The gingham dog and
the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'Twas
half-past twelve and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
Up with its hands before its face
For it always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! What shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw-
And, oh! How the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate-
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)
Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: They ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)
Eugene Field was an unusual poet. He was one of the few poets
who wrote only children's poetry. That is how he got his nickname, The
Children's Poet.
It all started September 2, 1850, at 634 South Broadway in
Saint Louis. That's where and when Eugene Field was born. He had one brother
named Roswell, who was one year younger than he, and a sister who died soon
after her birth. He and his brother were very close, but very different.
Eugene took after their mother, Francis, while Roswell took after their
father. Eugene was afraid of the dark while his brother wasn't afraid of
anything. Eugene hated studying while Roswell loved it. When the boys were
six and five, their mother died.
