The Two Hungry Kittens

by Theodore Tilton

To be recited at a children's party.

I.

Two kittens grew hungry with licking their feet,
And ran around snooping for something to eat.

II

Me-ow! said the Curly-tail, milk would be nice.
Ska-fitch! cried the Smutty-nose, I shall eat mice!

III.

The house of the mice was a hole in the floor,
Too small for the kits to get in at the door.

IV.

So puss-in-the-corner they silently sat,
And waited awhile for the mice to grow fat.

V.

Who comes? cried a beautiful mouse, at her cheese.
The kittens replied, We are rats, if you please.

VI

Not rats! said the nibbler; your paws are not pink,
Your eyes are too big, and your tails have a kink!

VII.

Come out! quoth the kits, and our tails and our eyes
Will then look exactly the natural size!

VIII,

Sweet mouse! we invite you to go to the fair,
And you shall have plenty of combs in your hair!

IX.

The mouse said, Excuse me, for I am engaged!
At which the two kittens grew fiercely enraged.

X.

They flew at the mouse-hole, they awfully squalled,
They fought one another, they tumbled, they sprawled,

XI.

They twisted their whiskers, they tangled their tails --
Then, scat! how they scampered to milkpans and pails!

XII

The mice and the kittens no longer are friends;
Which every one knows -- so the story here ends!