What next she should do. So she took up the

thread

Of the lark's discourse, and ill-naturedly said:

"Yes, indeed, little master and miss, I declare,

It's enough to make any mother-cat stare

To see what a time you do make, to be sure.

Over one small creature, so helpless and poor

As your babies are! Why, I've six of my own:

When they were two weeks old they could run alone;

They're never afraid of dogs or of rats—