Chapter III

Said Thomas, with the round straw hat,
“My popgun bring to me,
And hey! to shoot the Tabby Cat
Up in the Cherry-tree!

“Last night she stole my supper all,--
She must be better taught;
And I shall make her caterwaul
‘I’m sorry,’ as she ought.”

Then Thomas, taking hasty aim
At Tabby on the bough,
Hit Tabby’s mistress, an old Dame
Who had a Brindled Cow.

The Brindled Cow could not abide
To see her mistress struck.
And after trembling Thomas hied,--
Said he, “It’s just my luck!”

She tossed him once, she tossed him twice,
When Tabby at her flew,
Saying, “Tom, your custard was so nice
That I will fight for you.”

The old Dame flung the pellet back,
And, when Tom picked it up,
He cried, “The pellet has turned, good lack!
To a custard in a cup!”

And so it had! The Brindled Cow,
The Dame, and Tabby Cat
Were much surprised. “It’s strange, I vow,”
Said Tom in the round hat.

But nothing came amiss to him;
He ate the custard clean--
There was a brown mark round the rim
To show where it had been.