 11 in i in i 11. ii i .1.1 in 1. 1 in ii i i in iim ! i i ii iiii 11 nil

WAITING

We Ve washed our paws and noses red ;

We think we look quite neat;
We 've donned our bibs, and now we beg

For something good to eat.

*l 731

70 KITTENS AND CATS

DING, DONG, BELL

Ding, doiig, bell !

We have something to tell!

All you kittens and cats who have told
tales of rats, or of mice, or of cats, and
have made our Queen laugh, listen!

The Queen bids you come to the grand
dining-room. There a dinner she spreads
which may quite turn your heads.

Heed what we say and we '11 show you
the way.

Ding, dong, bell!

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

n tun miiiiii 1 1 m M 1 1

DING, DONG, BELL

Illl II II HIM Ml 1 111 111 1 Nil ill

72 KITTENS AND CATS

THE DINING-ROOM

Oh my ! What a fine dining-room, and
how many tables there are !

Each cat has a table all to himself. I
wonder why.

There is the Queen sitting at the end
of the room.

She is looking straight at me.

Oh dear! What if I should spill my
milk on this white cloth!

What would the Queen say to me !

I am almost afraid to drink it.

It is so hard to drink out of china cups.
But I must try.

Ill 1 1 I I I I I I 1 I H 1 1 1 M I 1 1 I I I 1 M I H I 1 I 1 1 I 1 I I 1 ) I 1 I I M 1 I 1 I TTP

(V- -\

THE QUEEN IS LOOKING STRAIGHT AT ME

TV ..........i.iiiiinniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinri

I I 1 II I 1 I I I I II I 111 Mil II 1 II 1 1 U I I I 1 I I I I II II i I I I I I 1 1 1 I 1 I I 1 III 111 1

74 KITTENS AKD CATS

I AM SO HUNGEY

I wish some one would hurry and bring
me some milk.

Mine is all gone and so is my mouse.

I wonder if this is all we are going to
have to eat.

I am so hungry I shall have to go home
and catch a rat.

The Queen is asking some one to tell
a story. I believe she means me.

Yes, dear Queen, I will tell you a story
about seven little pussy-cats who were
not so polite as we are. But first may I
please have a little more milk to drink ?

(My tale is coming.)

. t..>IMIt IK... ..._

HiilllllililIIIHilllllHIIIIIMIIIl"lilttlll I""" ! "

A HUNGRY CAT

iiifiiiniiif

THE QUEEN'S TEA-TABLE

The Queen has had the table set,

As fine as fine can be,
And now I wish she 'd send some niilk

For a hungry cat like me.

76 KITTENS AND CATS

SEVEN LITTLE PUSSY-CATS

Seven little pussy-cats, invited out to tea,
Cried: 'Mother, let us go. Oh, do! for

good we '11 surely be.
We '11 wear our bibs and hold our things

as you have shown us how:
Spoons in right paws, cups in left,

and make a pretty bow.
We '11 always say, " Yes, if you please,"

and Only half of that." '
< Then go, my darling children,' said the

happy Mother Cat.
The seven little pussy-cats went out that

night to tea.
Their heads were smooth and glossy, their

tails were swinging free ;

A BOOK OF TALES 77

They held their things as they had

learned, and tried to be polite ;
With snowy bibs beneath their chins

they were a pretty sight.
But, alas for manners beautiful, and coats

as soft as silk!
The moment that the little kits were

asked to take some milk,
They dropped their spoons, forgot to

bow, and oh, what do you think ?
They put their noses in the cups and all

began to drink!
Yes, every naughty little kit set up a

Mee-ow for more,
Then knocked the tea-cup over, and

scampered through the door.

78 KITTENS AND CATS

MANY THANKS

Sing, sing, what shall I sing?
Many thanks to my Queen,

I will sing,

I will sing.

Do, do, what shall I do ?
I will run away home,

And go to bed too,

And go to bed too.

"llLLL'i'""^ """"""""""" """""

I M GOING HOME

n"i mi i nil mill mi|ii

IIIIIIHIIIIIUI nilllll

GOOD NIGHT

Yes, I have put my jacket on,
And my Good Night have said,

And now I'm going home again,
And then straightway to bed.

minim

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 I I I I 1 1 II I I I I I 1 1 II 1 1 1 1 1 ITT

nun

SH-H-H

i iiiiimiiiiiiniii nnmmim 1111 inn i mi iMiiiiinniiiiniii in/i iuiiinni|fi

""in

THE LAST TALE

The book is done, the tales are told;

Don't wake me with your noise.
For I 'm as tired, as tired, I guess,

As many girls and boys.

