The King o' the Cats
One
winter's evening the sexton's wife was sitting by the fireside with her
big black cat, Old Tom, on the other side, both half asleep and waiting
for the master to come home. They waited and they waited, but still he
didn't come, till at last he came rushing in, calling out, "Who's Tommy
Tildrum?" in such a wild way that both his wife and his cat stared at
him to know what was the matter.
"Why, what's the matter?" said his wife, "and why do you want to know who Tommy Tildrum is?"
"Oh,
I've had such an adventure. I was digging away at old Mr. Fordyce's
grave when I suppose I must have dropped asleep, and only woke up by
hearing a cat's Miaou."
"Miaou!" said Old Tom in answer.
"Yes, just like that! So I looked over the edge of the grave, and what do you think I saw?"
"Now, how can I tell?" said the sexton's wife.
"Why,
nine black cats all like our friend Tom here, all with a white spot on
their chestesses. And what do you think they were carrying? Why, a
small coffin covered with a black velvet pall, and on the pall was a
small coronet all of gold, and at every third step they took they cried
all together, Miaou—"
"Miaou!" said Old Tom again.
"Yes,
just like that!" said the Sexton; "and as they came nearer and nearer
to me I could see them more distinctly, because their eyes shone out
with a sort of green light. Well, they all came towards me, eight of
them carrying the coffin, and the biggest cat of all walking in front
for all the world like—but look at our Tom, how he's looking at me.
You'd think he knew all I was saying."
"Go on, go on," said his wife; "never mind Old Tom."
"Well, as I was a-saying, they came towards me slowly and solemnly, and at every third step crying all together, Miaou!—"
"Miaou!" said Old Tom again.
"Yes,
just like that, till they came and stood right opposite Mr. Fordyce's
grave, where I was, when they all stood still and looked straight at
me. I did feel queer, that I did! But look at Old Tom; he's looking at
me just like they did."
"Go on, go on," said his wife; "never mind Old Tom."
"Where
was I? Oh, they all stood still looking at me, when the one that wasn't
carrying the coffin came forward and, staring straight at me, said to
me—yes, I tell 'ee, said to me, with a squeaky voice, 'Tell Tom Tildrum
that Tim Toldrum's dead,' and that's why I asked you if you knew who
Tom Tildrum was, for how can I tell Tom Tildrum Tim Toldrum's dead if I
don't know who Tom Tildrum is?"
"Look at Old Tom, look at Old Tom!" screamed his wife.
And
well he might look, for Tom was swelling and Tom was staring, and at
last Tom shrieked out, "What—old Tim dead! then I'm the King o' the
Cats!" and rushed up the chimney and was never more seen.
| All English Fairy Tales
THE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
JACK THE GIANT-KILLER
THE PIED PIPER OF FRANCHVILLE
THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS
TOM TIT TOT
THE THREE SILLIES
THE ROSE-TREE
THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG
HOW JACK WENT TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE
MR. VINEGAR
NIX NOUGHT NOTHING
JACK HANNAFORD
BINNORIE
MOUSE AND MOUSER
CAP O' RUSHES
TEENY-TINY
THE MASTER AND HIS PUPIL
TITTY MOUSE ND TATTY MOUSE
JACK AND HIS GOLDEN SNUFF-BOX
HENNY-PENNY
CHILDE ROWLAND
MOLLY WHUPPIE
THE RED ETTIN
MASTER OF ALL MASTERS.
THE GOLDEN ARM
THE HISTORY OF TOM THUMB
MR. FOX
LAZY JACK
JOHNNY-CAKE
EARL MAR'S DAUGHTER
MR. MIACCA
WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT
THE STRANGE VISITOR
THE LAIDLY WORM OF SPINDLESTON HEUGH
THE CAT AND THE MOUSE.
THE FISH AND THE RING.
THE MAGPIE'S NEST
KATE CRACKERNUTS
THE CAULD LAD OF HILTON
THE ASS, THE TABLE, AND THE STICK
FAIRY OINTMENT
THE WELL OF THE WORLD'S END.
THE THREE HEADS OF THE WELL |