 | Tales in Verse for Young People |  |
I. PART I.
Within this picture you may view
The Cat and Madam Fortescue—
And very soon you will discover
That Mistress Pussy “lived in clover.”
The Cat and Madam Fortescue—
And very soon you will discover
That Mistress Pussy “lived in clover.”
This is a nice pleasant parlour,
As you may see in a minute;
It belongs to Madam Fortescue,
And there she sits in it.
As you may see in a minute;
It belongs to Madam Fortescue,
And there she sits in it.
10
That's the dear old lady,
In a green tabby gown,
And a great lace cap,
With long lace ruffles hanging down.
In a green tabby gown,
And a great lace cap,
With long lace ruffles hanging down.
There she sits
In a cushioned, high-backed seat,
Covered over with crimson damask,
With a footstool at her feet.
In a cushioned, high-backed seat,
Covered over with crimson damask,
With a footstool at her feet.
You see what a handsome room it is,
Full of old carving and gilding;
The house is, one may be sure,
Of the Elizabethan style of building.
Full of old carving and gilding;
The house is, one may be sure,
Of the Elizabethan style of building.
It is a pleasant place;
And through the window one sees
Into old-fashioned gardens
Full of old yew-trees.
And through the window one sees
Into old-fashioned gardens
Full of old yew-trees.
And on that table—that funny table,
With the curious thin legs—
Stand little tea-cups, a china jar,
And great ostrich eggs.
With the curious thin legs—
Stand little tea-cups, a china jar,
And great ostrich eggs.
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One can see in a moment
That she is very rich indeed;
With nothing to do, all day long,
But sit in a chair and read.
That she is very rich indeed;
With nothing to do, all day long,
But sit in a chair and read.
And those are very antique chairs,
So heavy and so strong;
The seats are tent-stitch, the lady's work,
All done when she was young.
So heavy and so strong;
The seats are tent-stitch, the lady's work,
All done when she was young.
And that's Mr Fortescue's portrait,
That hangs there on the wall,
In the thunder-and-lightning coat,
The bag-wig and all.
That hangs there on the wall,
In the thunder-and-lightning coat,
The bag-wig and all.
Very old-fashioned and stately,
With a sword by his side;
But 'tis many a long year now
Since the old gentleman died.
With a sword by his side;
But 'tis many a long year now
Since the old gentleman died.
Thus you see the room complete,
With a Turkey carpet on the floor;
And get a peep into other rooms
Through that open door.
With a Turkey carpet on the floor;
And get a peep into other rooms
Through that open door.
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But the chiefest thing of all
We have yet passed over,
The tortoise-shell cat, which our motto says,
“Now lives in clover.”
We have yet passed over,
The tortoise-shell cat, which our motto says,
“Now lives in clover.”
Meaning she has nothing to do,
All the long year through,
But sleep and take her meals
With good Madam Fortescue.
All the long year through,
But sleep and take her meals
With good Madam Fortescue.
Only look, on that crimson cushion
How soft and easy she lies,
Just between sleep and wake,
With half-buttoned-up eyes!
How soft and easy she lies,
Just between sleep and wake,
With half-buttoned-up eyes!
And good Madam Fortescue,
She lifts her eyes from her book,
To see if she wants anything,
And to give her a loving look.
She lifts her eyes from her book,
To see if she wants anything,
And to give her a loving look.
But now turn your eyes
Behind this great Indian screen—
There sits Madam Fortescue's woman,
Very crabbed and very lean.
Behind this great Indian screen—
There sits Madam Fortescue's woman,
Very crabbed and very lean.
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She makes believe to her lady
To be very fond of the cat;
But she hates her,
And pinches when she pretends to pat.
To be very fond of the cat;
But she hates her,
And pinches when she pretends to pat.
But the lady never knows it,
For the cat can but mew;
She can tell no tales, however ill-used,
And that Mrs Crabthorn knew.
For the cat can but mew;
She can tell no tales, however ill-used,
And that Mrs Crabthorn knew.
So she smiled, and was smooth-spoken,
And the lady said, “Crabthorn,
You are the best waiting-woman
That ever was born!
And the lady said, “Crabthorn,
You are the best waiting-woman
That ever was born!
“And when I die, good Crabthorn,
In my will it shall appear,
That my cat I leave to you,
And fifty pounds a year.
In my will it shall appear,
That my cat I leave to you,
And fifty pounds a year.
“For I certainly think, Crabthorn,
You will love her for my sake!”
“That I shall!” said the waiting-woman,
“And all my pleasure will she make!”
You will love her for my sake!”
“That I shall!” said the waiting-woman,
“And all my pleasure will she make!”
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Now all this has been said and done
This very day, I am sure—
For there lies the lady's will,
Tied up with red tape secure.
This very day, I am sure—
For there lies the lady's will,
Tied up with red tape secure.
| Tales in Verse for Young People | |