The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-07-17
For Young Readers.
THE CATS AT LAW.

vERsIFIED FROM EsoP's FABLES.
Old Grey sat by his fire;
He was somewhat dull and blue;
He stroked the whisker on his chin
And twisted his mustache, too.
They were trim when he begun,
But something must be done,
And he'd nothing else to do.
There suddenly came knock:
Rat-tat, rat-tat-tat-tat!
He lazily winked his eyes, and called
Out Sleepily: "Who is that?"
When the door few open wide,
And with hasty stride
In came Neighbor Cat.
"Good evening, Comrade Tom!
So you're abroad tonight?
like hearth when days grow chill
The embers are SO bright
Take off your overshoes,
And your coat, too, If you choose,
And sit in my freight.
Said Tom: "Pve little time
For Injuries like these;
But get your lantern, Pussy Grey,
And hurry about it, please,
For I've found door ajar,
And | think our chances are
Good for bit of cheese"
" Ah, Tom" cried Pussy Grey,
fear you re wicked onel
But wait, FL light my lantern quick
And put my ulster on!'
The twirl of a furry paw
Was all the freight saw,
And the thieving friends we're gone.
Not the sound of one football
Was made by their twice four,
As they sped along in silent stealth
And reached the dairy door.
1t was open the merest crack,
And they pushed the hinges back,
And crept along the floor.
They found huge round cheese,
And they carved a generous slice,
Whispering gleefully the while:
How very, very nice!
Wen take it between us-so!
And never a soul will know,
They'll think it was the MICE"
But when they reached their den
They began to disagree
As to which deserved the larger part,
And both growled angrily.
Said Tom, with greedy boast;
I've right to claim the most
For my discovery"
With furious wish to scratch,
Cried selfish Pussy Grey:
! carried at the heaviest end,
Is all have to say
Then shook a violent paw
And threatened TO go to law
If he couldn't have his way.
A monkey lived next door;
He heard the foolish jar,
He laughed at each new threat, then said;
What simpletons they arel
So very brave to buster,
While neither one could muster
Courage for genuine war;"
So he stepped upon the scale,
Suaye aud dignifed;
Neighbors,' he said. with stately bow,
. do not wish to chide,
But pray show common sense,
And in this difference
Let some third friend decide"
Beth Grey and Tom knew well
They never could agree:
So both exclaimed, with common breath:
8 If you will umpire be
Your ruling We'll obey;
Go get your scales and weigh
And divide It equally"
Jocko to be the judged
The greatest rogue in townl
But he grayely brought his balances
And grayely set them down,
And to make himself look wise
Put glasses on his eyes,
And wore wig and gown.
He cut the cheese in twain,
And a lovely slice was laid
On either scale; but, 10, the right
The other far outweighed.
So Jocko from the right
Demurely took bite,
Which quite a difference made.
For then the balance dipped
To the left decidedly;
So he took a mouthfui out of that
To right lido you see2
But the whole thing seemed perYerSA-
That made the matter worse,
And he took bite number three.
Grey turned to look at Toni
Tom turned TO stare at Greyl
n Na hpir h m n w
And this was the lawyers way!
AT least for q minute space
Into each others face
They gaZed in dumb diSmay.
Then with despairing howl
Grey smote his breast and cried:
The Judge gives justice, but there'll be
No cheese left to divided"
And Tom unused wildly: please
Give me the smallest piece,
will be satished!'
Judge Jocko found the cheese
A most delicious one,
So he nibbled, nibbled from either scale
And quite enjoyed the fun.
1t made it doubly sweet
To have them watch him eat,
And to hear frequent groan.
Meanwhile he moralized:
MY friends, it is fact,
Some, rather than be generous,
Prefer to be exact.
And when difficulties rise
1t usually is wise
TO have lawyer act"
Now of their prize they could
But the veriest morsel see;
Give thatto me- cried Grey.
Shrieked Tom: 'Give that to mel"
Nay, may said the Judge, may, nay"
In his most judicial way,
This is the lawyers fee.''
So, home to his faded fire,
Hungry and sad, Grey went;
And to the lonesome stars, and the dark
Tom made his loud lament;
While Jocko, his wig and gown
Laid by, curled snugly down
In gratified content.
Mrs. Clara Doty Bates, In Vide AlUdIe.
WONDERFUL WORKS
l never could see any good reason TO
inventing all those stories about being
called fairies and gnomes and water