Explore "The Duel" by Eugene Field on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The gingham dog and the calico cat / Side by side on the table sat; / 'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think! ) / Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink! / The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate / Appeared to know as sure as fate / There was going to be a terrible spat. / (I wasn't there; I simply state / What was told to me by the Chinese plate! )
The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow! " / And the calico cat replied "mee-ow! " / The air was littered, an hour or so, / With bits of gingham and calico, / While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place / Up with its hands before its face, / For it always dreaded a family row! / (Now mind: I'm only telling you / What the old Dutch clock declares is true! )