The Cat That Walked by Himself

When the Tame animals were wild, the Woman lit a fire in a Cave, and the Dog, the Horse and the Cow came in to be her friends and servants, but the Cat walked by himself. With a clever bargain and three words of praise, he won his way into the Cave, a seat by the fire and the warm white milk, yet he still walks by himself.

Scene 1: The Wet Wild Woods

The Cat That Walked by Himself. Long ago, the Wild Dog, the Wild Horse, the Wild Cow walked in the Wet Wild Woods by their wild lones. But the wildest of all was the Cat. He walked by himself, and all places were alike to him. Then the Woman lit a fire in a nice dry Cave, and the wild animals saw its light a long way off.

Scene 2: Nenni!

Wild Dog sniffed and said: “I will go up and see and look. Cat, come with me.” The Cat said: “Nenni! I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.” But he slipped after Wild Dog softly, very softly, and hid.

Scene 3: The First Friend

The Woman threw Wild Dog a roasted bone, and he became the First Friend. The Cat said: “That is a very foolish Dog.” Then Wild Horse came for the wonderful grass, and Wild Cow gave her warm white milk. And each time the Cat went back through the Wet Wild Woods, waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone.

Scene 4: The Bargain

At last the Cat came to the Cave by himself, and said: “I am not a friend, and I am not a servant. I wish to come into your Cave.” The Woman laughed, and made a bargain: “If ever I say one word in your praise, you may come in. Two words, you may sit by the fire. Three words, you may drink the warm white milk.” The Cat arched his back, and went away through the Wet Wild Woods.

Scene 5: One Word

One morning the Baby cried. The Cat patted his cheek with his paddy paw, and tickled his chin with his tail. The Baby laughed, and the Woman said: “A blessing on that Wild Thing, whoever he may be.” Whoosh! The Curtain fell down, and there was the Cat, sitting quite comfy inside the Cave.

Scene 6: Two Words

The Cat purred, loud and low, low and loud, till the Baby fell fast asleep. The Woman said: “That was wonderfully done. You are very clever, O Cat.” Puff! The smoke came down in clouds, and there was the Cat, sitting quite comfy by the fire.

Scene 7: Three Words

Then a little wee-wee mouse ran across the floor. The Woman jumped upon her footstool and cried: “Ouh! Chee! No indeed!” The Cat made one jump and caught the mouse. The Woman said: “A hundred thanks. You must be very wise.” Ffft! The Milk-pot cracked in two, and there was the Cat, lapping up the warm white milk.

Scene 8: By Himself

The Cat promised to catch mice, and to be kind to the Baby. But still he said: “I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.” So the Man tossed his two boots, and the Dog chased the Cat up a tree. But when the moon gets up, he is the Cat that walks by himself, and all places are alike to him.

Moral: Kindness and cleverness can open every door, but some friends keep a little wildness of their own.

Questions about The Cat That Walked by Himself

What did the Cat say when Wild Dog asked him to come along?

Nenni!.

What did the Woman throw to Wild Dog?

A roasted bone.

What did the Cat do to make the crying Baby laugh?

Patted his cheek and tickled his chin with his tail.

What happened when the Woman said the third word of praise?

The Milk-pot cracked in two.

Where did the Dog chase the Cat?

Up a tree.