THE LITTLE LONG TAIL

As a cat and a mouse ran over a rail
The cat bit off the mouse’s tail.

The little mouse cried, “Cat, Cat, give back my little long tail again!”

“That I will if you’ll give me milk!” said Cat.

The little mouse ran to Cow and cried, “Cow, Cow, give me milk, that I
may give Cat milk, that Cat may give back my little long tail again!”

“That I will if you’ll give me hay!” said Cow.

The little mouse ran to Barn and cried, “Barn, Barn, give me hay, that
I may give Cow hay, that Cow may give me milk, that I may give Cat
milk, that Cat may give back my little long tail again!”

“That I will if you’ll give me key!” said Barn.

The little mouse ran to Smith and cried, “Smith, Smith, give me key,
that I may give Barn key, that Barn may give me hay, that I may give
Cow hay, that Cow may give me milk, that I may give Cat milk, that Cat
may give back my little long tail again!”

“That I will if you’ll give me coal!” said Smith.

The little mouse ran to Miner and cried, “Miner, Miner, give me coal,
that I may give Smith coal, that Smith may give me key, that I may give
Barn key, that Barn may give me hay, that I may give Cow hay, that Cow
may give me milk, that I may give Cat milk, that Cat may give back my
little long tail again!”

“That I will!” cried Miner, and he gave the mouse coal. The mouse gave
Smith coal and Smith gave him key. The mouse gave Barn key and Barn
gave him hay. The mouse gave Cow hay and Cow gave him milk. The mouse
gave Cat milk and Cat gave back his little long tail again.