THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE

 

HEY, diddle diddle!
 The cat and the fiddle! 

He played such a merry tune, 

That the cow went mad 

With the pleasure she had, 

And jumped right over the moon.

But then don't you see? 

Before that could be,

 The moon had come down and listened 

The little dog hearkened, 

So loud that he barkened, 

"There's nothing like it there isn' t."

Hey, diddle diddle! 

Went the cat and the fiddle,

 Hey, diddle, diddle dee dee!

The dog laughed at the sport 

Till his cough cut him short,

 It was hey, diddle, diddle, oh me! 

And back came the cow 

With a merry, merry low, 

For she d humbled the man in the moon,    

The dish got excited, 

The spoon was delighted, 

And the dish waltzed away with the spoon.

But the man in the moon, 

Coming back too soon 

From the famous town of Norwich, 

Caught up the dish, 

Said "It's just what I wish, 

To hold my cold plum-porridge!"

Gave the cow a rat-tat, 

Flung water on the cat, 

And sent him away like a rocket. 

Said "O moon, there you are!" 

Got into her car, 

And went off with the spoon in his pocket.

Hey ho! diddle, diddle! 

The wet cat and wet fiddle, 

They made such a caterwauling, 

That the cow in a fright 

Stood bolt upright  

Bellowing now, and bawling? 

And the dog on his tail, 

Stretched his neck with a wail. 

But "Ho ho!" said the man in the moon-

"No more in the South 

Shall I burn my mouth, 

For I have found a dish and a spoon."

By GEORGE MAC DONALD 

References:

THE PEEP-SHOW 1875