Love-Songs of Childhood

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"></SPAN></p> <h2> THE DUEL </h2> <p>The gingham dog and the calico cat<br/> Side by side on the table sat;<br/> 'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)<br/> Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!<br/> The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate<br/> Appeared to know as sure as fate<br/> There was going to be a terrible spat.<br/> (I wasn't there; I simply state<br/> What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)<br/> The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"<br/> And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"<br/> The air was littered, an hour or so,<br/> With bits of gingham and calico,<br/> While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place<br/> Up with its hands before its face,<br/> For it always dreaded a family row!<br/> (Now mind: I'm only telling you<br/> What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)<br/> The Chinese plate looked very blue,<br/> And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"<br/> But the gingham dog and the calico cat<br/> Wallowed this way and tumbled that,<br/> Employing every tooth and claw<br/> In the awfullest way you ever saw&mdash;<br/> And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!<br/> (Don't fancy I exaggerate&mdash;<br/> I got my news from the Chinese plate!)<br/> Next morning, where the two had sat<br/> They found no trace of dog or cat;<br/> And some folks think unto this day<br/> That burglars stole that pair away!<br/> But the truth about the cat and pup<br/> Is this: they ate each other up!<br/> Now what do you really think of that!<br/> (The old Dutch clock it told me so,<br/> And that is how I came to know.)<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />