THE SOCIAL TEA.

NOW, a bundle of fun With the sweetest of eyes, Was Miss Kitty McGee, Who had won the first prize At a big country fair, Where were kittens galore, Who her rivals had been, And she made them heart sore. For the laurels they had, Why, they could not compare With the prize this dear pet Wore with pride from the fair. And the judges all said, When they saw her sweet way, She eclipsed all the cats They had met the whole day. And she mused as she blinked, When she rode thro’ the town, “There were few like herself, Who had gained such renown.” And to show she was kind, As a kitten should be, She planned to invite Her three cousins to tea. When Miss Kitty awoke From her dreams the next day, And her toilet was made In her own dainty way, Why, she drank all the milk In her pretty new dish, And she ate some nice bits Till no more she could niche. With a snuff of the air, All so sweet and so clear, Off she scampered to write To her cousins most dear; And the notes she perfumed With a dash of catnip And invited them all To her home for a sip Of the nicest of tea, With a wafer or two, And she tied all the notes With pink ribbons and blue; And a special dispatch They all sent right away And it said “they would come To her house that same day.” There was Queenie, so white, With a sweet, dainty air, And her brother Sir Tom, With a dignity rare; And dear little Snip, Who was cute as could be, And a prettier sight, Why, you seldom do see. Now, Miss Kitty, she served At the table with ease, And she tried, oh, so hard, All her guests for to please; And they drank to the health Of their hostess, with tea, And they said “she was good And as sweet as could be.” And they hoped she would care All their love to retain, For they wished, very soon, To be with her again; And they shook her soft paw, Said the judges were right, “You are worthy the prize,” Then they bade her good night.