Bounce, a wire-haired Terrier;
Tip, a tortoise-shell Cat;
An old and faithful Servant of both.
Prologue by Old Servant, as follows:
We three before the fire, one night,
Had but its flickering blaze for light—
My dog, my cat, on either side;
I mused, while they grew sleepy-eyed.
But, if they waked, or if they slept,
Still each some watch on other kept.
Now what is this, good Bounce, good Tip,
That mars your perfect fellowship?
Speak up! Speak up! you, Tip,—you, Bounce,
Your mutual grievances announce.
At this my dog awoke from doze,
Drew near, and thrust a foolish nose
Beneath my hand; then, deeply sighed.
Her gold-stone eyes Tip opened wide,
The middle of the hearth she took,
And cast on Bounce a scornful look;
And then, this colloquy began,
Which I record as best I can.
THE DIALOGUE
TIP:
Dear Mistress, plainly I must speak;
For he, who should be dumb and meek,
The simple truth would never say
And his own foolish act betray betray—
BOUNCE (interrupting pleadingly):
Oh, do not heed her, Mistress dear;
Think how I love you, guard you, cheer!
TIP (proceeds with withering disregard):
When all we creatures were assigned
Our places with your human kind,
('Twas long ago) while some became
Your slaves—as spiritless as tame,
We two, as friends, beneath your roof
Were lodged, because we each gave proof proof—
BOUNCE (licking Old Servant's hand):
Yes, yes—I of my faithfulness—
Man calls on me in all distress!
TIP (severely):
You blundering, careless beast, be still!
My cleanliness, my grace, my skill,
Did, quite as much myself commend!
That we should live, not slave, but friend
To Master Man was then agreed:
But since of caution there is need,
We asked a written document;
To which our Master did consent.
Puffed up with confidence and pride,
He took the document to hide.
[Extends her paw towards Bounce, who winces
and buries his nose deeper under old Servant's
hand
He hid it in his old bone-cave;
And then, no further thought he gave
The precious charter of our rights—
Engaged in noisy bouts and fights!
Bounce (excitedly):
There was foul play, O Mistress mine—
The other creatures did combine!
TIP:
Hush! 'twas your carelessness, in chief,
That gave the chance to knave and thief!
The jealous Ox and Horse conspired,
And then, the villain Rat they hired
To delve in darkness underground
Till he the precious charter found,
And brought the Horse and Ox, who thought
Their liberty could thus be bought,—
The tiresome creatures! To this day
They drudge and drudge, the same old way!
The Ox, the Ass, the Horse—these all
Divided with the Rat their stall,
And from their mangers grain they gave—
Such price they paid the thievish knave!
What loss was ours, we scarce can know—
The charter we could never show!
I might have had a dais spread
With crimson velvet, and been fed
On golden finches every day;
But, as for him (indicating Bounce), he's naught to say
(He lost the charter of our rights)—
When flogged, or chained on moonlight nights!
Upon one subject, only, we
Can always heartily agree,
[gracefully waving her paw,
You, careless Dogs, we, careful Cats—
Our common enemy—
BOUNCE:
Yes, Rats!
[Joyously embracing opportunity to reinstate
himself
Old Servant (starting up suddenly):
Ah, who said "Rats!" just now—and where?
And why cannot you two play fair?
[At this, Tip is seen to be occupying her own
corner of the hearth, and Bounce to be sound asleep,
his nose deeply buried between his forepaws. Old
Servant rubs her eyes, then smiles thoughtfully,
and settles back in easy-chair