Pussy-Cat lives in the servant's hall,
She can set up her back and purr;
The little mice live in a crack in the wall,
But they hardly dare venture to stir;
For whenever they think of taking the air,
Or filling their little maws,
The Pussy-cat says, "Come out if you dare;
I will catch you all with my claws."
Scramble, scramble, scramble, went all the little Mice,
For they smelt the Cheshire cheese,
The Pussy-Cat said, "It smells very nice,
Now do come out, if you please."
"Squeak," said the little Mouse; "squeak, squeak, squeak,"
Said all the little ones too;
"We never creep out when cats are about,
Because we're afraid of you."
So the cunning old Cat lay down on a mat
By the fire in the servants' hall:
"If the little Mice peep, they'll think I'm asleep;"
So she rolled herself up like a ball.
"Squeak," said the little Mouse, "we'll creep out
And eat some Cheshire cheese,
That silly old Cat is asleep on the mat,
And we may sup at our ease."
Nibble, nibble, nibble went all the little mice,
And they licked their little paws;
Then the cunning old Cat sprang up from the mat,
And caught them all with her claws.