Fables for the Frivolous | Page 4

Little Neck Clams at first they revelled,
And then
in Pommery, sec_ and _brut;
The country cousin exclaimed: "Such
feeding
Proclaims your breeding
Beyond dispute!"
But just as, another bottle broaching,
They came to chicken en
casserole
A ravenous cat was heard approaching,
And, passing his
guest a finger-bowl,
The town rat murmured, "The feast is ended."
And then descended
The nearest hole.
His cousin followed him, helter-skelter,
And, pausing beneath the
pantry floor,
He glanced around at their dusty shelter
And muttered,
"This is a beastly bore.
My place as an epicure resigning,
I'll try this dining
In town no more.
"You must dine some night at my rustic cottage;
I'll warn you now
that it's simple fare:
A radish or two, a bowl of pottage,
And the
wine that's known as ordinaire,
But for holes I haven't to make a
bee-line,
No prowling feline
Molests me there.
"You smile at the lot of a mere commuter,
You think that my life is
hard, mayhap,
But I'm sure than you I am far acuter:
I ain't afraid of
no cat nor trap."
The city rat could but meekly stammer,
"Don't use such grammar,
My worthy chap."
He dined next night with his poor relation,
And caught dyspepsia, and
lost his train,
He waited an hour in the lonely station,
And said
some things that were quite profane.
"I'll never," he cried, in tones
complaining,

"Try entertaining
That rat again."
It's easy to make a memorandum
About THE MORAL these verses
teach:
De gustibus non est dispuiandum;
The meaning of which
Etruscan speech
Is wheresoever you're hunger quelling
Pray keep your dwelling
In easy reach.
THE IMPECUNIOUS CRICKET
AND
THE FRUGAL ANT
There was an ant, a spinster ant,
Whose virtues were so many
That
she became intolerant
Of those who hadn't any:
She had a small and
frugal mind
And lived a life ascetic,
Nor was her temperament the
kind
That's known as sympathetic.
I skip details. Suffice to say
That, knocking at her wicket,
There
chanced to come one autumn day
A common garden cricket
So
ragged, poor, and needy that,
Without elucidation,
One saw the
symptoms of a bat
Of several months' duration.
He paused beside her door-step, and,
With one pathetic gesture,
He
called attention with his hand
To both his shoes and vesture.
"I
joined," said he, "an opera troupe.
They suddenly disbanded,
And
left me on the hostel stoop,
Lugubriously stranded.
"I therefore lay aside my pride
And frankly ask for clothing."

"Begone!" the frugal ant replied.
"I look on you with loathing.
Your
muddy shoes have spoiled the lawn,
Your hands have soiled the fence,
too.
If you need money, go and pawn
Your watch--if you have
sense to."
THE MORAL is: Albeit lots
Of people follow Dr. Watts,
The

sluggard, when his means are scant,
Should seek an uncle, not an ant!
THE PAMPERED LAPDOG
AND
THE MISGUIDED ASS
A woolly little terrier pup
Gave vent to yelps distressing,
Whereat
his mistress took him up
And soothed him with caressing,
And yet
he was not in the least
What one would call a handsome beast.
He might have been a