You may have noticed, little friends,

That cats don't wash their faces

before they eat, as children do,

In all good Christian places.

Well, years ago, a famous cat,

The pangs of hunger feeling,

Had chanced to catch a fine young mouse

Who said, as he ceased squealing,

"All, genteel folks their faces wash

Before they think of eating!"

And whishing to be thought well-bred,

Puss heeded his entreating.

But when she raised her paw to wash

Change for escape affording.

The sly young mouse said his good-bye,

Whitout respect to wording.

A feline council met next day

And passed, in solemn meeting,

A law forbidding any cat

To wash till after eating