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Ferrar, William J.

"More English Fairy Tales"

So
the prince married her that very day, and they lived happy ever after.


The King o' the Cats

One winter's evening the sexton's wife was sitting by the fireside with
her big black cat, Old Tom, on the other side, both half asleep and
waiting for the master to come home. They waited and they waited, but
still he didn't come, till at last he came rushing in, calling out,
"Who's Tommy Tildrum?" in such a wild way that both his wife and his cat
stared at him to know what was the matter.
"Why, what's the matter?" said his wife, "and why do you want to know
who Tommy Tildrum is?"
"Oh, I've had such an adventure. I was digging away at old Mr. Fordyce's
grave when I suppose I must have dropped asleep, and only woke up by
hearing a cat's _Miaou_."
"_Miaou!_" said Old Tom in answer.
"Yes, just like that! So I looked over the edge of the grave, and what
do you think I saw?"
"Now, how can I tell?" said the sexton's wife.
"Why, nine black cats all like our friend Tom here, all with a white
spot on their chestesses.


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