Three tabbies took out their cats to tea,
As well-behaved tabbies as well could be:
Each sat in the chair that each preferred,
They mewed for their milk, and they sipped and purred.
Now tell me this (as these cats you've seen them)—
How many lives had these cats between them?
Yes, it is sad of them—
Shocking to me;
Bad—yes, it's bad of them—
Bad of all three.
Warnings they've had from me,
Still I repeat them—
Cold is the water—the
Fishes will eat them;
Yet they will row about;
Tho' I say "Fie!" to them;
Fathers may scold at it,
Mothers may cry to them.
Will you be my little wife,
If I ask you? Do!
I'll buy you such a Sunday frock,
A nice umbrella too.
And you shall have a little hat,
With such a long white feather,
A pair of gloves, and sandal shoes,
The softest kind of leather.
And you shall have a tiny house,
A bee-hive full of bees,
A little cow, a largish cat,
And green sage cheese.
