ONCE there was a farmer who had a cat that grew so big and ate so much he at last decided he could keep the beast no longer. "I will give her one more good meal," said he, "and then I will tie a stone about her neck and throw her into the river. She would eat me out of house and home if I continued to keep her."

So he set down a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat before her and went out to find a stone. But the cat had heard his talk about drowning, and she did not wait for him to come back. As soon as she had gobbled up the porridge and the fat she jumped through the window. Just outside, she met the man returning with the stone.

"How is this?" said he. "Have you had your breakfast so soon?"

"Oh, yes," replied pussy, "I've eaten what little you gave me, but I'm hungry yet, and now I think of it I 'II eat you, too."

So she made a sudden jump and gobbled down the man. Then she went into the stable where the farmer's wife sat milking.

       "Good day, pussy," said the woman, "have you had your breakfast?"

"Good day, pussy," said the woman, "have you had your breakfast?"

"I've eaten a little," replied pussy, "but I'm very hungry still. All I've had is a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat, and the farmer   and now I think of it I'll eat you, too."

So the cat gave a sudden jump and gobbled down the farmer's wife and likewise the cow the woman was milking. Then the cat went out of the stable and along a lane, and pretty soon she saw a squirrel gathering nuts under a hazel bush.

"Good day, Sir Squirrel," said she.

"Good day, pussy," responded the squirrel. "Have you had your breakfast this morning?"

"Oh, I've eaten a little," replied the cat, "but I'm still very hungry. All I've had is a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat, and a farmer, and the farmer's wife, and a cow   and now I think of it I'll eat you, too."

So she made a sudden jump and gobbled down the squirrel. When she had gone a little farther she saw Reynard the Fox prowling about by the wood- side.

"Good day, Reynard Slyboots," said the cat.

"Good day, Mrs. Pussy," responded the fox. "Have you had your breakfast this morning?"

"Oh, I've eaten a little," replied pussy, "but I'm still hungry. All I 'ye had is a bowl of porridge, and a dish of fat, and a farmer, and the farmer's wife, and a cow, and a squirrel   and now I think of it I'll eat you, too."

So she made a sudden jump and gobbled down Reynard. When she had gone a little farther she met Long Ears, the rabbit.

"Good day, Mr. Hopper," said the cat.

"Good day, Mrs. Pussy," responded the rabbit. "Have you had anything to eat this morning?"

"Oh, I've had a little," replied the cat, "but it was only a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat, and a farmer, and the farmer's wife, and a cow, and a squirrel, and a fox   and now I think of it I'll eat you, too."

So she made a sudden spring and gobbled down the rabbit. She went on a bit farther and met a wolf.

"Good day, Greylegs," said the cat.

"Good day, Mrs. Pussy," responded the wolf. "Have you had anything to eat this morning?"

"Oh, I've had a little," replied the cat, "but it was only a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat, and a farmer, and the, farmer's wife, and a cow, and a squirrel, and a fox, and a rabbit   and now I think of it I may as well eat you, too."

So she made a sudden jump and gobbled down the wolf. Then she went on into the woods and over the hills till she met a bear.

"Good day, Mr. Bruin," said the cat.

"Good day, Mrs. Pussy," responded the bear. "Have you had anything to eat today?"

"Oh, I've had a little," replied pussy, "but it was only a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat, and a farmer, and the farmer's wife, and a cow, and a squirrel, and a fox, and a rabbit, and a wolf   and now I think of it I'll eat you, too."

So she made a sudden jump and gobbled down Mr. Bruin. Then the cat went on and on until she came out of the forest and met a wedding party with a fiddler marching along ahead.

"Good day, fiddler," said the cat.

"Good day, pussy," responded the fiddler. "Have you had anything to eat today? I suspect you have from the way your sides stick out."

"Oh, I've had a little," replied the cat, "but I'm still hungry, for I 'ye only eaten a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat, and a farmer, and the farmer's wife, and a cow, and a squirrel, and a fox, and a rabbit, and a wolf, and a bear   and now I think of it I'll eat your wedding party, too."

So she made a sudden jump and gobbled down the fiddler, and the parson, and the bride and groom, and all the rest of the company. Then the cat went on until she met a goat.

"Good day, Billy-goat," said she.

"Good day, Mrs. Pussy," responded the goat. "Have you eaten anything today?"

"Oh, I’ve had a little," replied the cat, "but I'm almost starving still, for I've only eaten a bowl of porridge and a dish of fat, and a farmer, and the farmer's wife, and a cow, and a squirrel, and a fox, and a rabbit, and a wolf and a bear, and a wedding party   and now I think of it I don't mind if I eat you, too."

"That we will fight about," said the goat, and he put down his head and ran at the cat with all his might. She turned to get out of his way but was not quick enough and he struck her a tremendous thump full on her side. It was so mighty a blow that she burst, and all the people and creatures she had swallowed were set free. Forth they came one after the other -- first the farmer, then the farmer's wife, then the cow, then the squirrel, then the fox, then the rabbit, then the wolf, then the bear, then the fiddler and the parson and the bride and groom and all the. rest of the wedding party. They hastened off their several ways as soon as they could, for the billy-goat which was nibbling grass near by, would every now and then shake his head and prance up on his hind legs as if he was thinking of doing some more butting, and none of them wanted any farther experience either with gobbling cats or butting goats.