Arrived at the wharf there was not
Another soul in sight ... except at the very end
Where sat a most woebegone looking Tramp
Smoking what was once a cigar
Of price. Half smoked it had been thrust
In the gutter at the theater-entrance
By a careless and prosperous merchant.
The Tramp was very near to the edge looking out
Over the water as blankly as a blind man.
A man! Look at him ... and I a mere cat!
No doubt Old Horton was right.... One leap
Into the darkness and all gloomy thoughts,
All trouble, like the half-finished cigar
Would give place to beautiful dreams and
Never-ending.... At least it cannot be much
Worse.... No! Far better than the foul gutter
And the murderous cravings for the unattainable.
I shall burst my bonds and jump in.
FOURTH CATERWAUL
It gave a terrible fright when I struck
The water. Even in filth and mud I found it more
Pleasure to swim than to drown. How comfortable
The gutter now seemed but my strength was
Utterly useless.... My thoughts had been
Less overwhelming than the murky slime that
Would kill me ... and to sink, to be swallowed
By fishes that had been sweet food for my palate.
A boat came out of the darkness and a brown
Arm folded me up from the last gasp in the river.
It was going out to a yacht and the mate was the
Man who rescued: “What luck with our rats and mice
To find this bedraggled feline.... Maggie can give
It some milk and the Master won’t curse for the
Vermin....”
Perhaps I was born as an antidote!
Perhaps I have no choice what to do!
But whatever may be I shall at least do
What is expected, the best that I can—
How else can I expect anything?
FIFTH CATERWAUL
Did you ever see a palace in a desert?
Ralph Dimon was a good catch and Irene’s
Father was very rich. Low necked dress,
Dress clothes, lace, jewelry, curtains of
Fine brocade, mahogany panellings and
Nickel-mountings dimmed the lights of Brough’s
Yacht and were more plentiful than the drops
Of water that had nearly drowned me.
As I was lifted over the side I saw the
Two lovers lounging in the bow where there
Were no lights; while inside the electric
Lamps burned neglected. The wind blew a gale
And I shivered; but comfortable surroundings
And even diamonds would warm anybody but a
Half drowned cat....
I wonder if pink ribbons
And a silver-mounted collar would have made
Me warmer or less hungry ... and I was most
Interested because Irene’s father never paid
His bills without a lawsuit.... Perhaps I might
With ribbon and collar have had food for the asking.
But an honest cat must be kicked around
The kitchen by Maggie. Maggie was used to it:
“Haven’t you better sense than to bring such
Rubbish aboard, Jim? Old Brough will miss the
Milk and there’ll be the devil to pay.”—And
To think how I could rid this palace of vermin....
But that would cost Father Brough money and
It wouldn’t show....
Jim put me ashore ... but I was grateful!
