The kitten curls up and begins to purr,

The puppy tumbles about in the rug

In his silly way and gives it a hug,

And mousekin, that even a shadow can scare,

For a moment lies still in the long, soft hair

Then slips away to its home in the wall.

Can it be—poor darlings! that each and all

Believe ’tis their mother, and hasten to her?

All babies, I think, love old Mother Fur;

For my little brother—too little to speak—