Page:The American Boy's Handy Book edition 1.djvu/375

This page needs to be proofread.
342
Winter.

Sent me such a tempting pussy-cat for dinner? I can't under- Stand the blunder; But I'm glad, my pussy cat, that you're no thinner. Puss: M-e-o-w! My brother Wolfgang (ah, how rich!) I wouldn't have believed You so easily deceived. Know that I am Catoscratch, the witch. WOLFGANG: Rattledy bang! Snake and fang! So you're a witch, all skilled in herbs and roots! My power is no less, But I must confess That I ne'er before this saw a cat in boots I Puss: Meow! my brother, speak not of my skill : 'Tis true I can change to a cat, but no more, While fame says that you can assume at your will Any form that you please, be it higher or lower. Many a league, With much fatigue, From a country of ice and snow, On my broomstick steed Have I come, with speed, These great wonders to see and know. WOLFGANG: Cuts and slashes ! Blood in splashes! Who dares doubt what I can do? Now tell me, old witch, Of the many forms, which Shall I take to prove this to you? Puss: Meow! my great Wolfgang, it seems to me that Of all 'twould be hardest to turn to a rat!

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.