Classic Poem

Dame Wiggins of Lee
Was a worthy old soul
As e'er threaded a needle
Or washed in a bowl.

She held mice and rats
In such antipathee,
That seven fine cats
Kept Dame Wiggins of Lee.

The rats and mice scared
By this fierce-whiskered crew,
The seven poor cats
Soon had nothing to do;

So, as anyone idle
She ne'er loved to see,
She sent them to school,
Did Dame Wiggins of Lee.

The master soon wrote
That they all of them knew
How to read the word " milk "
And to spell the word " mew, "

And they all washed their faces
Before they took tea.
" Were there ever such dears? "
Said Dame Wiggins of Lee.

He had also thought well
To comply with their wish
To spend all their play time
In learning to fish —

For titlings; they sent her
A present of three,
Which fried were a feast
For Dame Wiggins of Lee.

But the Dame soon grew tired
Of living alone;
So she sent for her cats
From school to come home.

Each rowing a wherry,
Returning you see:
The frolic made merry
Dame Wiggins of Lee.

The Dame was quite pleas'd,
And ran out to market;
And when she came back
They were mending the carpet.

The needle each handled
As brisk as a bee.
" Well done, my good cats! "
Said Dame Wiggins of Lee.

To give them a treat,
She ran out for some rice;
When she came back,
They were skating on ice.

" I shall soon see one down,
Aye, perhaps, two or three,
I'll bet half a crown, "
Said Dame Wiggins of Lee.

When springtime came back,
They had breakfast of curds
And were greatly afraid
Of disturbing the birds.

" If you sit like good cats,
All the seven in a tree,
They will teach you to sing, "
Said Dame Wiggins of Lee.

So they sat in a tree
And said " Beautiful! Hark! "
And they listened and looked
In the clouds for a lark.

Then sang by the fireside
Sym-pho-ni-ous-ly
A song without words
To Dame Wiggins of Lee.

They called the next day
On the tomtit and sparrow
And wheeled a poor sick lamb
Home in a barrow.

" You shall all have some sprats
For your humanitee,
My seven good cats, "
Said Dame Wiggins of Lee.

While she ran to the field
To look for its dam,
They were warming the bed
For the poor sick lamb:

They turned up the clothes
All as neat as could be.
" I shall ne'er want a nurse, "
Said Dame Wiggins of Lee.

She wished them good-night
And went up to bed:
When, lo! in the morning,
The cats were all fled.

But soon — what a fuss!
" Where can they all be?
Here, pussy, puss, puss! "
Cried Dame Wiggins of Lee.

The Dame's heart was nigh broke,
So she sat down to weep,
When she saw them come back
Each riding a sheep:

She fondled and patted
Each purring Tommee:
" Ah! welcome, my dears, "
Said Dame Wiggins of Lee.

The Dame was unable
Her pleasure to smother
To see the sick lamb
Jump up to its mother.

In spite of the gout
And the pain in her knee,
She went dancing about,
Did Dame Wiggins of Lee.

The farmer soon heard
Where his sheep went astray
And arrived at Dame's door
With his faithful dog Tray.

He knocked with his crook,
And the stranger to see,
Out of window did look
Dame Wiggins of Lee.

For their kindness he had them
All drawn by the team,
And gave them some field-mice
And raspberry cream.

Said he, " All my stock
You shall presently see,
For I know the cats
Of Dame Wiggins of Lee. "

He sent his maid out
For some muffins and crumpets;
And when he turned round
They were blowing of trumpets.

Said he, " I suppose
She's as deaf as can be,
Or this ne'er could be borne
By Dame Wiggins of Lee. "

To show them his poultry,
He turned them all loose,
When each nimbly leap'd
On the back of a goose,

Which frighten'd them so
That they ran to the sea
And half-drown'd the poor cats
Of Dame Wiggins of Lee.

For the care of his lamb
And their comical pranks
He gave them a ham
And abundance of thanks.

" I wish you good-day,
My fine fellows, " said he.
" My compliments, pray,
To Dame Wiggins of Lee. "

You see them arrived
At their Dame's welcome door;
They show her their presents
And all their good store.

" Now come in to supper
And sit down with me,
All welcome once more, "
Cried Dame Wiggins of Lee.