A CAT LAW-SUIT.

TWO tabbies on a summer morn Were gayly walking, When, lo! a boy let fall a cheese, While busy talking. Both wandered near, as though in play, And slyly rolled that cheese away. They rolled it fast, they rolled it far, Those cunning cats; They rolled it to the forest’s edge, By dint of pats; But when they came to share, you see, These foolish cats could not agree. Each one, mistrusting much the other, Began to growl, And made so loud a din and noise They woke an owl. He cried: “Don’t fight, but let us tell Your case to Lawyer Judge-em-well.” So said, so done. A monkey came, When they did call, With ink and pen, and scales in hand To settle all. “Are you the folks who disagree? Give here the cheese, and trust to me.” He broke the mass, dropped either half In balance flat— One lowest plumped. “Now, see how law Will alter that.” He bit a huge piece off, and then They saw him weigh the rest again. “Now, this side’s wrong.” Another nibble Made that too light. “Stop!” cried the cats; “Why, at the rate At which you bite, We soon shall have no cheese to share. Surely that is not dealing fair.” “Justice must have its dues,” cried he, Still biting; “You should have shared your cheese in peace, Instead of fighting. The two sides I have matched, and for my fee All that is left belongs to me.”