A Thanksgiving Fable
by Oliver Herford

It was a hungry pussy-cat,
Upon Thanksgiving morn,
And she watched a thankful little mouse,
That ate an ear of corn.

“If I ate that thankful little mouse,
How thankful he should be,
When he has made a meal himself,
To make a meal for me!

“Then with his thanks for having fed,
And his thanks for feeding me,
With all his thankfulness inside,
How thank-full I shall be!”

Thus mused the hungry pussy cat,
Upon Thanksgiving Day;
But the little mouse had overheard
And declined (with thanks) to stay.