The Kittens Garden of Verses | Page 2

call,
Who will not chase the bounding ball,
A hungry Cathood will enjoy,
The scorn of Mouse and Bird and Boy.
[Illustration]
A Thought
It's very nice to think of how
In every country lives a Cow
To
furnish milk with all her might
For Kittens' comfort and delight.
[Illustration]
The Lion
The Lion does not move at all,
Winter or Summer, Spring or Fall,
He does not even stretch or yawn,
But lies in silence on the lawn.
He must be lazy it is plain,
For there is moss upon his mane,
And what is more, a pair of Daws
Have built a nest between his paws.
Oh, Lazy Lion, big and brown,
This is no time for lying down!
The Sun is shining, can't you see?
Oh, please wake up and play with me.
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
Happy Thought
The world is so full of a number of Mice
I'm sure that we all should
be happy and nice.
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
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!
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
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."
[Illustration]
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_).
[Illustration]
The Outing
My Bed is like a little Bark,
The hatch is battened down,
And in the basket cabin dark
I sail away from