FOR CHILDREN. 223

A drawer, it chanced, at bottom lined

With linen of the softest kind—

A drawer was hanging o’er the rest,

Half open, in the topmost chest,

Of depth enough, and none to spare,

Inviting her to slumber there.

Puss, with delight beyond expression,

Surveyed the scene and took possession ;

Then resting at her ease, ere long,

And lulled by her own hum-drum song,

She left the cares of life behind,

And slept as she would sleep her last,

When in came, housewifely inclined,

The chambermaid, and shut it fast;

By no ill-natured thought impelled,

But quite unconscious whom it held.

Awakened by the shock, cried Puss,

«Was ever cat attended thus!

The open drawer was left, I see,

Merely to prove a nest for me ;

For soon as I was well composed,

Then came the maid, and it was closed.

How smooth these kerchiefs and how sweet !

Oh! what a delicate retreat.

I will resign myself to rest,

Till the sun, sinking in the west,

Shall call to supper, when, no doubt,

Susan will come and let me out.”

The evening came, the sun descended,
And Puss remained still unattended.
The night rolled tardily away,

(With her, indeed, ‘twas never day,)