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.