GREEDY JERRY.
"Chowder? Why, bless your kindly heart, there's nothing so delicious;
'Twould keep the very wildest cat from being cross or vicious.
Of all things you could offer us at morning, noon, or night, ma'am,
There isn't any other dish would give us such delight, ma'am."
Thus to his mistress Tom did speak, then raised his sweet voice louder:
"Jerry, you most ungrateful cat, come thank the dame for chowder."
But greedy Jerry, full of glee, would never mind his brother;
He sucked his spoon, and danced about on one foot and the other;
He grinned and gasped and giggled out, and couldn't wait a minute,
He wanted so to seize the dish, and get at what was in it;
Which made his brother rage and rave, while, better bred and prouder,
He bowed and scraped, and blandly smiled, and thanked the dame for chowder.
Alas for evil-doers all, on two feet or on four feet,
Or even if, like centipedes, they've twice as many more feet!
No sooner were they left alone than, without judge or jury,
Tom flew at greedy Jerry's throat, and beat him like a fury.
Then, while the blows and caterwauls came ringing loud and louder,
Oh, didn't greedy Jerry wish he'd thanked the dame for chowder!
M. E. B.