Tales of Laughter — The Cat and the Mouse
“Pray, puss,” said the Mouse, “give me my long tail again.
” “No,” said the Cat, “I’ll not give you your tail again till you go to the cow and fetch me some milk.
” First she leaped, and then she ran, Till she came to the cow, and thus began: “Pray, cow, give me some milk that I may give to the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.
” “No,” said the cow, “I will give you no milk till you go to the farmer and get me some hay.
” First she leaped, and then she ran, Till she came to the farmer, and thus began: “Pray, farmer, give me some hay that I may give to the cow, so she may give me some milk that I may give to the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.
” “No,” says the farmer, “I’ll give you no hay till you go to the butcher and fetch me some meat.
” First she leaped, and then she ran, Till she came to the butcher, and thus began: “Pray butcher, give me some meat that I may give to the farmer, so he may give me some hay that I may give to the cow, so she may give me some milk that I may give to the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.
” “No,” said the butcher, “I’ll give you no meat till you go to the baker and fetch me some bread.
” First she leaped, and then she ran, Till she came to the baker, and thus began: “Pray, baker, give me some bread that I may give to the butcher, so he may give me some meat that I may give to the farmer, so he may give me some hay that I may give to the cow, so she may give me some milk that I may give to the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.
” “Yes,” said the baker, “I’ll give you some bread, But if you eat my meal, I’ll cut off your head.
” The baker gave the Mouse bread, which she brought to the butcher; the butcher gave the Mouse meat, which she brought to the farmer; the farmer gave the Mouse hay, which she brought to the cow; the cow gave the Mouse milk, which she brought to the Cat; and the Cat gave to the Mouse her long tail again.
