and solid by the tail
And commenced to welt the youngster just as
hard as he could whale.
Ev’ry time he reached and raked him on that
bare white back of his—
Ow! them claws they grabbed in dretful and
they hurt him—ah, gee whiz!
There were howls and yowls and spittin’s; it
was rip and slit and tear,
And the air was full of tom-cat and of flyin’