“'Whisht! whisht!' says Tom, frightened out of his life for his children's eyes. 'Don't be in a passion, pussy. The shoemaker said he had not a shoe in his shop, nor a last that would make one to fit you; and he says, I must bring you into the town for him to take your measure.'
“'And when am I to go?' says the cat, looking savage.
“'To-morrow,' says Tom.
“'It's well you said that, Tom,' said the cat, 'or the devil an eye I'd leave in your family this night'—and off she hopped.
“Tom thrimbled at the wicked look she gave.
“'Remember!' says she, over the hedge, with a bitter caterwaul.
“'Never fear,' says Tom. Well, sure enough, the next mornin' there was the cat at cock-crow, licking herself as nate as a new pin, to go into the town, and out came Tom with a bag undher his arm, and the cat afther him.
“'Now git into this, and I'll carry you into the town,' says Tom, opening the bag.
“'Sure I can walk with you,' says the cat.
“'Oh, that wouldn't do,' says Tom; 'the people in the town is curious and slandherous people, and sure it would rise ugly remarks if I was seen with a cat afther me:—a dog is a man's companion by nature, but cats does not stand to rayson.'