| The Duel by Eugene Field ******************** The gingham dog and the calico cat Side by side on the table sat; �Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!) Nor one nor t� other had slept a wink! The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate Appeared to know as sure as fate There was going to be a terrible spat. (I wasn�t there; I simply state What was told to me by the Chinese plate!) The gingham dog went �bow-wow-wow!� And the calico cat replied �mee-ow!� The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row! (Now mind: I�m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true!) The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, �Oh, dear! what shall we do!� But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw � And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew! (Don�t fancy I exaggerate � I got my news from the Chinese plate!) Next morning, where the two had sat They found no trace of dog or cat; And some folks think unto this day That burglars stole that pair away! But the truth about the cat and pup Is this: they ate each other up! Now what do you really think of that! (The old Dutch clock it told me so, And that is how I came to know.) |