“The Clever Cat” is an Australian Song written by Mary Hannay Foott (1846-1918).
The italicized words in the poem are just the way the story appeared in The Queenslander on Saturday 26 November 1887. Mary Hannay Foott was a contributor to Australian newspapers. The Queenslander was the literary edition of the Brisbane Courier (now The Courier-Mail). The weekly literary summary was published in Brisbane, Queensland from 3 February 1866 to 22 February 1939.
Australian writer
There was a cat called William—
The poorest ever seen;
He would not go a mousing —
He played the tambourine!
His family would not feed him —
This lazy little cat —
And out of doors they turned him —
(They saw no way but that).
So on and on he wandered
Till he to Catland came;
And there he met a Princess —
Felina was her name.
She had the loveliest whiskers,
Her eyes were emerald green;
She fell in love with William —
All for his tambourine!
For her delight was dancing,
And there was none to play —
“Strike up!” she straight commanded
When William came that way.
All day she danced. At sunset,
Poor William at her feet
Knelt down and said, ” Pray may I
Have something now to eat !”
“To eat! Of course! What ho, there!”
(Felina had no bell;
But when she called her servants,
Her sweet voice did as well.)
Then tortoiseshells and tabbies
Tripped o’er each others’ tails;
All scurrying from the kitchen
With cream-cakes and stewed snails.
Now half a dozen dinners
Were brought him every day —
And “mouse” was never mentioned —
His brothers came to stay
(For they had heard of Catland,
Where William’s word was law);
And by-and-by Felina
Bestowed on him her paw.
There is a cat called William —
The fattest ever seen;
He need not go a-mousing —
He plays the tambourine!
About the Author
See our page on Mary Hannay Foott. Includes a linked list of all her writing available on our website.