DAME WIGGINS OF LEE, AND HER SEVEN WONDERFUL CATS

DAME WIGGINS OF LEE, AND HER SEVEN WONDERFUL CATS

Mary E. Sharpe and John Ruskin


Dame Wiggins of Lee
Was a worthy old soul,
As e'er threaded a nee-
dle, or washed in a bowl;
She held mice and rats
In such antipathie,
That seven fine cats
Kept Dame Wiggins of Lee.
The rats and mice scared
By this fierce whiskered crew,
The poor seven cats
Soon had nothing to do;
So, as any one 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.
But soon she grew tired
O 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.
When spring-time came back,
They had breakfast of curds;
And were greatly afraid
Of disturbing the birds.
"If you sit, like good cats,
All 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 the lark.
They sang, by the fireside,
Symphoniouslie,
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 humanity,
My seven good cats,"
Said 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 the window did look
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!"