A FACT.

Three little kittens, so downy and soft,
Were cuddled up by the fire,
And two little children were sleeping aloft,
As cosey as heart could desire;
Dreaming of something ever so nice,
Dolls and sugar plums! rats and mice!

The night wore on and the mistress said,
"I'm sleepy, I must confess,
And as kitties and babies are safe in bed,
I'll go to bed, too, I guess"
So she went up-stairs just a story higher,
While the kittens slept by the kitchen fire.

"What noise can that be?" the mistress said;
"Me-ow! Me-ow!" "Dear me! dear me!
I wonder what can the matter be!"

The mistress paused on an upper stair,
For what did she see below,
But three little kittens, with frightened air,
Standing up in a row;
With six little paws on the step above,
And no mother cat to caress or love!

Through the kitchen door came a cloud of smoke!
The mistress, in great alarm,
To a sense of danger straightway awoke;
Her babies might come to harm!
On the kitchen hearth, to her great amaze,
Was a basket of shavings beginning to blaze!

The three little kittens were hugged and kissed,
And promised many a mouse;
While their names were put upon honor's list,
For hadn't they saved a house?
And two little children were gathered tight
To their mother's heart ere she slept that night.