Robert Branston Old Dame Trot and her Cat (1818) Here you behold Dame Trot, and here her comic cat you see. Each seated in an elbow chair as snug as they can be.

Dame Trot came home one wintry night, a shivering, starving soul, but Puss had made a blazing fire, and nicely trussed a fowl. The Dame was pleased, the fowl was dressed, the table set in place. The wondreous cat began to carve, and Goody said her grace.

The cloth withdrawn, old Goody cries, I wish we'd liquor too. Up jumped Grimalkin for some wine, and soon a cork she drew. The wine got up in Pussy's head, she woud not go to bed, but purred and tumbled, leaped and danced, and stood upon her head.

Old Goody laughed to see the sport, as though her sides would crack, when Puss, without a single word, leaped on the spaniels back. 'Ha, ha! Well done!' old Trot exclaims, 'My cat, you gallop well'. But Spot grew surly, growled and bit, and down the rider fell.

Now Goody sorely was fatigued, nor eyes could open keep. So Spot and she and Pussy too, agreed to go to sleep. Next morning Puss got up bedtimes, the breakfast cloth she laid. And ere the village clock struck eight, the tea and toast she made.

Goody awoke and rubbed her eyes, and drank her cup of tea; amazed to see her cat behave with such propriety. The breakfast ended, Trot went out to see old neighbour Hards, and coming home she found her cat engaged with Spot at cards.

Another time the Dame came in, when Spot demurely sat half lathered to the ears and eyes, half shaven by the cat. Grimalkin having shaved her friend, sat down before the glass, and washed her face, and dressed her hair, like any modern lass.

A hat and feather then she took, and stuck it on aside, and o'er a gown of crimson silk, a handsome tippet tied. Just as her dress was all complete, in came the good old Dame. She looked, admired, and curtsied low, and Pussy did the same.

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This book contains two stories, the second one (shown below) was a new version of Branston's comical cat (1818) which in turn was based on the original chapbook from 1806. The drawings are in reverse.

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Old Mother Mitten and Her Funny Kitten
(circa 1825)

Huestis & Cozans, 104 Nassau Street, New York

Old Mother Mitten And her pretty Kitten, Took supper, one night rather late;

(The original order of the panels seems to have gone astray in this version)

But they sat down to tea, And the dog came to see Pussy cut the meat up on her plate.

The dog and the cat Were having a chat, When Pussy cried out with a mew;

Dear old mother Mitten, Just look at your kitten, She's gonig to drink mead with you.

When the supper was over, The kitten moreover, Did stand on the top of her head.

So the dog he declares, They must sleep in their chairs, And none of them get into bed.

So when they awoke, Miss Pussy first spoke, And to the old Lady said she;

My dear if you please, Take this bread and cheese, And I'll give you a hot cup of tea.

At the table they sat, The dog and the cat, With cards they were trying to play;

But the dog's beard is long, Which the cat thinks is wrong, And here she is shaving poor Tray.

Having shaved Mr. Tray, She hastens away, And dresses herself for a walk;

And when she came in, Told where she had been, To have with the neighbours a talk.

Says granny indeed, I believe you're agreed, To marry miss Puss, Mr. Tray;

The dog made a bow, The cat she said mow, And I think they got married that day.