The Kittens Garden of Verses | Page 2

with me.
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The Milk Jug
The Gentle Milk Jug blue and white
I love with all my soul,?She pours herself with all her might
To fill my breakfast bowl.
All day she sits upon the shelf,
She does not jump or climb--?She only waits to pour herself
When 'tis my supper-time.
And when the Jug is empty quite,
I shall not mew in vain,?The Friendly Cow, all red and white,
Will fill her up again.
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Happy Thought
The world is so full of a number of Mice?I'm sure that we all should be happy and nice.
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Kitten's Night Thought
When Human Folk put out the light,
And think they've made it dark as night,?A Pussy Cat sees every bit
As well as when the lights are lit.
When Human Folk have gone upstairs,
And shed their skins and said their prayers,?And there is no one to annoy,
Then Pussy may her life enjoy.
No Human hands to pinch or slap,
Or rub her fur against the nap,?Or throw cold water from a pail,
Or make a handle of her tail.
And so you will not think it wrong
When she can play the whole night long,?With no one to disturb her play,
That Pussy goes to bed by day.
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The Puncture
When I was just a Kitten small,
They gave to me a Rubber Ball?To roll upon the floor.
One day I tapped it with my paw?And pierced the rubber with my claw;
Now it will roll no more.
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Good and Bad Kittens
Kittens, you are very little,
And your kitten bones are brittle,?If you'd grow to Cats respected,
See your play be not neglected.
Smite the Sudden Spool, and spring
Upon the Swift Elusive String,?Thus you learn to catch the wary
Mister Mouse or Miss Canary.
That is how in Foreign Places
Fluffy Cubs with Kitten faces,?Where the mango waves sedately,
Grow to Lions large and stately.
But the Kittencats who snatch
Rudely for their food, or scratch,?Grow to Tomcats gaunt and gory,--
Theirs is quite another story.
Cats like these are put away
By the dread S. P. C. A.,?Or to trusting Aunts and Sisters
Sold as Sable Muffs and Wristers.
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Anticipation
When I grow up I mean to be?A Lion large and fierce to see.?I'll mew so loud that Cook in fright?Will give me all the cream in sight.?And anyone who dares to say?"Poor Puss" to me will rue the day.?Then having swallowed him I'll creep?Into the Guest Room Bed to sleep.
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Foreign Kittens
Kittens large and Kittens small,?Prowling on the Back Yard Wall,?Though your fur be rough and few,?I should like to play with you.?Though you roam the dangerous street,?And have curious things to eat,?Though you sleep in barn or loft,?With no cushions warm and soft,?Though you have to stay out-doors?When it's cold or when it pours,?Though your fur is all askew--?How I'd like to play with you!
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The Joy Ride
When Mistress Peggy moves around,
Her dresses make a mocking sound.?"You can't catch me!" they seem to say--
I often steal a ride that way.
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Facilis Ascensus
Up into the Cherry Tree,
Who should climb but little me,?With both my Paws I hold on tight,
And look upon a pleasant sight.
There are the Gardens far away,
Where little Foreign Kittens play,?And those queer specks of black and brown
Are naughty cats that live in Town.
And there among the tulips red,
Where I may never lay my head,?I see the Cruel Gardener hoe
The baby weeds that may not grow.
Now I climb down--"Oh dear,"--I mew,
"Which end goes first--what shall I do??Oh, good Kind Gardener, big and brown,
Please come and help this Kitten down."
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The Whole Duty of Kittens
When Human Folk at Table eat,
A Kitten must not mew for meat,?Or jump to grab it from the Dish,
(_Unless it happens to be fish_).
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The Outing
My Bed is like a little Bark,
The hatch is battened down,?And in the basket cabin dark
I sail away from Town.
Now, when they lift the lid, a scene
Of wonder meets my eyes,?Tall waving Feather-Dusters green,
That seem to touch the skies.
And over all the Ground is spread
A Rug of Emerald sweet,?Most deep enough to hide my head
And tickly to my feet.
And here's the Cow, calm-eyed stands she,
The Genie of the Jug,?Beneath the Feather-Duster Tree,
And eats the Emerald Rug.
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The Puppy
The Puppy cannot mew or talk,
He has a funny kind of walk,?His tail is difficult to wag
And that's what makes him walk zigzag.
He is the Kitten of a Dog,
From morn till night he's all agog--?Forever seeking something new
That's good but isn't meant to chew.
He romps about the Tulip bed,
And chews the Flowers white and red,?And when the Gardener comes to see
He's sure to blame mamma or me.
One game that cannot ever fail
To please him is to chase his tail--?(To catch one's tail, 'twixt me and you,
Is not an easy thing to do.)
If he has not a pretty face
The Puppy's heart is in its place.?I'm sorry he must grow into
A Horrid, Noisy Dog, aren't you?
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The Moon
The Moon is like a big round cheese
That shines above the garden trees,?And like a cheese grows less each night,
As though some one had had a bite.
The Mouse delights to nibble cheese,
The Dog bites anything he sees--?But how