LONG TIME AGO

BY ELIZABETH PRENTISS

Once there was a little Kitty,
White as the snow;
In a barn she used to frolic,
Long time ago.

In the barn a little mousie
Ran to and fro,
For she heard the little Kitty,
Long time ago.

Two black eyes had little Kitty,
Black as a sloe;
And they spied the little mousie,
Long time ago.

Four soft paws had little Kitty,
Paws soft as snow;
And they caught the little mousie,
Long time ago.

Nine pearl teeth had little Kitty,
All in a row;
And they bit the little mousie,
Long time ago.

When the teeth bit little mousie,
Mousie cried out, “Oh!”
But she slipped away from Kitty,
Long time ago.