"I am not asleep, I am quite wide awake,
Perhaps you would know what I'm going to make;
I'm melting some butter, and warming some beer,
Will it please you sit down, and partake of my cheer?"
"Thank you, miss," said the fox. "What is Mrs. Fox doing?"
The maid answered,
"She is sitting upstairs in her grief,
And her eyes with her weeping are sore;
From her sorrow she gets no relief,
Now poor old Mr. Fox is no more!"
"But just tell her, miss, that a young fox has come to woo her."
"Very well, young master," answered the cat.
Up went the cat pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat.
She knocks at the door, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat!
"Mrs. Fox, are you there?"
"Yes, yes, pussy dear!"
"There's a suitor below,
Shall I tell him to go?"
"But what is he like?" asked Mrs. Fox. "Has he nine beautiful tails, like dear Mr. Fox?"