CENTRAL CIRCULA7 :

CHILDREN'S fiOOM

A WORD TO THE TEACHER

WHEN a new school Reader comes to the hands of the primary
teacher, she naturally asks : ' Will this book give to my class of
boys and girls a healthy stimulus of thought and pleasure? Will
they receive through it valuable instruction and assistance in the
mechanics of reading? Is the book sufficiently literary in style and
artistic in form to command the respect and love of the children :
Is it suggestive, dramatic, and ethically healthful? In a word, is it
worth the precious time of the schoolroom ? "

To the inquiring teacher who may examine this little book, which
is devoted entirely to the frolics and fancies of kittens and cats, the
following remarks may reveal a definite educational purpose and
value in it.

Following the example of Mother Goose, the wise and classic
rhymester of the nursery, we have taken a subject dear to the heart
of childhood and have given it life and personality in the simple and
unsophisticated manner of the child.

Many of the happiest playtime experiences of children are asso-
ciated with their kittens. They delight to dress the frolicsome yet
docile little creatures in doll gowns and jackets, and give them long
rides in doll carriages, and make them sit at tiny tables and share in
tea parties, then put them to bed and perhaps give them water medi-
cine for an imaginary ill. Can there be a more normal and healthy
pastime for a little child than this ?

In one respect kittens take precedence over dolls. They are alive.

82 A WOED TO THE TEACHEK

They must be treated kindly. They will not bear the abuse and neg-
lect given to many beautiful dolls. They demand attention and
companionship, and they return a real devotion for kindness and
care. Therefore we love them, and especially do our children love
them and delight in stories or pictures of them.

Those of us who have had glimpses of the child heart and mind
know that stories of kittens and queens and parties yield much the
same delight to the little reader of juvenile fiction, as do adventure
and romance to the grown-up reader.

This simple story about the Queen of the Kitten Country and the
party which she gives in her palace, ought, therefore, to meet one of
the most important requirements for a higher first grade school
Reader, that of a strong appeal to the child in subject matter and
illustration. With the interest keenly aroused the difficulties in
learning to read are mastered quickly and with pleasure. However,
the following brief suggestions are given to assist any teacher who
may need them in making use of the book to the greatest advantage
for her class.

SUGGESTIONS

Before the reading of the book is begun there might well be one
or two story- telling periods. Each child should be encouraged to tell
a story, from his own experience if possible, about a kitten, or a
party, or to give his idea of a queen.

The children should be assisted in recalling and in learning Mother
Goose rhymes and other verses about cats. Give them several black-
board drawing lessons showing cats in different positions and cos-
tumes. A frieze of kittens may be started at the top of the black-

A WORD TO THE TEACHER 83

board, adding each new kitten character to the row as the story
progresses. This frieze will furnish material for several varieties of
'' busy work."

A valuable exercise to stimulate thought and facility of expression
is to assign a short page for a child to read silently, which he later
gives aloud in his own words before the teacher and class.

Interesting and profitable reviews may be frequently had by as-
signing a cat character to each child, having them read in order the
text devoted to their special character. The first review of this kind
may well occur at the end of page twenty, where the preparations
for the party are completed. When the party is over a final review
may be given in dramatic form. The children should impersonate
the different cats and tell their tales to amuse the Queen, who sits
on her throne. This final dramatic review would naturally begin
with the call of the Commanding Officer on page twenty-two. Each
child should memorize his part and give it with spontaneous expres-
sion and action. Slight costuming may be prepared if desired, or the
blackboard frieze may furnish the cat pictures, while the children
give life and action to them.

Other special and valuable reviews may be developed from the
large amount of verse in the book, each child choosing a favorite
verse to read or recite or to illustrate on the blackboard. The child-
ren should be encouraged to make rhyming sentences and word
lists of their own, using the fundamental thought or words in the
day's lesson as a basis. From such rhymes and lists of rhyming
words, phonic work may be developed as the teacher chooses.

There are about six hundred words in the vocabulary of " Kittens
and Cats," and though it has not been mechanically graded, it should

84 A WOKD TO THE TEACHER

be within easy grasp of upper first grade pupils, after the usual
Primer work is done. Each page of the book is a complete brief
story well suited to the daily lesson period. These short stories are
so related, however, as to make one continuous long story, thus keep-
ing the interest of the children keen throughout the book. Books of
this nature have proved a great stimulus to thoughtful and fluent
reading, which, after all, is the high aim in primary work.

CENTRAL CIRCULATION

CHILDREN'S BOOM