LOULOU AND HER CAT

GOOD pastry is vended

In Cité Fadette;

Maison Pons can make splendid

Brioche and galette.

M’sieu Pons is so fat that

He’s laid on the shelf;

Madame had a Cat that

Was fat as herself.

Long hair, soft as satin,

A musical purr,

’Gainst the window she’d flatten

Her delicate fur.

I drove Lou to see what

Our neighbours were at,

In rapture, cried she, “What

An exquisite cat!

“What whiskers! She’s purring

All over. Regale

Our eyes, Puss, by stirring

Thy feathery tail!

“M’sieu Pons, will you sell her?”

“Ma femme est sortie,

Your offer I’ll tell her;

But will she?” says he.

Yet Pons was persuaded

To part with the prize:

(Our bargain was aided,

My Lou, by your eyes!)

From his légitime save him,—

My spouse I prefer,

For I warrant his gave him

Un mauvais quart d’heure.

I am giving a pleasant

Grimalkin to Lou,

—Ah, Puss, what a present

I’m giving to you!

Frederick Locker-Lampson.