Chapter IX

Up, up the chimney go the sparks apace;
Up, up, to vanish in the gusty sky.
The black cat--look! he leaves his wonted place,
And hark! he speaks: "_Then, king of cats am I!_"
And with this first and last word for good-by,
Up, up the chimney he hath vanished quite.
"Our dear, our good Black Prince!" the children cry;
"We always thought he should be king by right,
But we shall miss him sadly, both by day and night."