MISS TABBY CAT’S RECEPTION.

THE eldest Miss Tabbycat gave an “at home,” With music and choice recitations By Signor Angora, quite lately from Rome, Who rendered the “Yowls of All Nations.” The “Squalls Without Words,” sung by Fräulein von Manx, Were greeted with murmurs of “charming!” While her “Chanson de Alley” elicited thanks So loud they were almost alarming. There was, too, a sonata, composed by C. Waul, Which was classic and claimed the attention For fully an hour. The themes one and all, Were models of feline invention. This piece and the trio, “Beloved Young Mouse,” Were voted the evening’s successes, The latter was purred by three guests of the house Who wore solid tortoise shell dresses. The pleasant refreshments were freely dispensed At twelve. There were crumbs of long standing, And milk in all possible forms, save condensed, Set forth on the cellar way landing. Now, little Miss Velvetpaw, pattering home In a shower beneath the umbrella Of Signor Angora, quite lately from Rome, Said, “Wasn’t it nice in that cellar?” “And wasn’t Miss Tabby the dearest old thing? And weren’t those split milkings just splendid? And didn’t that Manx creature know how to sing? Though she looked—well, least said, soonest mended!” But Fräulein von Manx, treading homeward alone With a large book of songs, said (’twas spiteful, Of course), “She was ready to gnaw a dry bone, And the damp in that cellar was frightful!” And the eldest Miss Tabbycat sank on the stair Where she’d stood and reflected with sorrow On the mess that her party had made ev’rywhere And the bills that would come on the morrow.