书城英文图书英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)
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第19章 TABBY

1.My sister Ella has a cat called Tabby.She is black,and has a pretty white breast.She has long whiskers and a fine bushy tail.

2.It is very pretty to see Ella and Tabby at breakfast-time.Tabby gets up on the back of Ella’s chair,and rubs her whiskers gently against the little girl‘s cheek with a soft “Pur-r-r.”

3.Our dog Snap is very fond of Tabby,butin the morning he likes to run up to her with a loud bark.Then Tabby gives a fierce spit.

4.Of course it is all in play.Snap and she are good friends,and soon they will be lying before the fire quite close together.

5.Tabby’s paws have soft pads under them,so that she can walk about very quietly.This makes her a good hunter for she can creep up to birds or mice without making the least noise.Shegives a great spring when she gets near them.

6.When she is angry she puts out her claws like long sharp hooks.At other times she keeps them in,so that they look like little nails at the end of her toes.

7.Tabby catches birds and mice,but she never hurts us.Ella often says this nice verse about her pussy:-“I love little pussy,her coat is so warm,And if I don‘t hurt her she’ll do me no harm;So I‘ll not pull her tail or drive her away,But pussy and I very gently will play.”

8.I could tell you a great deal more about Tabby-how rough her tongue feels when she licks our hands,and how she can see as well in the dark as in the bright sunlight-but I have told you quite enough about her for to-day.

My house is large,my hearth is wide,With room for him and me beside.

Ah yes!But when the lights are out He likes to slyly peep about,And help himself to what he sees,Without once saying,“If you please.”