24
TOMMY, MY SON

“Tommy, my son,” said the old tabby cat,

“Go catch us some mice, and be sure that they're fat.

There's one family lives in the carpenter's barn;

They've made them a nest of the old lady's yarn.

But the carpenter has a young cat of his own

That is healthy and proud and almost full grown,

And consider it, son, an eternal disgrace

To come home at night with a scratch on your face.”

 

[NOTES]This rhyme is about a mother cat who tells her son, Tommy to go get some mice to eat. Mother cats says there is a family of mice living in one of the animal houses that is owned by the carpenter. This mouse family has made a home in some wool. Sometimes cats fight. Mother tells her son to watch for the carpenter's cat who is now old enough to fight with any cat that comes into his barn. Mother says if Tommy comes home with a scratch on his face, it will be because the young cat has won the fight.

tabby cat—a cat with black coloured lines

to catch—to hold

carpenter—someone who makes things from wood

nest—bed for animals

yarn—wool

proud—thinks highly of itself

consider—think

eternal—forever

disgrace—dishonour; lose face

to scratch a face—make a line of blood on the face