MUNGOJERRIE AND RUMPELTEAZER

Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer were a very notoriouscouple of cats.As knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians, tight-ropewalkers and acrobatsThey had an extensive reputation. They made their home inVictoria Grove—That was merely their centre of operation, for they wereincurably given to rove.They were very well known in Cornwall Gardens, in LauncestonPlace and in Kensington Square—They had really a little more reputation than a couple of catscan very well bear.

        If the area window was found ajarAnd the basement looked like a field of war,If a tile or two came loose on the roof,Which presently ceased to be waterproof,If the drawers were pulled out from the bedroom chests,And you couldn't find one of your winter vests,Or after supper one of the girlsSuddenly missed her Woolworth pearls:Then the family would say: 'It's that horrible cat!It was Mungojerrie—or Rumpelteazer!'—And most of thetime they left it at that.

Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had a very unusual gift of the gab.They were highly efficient cat-burglars as well, and remarkablysmart at a smash-and-grab.They made their home in Victoria Grove. They had noregular occupation.They were plausible fellows, and liked to engage a friendlypoliceman in conversation.

        When the family assembled for Sunday dinner,With their minds made up that they wouldn't get thinnerOn Argentine joint, potatoes and greens,And the cook would appear from behind the scenesAnd say in a voice that was broken with sorrow:'I'm afraid you must wait and have dinner tomorrow!For the joint has gone from the oven—like that!'Then the family would say: 'It's that horrible cat!It was Mungojerrie—or Rumpelteazer!'—And most of thetime they left it at that.

Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had a wonderful way ofworking together.And some of the time you would say it was luck, and some ofthe time you would say it was weather.They would go through the house like a hurricane, and nosober person could take his oathWas it Mungojerrie—or Rumpelteazer? or could you havesworn that it mightn't be both?

        And when you heard a dining-room smashOr up from the pantry there came a loud crashOr down from the library came a loud pingFrom a vase which was commonly said to be Ming—Then the family would say: 'Now which was which cat?It was Mungojerrie! AND Rumpelteazer!'—And there'snothing at all to be done about that!