Butcher will not kill ox;

Ox will not drink water;
Water will not quench fire;
Fire will not burn stick;

Stick will not beat dog;

Dog will not bite pig;

Pig will not get over the stile;

And I shan't get home to-night."

"Yes," said the mouse, "I will, if you will give me some cheese."

So the old Dame put her hand in her pocket and brought out a nice piece of cheese, and gave it to the mouse; and when he had nibbled at it, then

The mouse began to gnaw the rope;

The rope began to hang the butcher;
The butcher began to kill the ox;

The ox began to drink the water ·

The water began to quench the fire;

The fire began to burn the stick ;

The stick began to beat the dog;

The dog began to bite the pig;

The pig he rushed right through the.stile,

And so the old Dame got home that night in time to boil her dumplings.

THE STORY

OF

THE CAT AND THE MOUSE,

WHO

PLAY'D IN THE FARM-HOUSE;

AND

THE THREE LITTLE KITTENS

WHO LOST THEIR MITTENS.

ILLUSTRATED

WITH SEVEN PICTURES BY

JOHN ABSOLON AND HARRISON WEIR..