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Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer |
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Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer were a very notorious couple of cats. |
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As knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians, tight-rope walkers and acrobats |
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They had an extensive reputation. They made their home in Victoria Grove-- |
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That was merely their centre of operation, for they were incurably given to rove. |
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They were very well known in Cornwall Gardens, in Launceston Place and in Kensington Square- |
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They had really a little more reputation than a couple of cats can very well bear. |
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If the area window was found ajar |
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And the basement looked like a field of war, |
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If a tile or two came loose on the roof, |
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Which presently ceased to be waterproof, |
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If the drawers were pulled out from the bedroom chests, |
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And you couldn't find one of your winter vests, |
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Or after supper one of the girls |
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Suddenly missed her Woolworth pearls: |
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Then the family would say: `It's that horrible cat! |
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It was Mungojerrie--or Rumpelteazer!'--And most of the time they left it at that. |
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Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had a very unusual gift of the gab. |
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They were highly efficient cat-burglars as well, and remarkably smart at a smash and grab. |
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They made their home in Victoria Grove. They had no regular occupation. |
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They were plausible fellows, and liked to engage a friendly policeman in conversation. |
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When the family assembled for Sunday dinner, |
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With their minds made up that they wouldn't get thinner |
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On Argentine joint, potatoes and greens, |
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And the cook would appear from behind the scenes |
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And say in a voice that was broken with sorrow: |
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`I'm afraid you must wait and have dinner tomorrow! |
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For the joint has gone from the oven-like that!' |
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Then the family would say: 'It's that horrible cat! |
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It was Mungojerrie--or Rumpelteazer!'--And most of the time they left it at that. |
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Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had a wonderful way of working together. |
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And some of the time you would say it was luck, |
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And some of the time you would say it was weather. |
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They would go through the house like a hurricane, and no sober person could take his oath |
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Was it Mungojerrie--or Rumpelteazer? or could you have sworn that it mightn't be both? |
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And when you heard a dining room smash |
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Or up from the pantry there came a loud crash |
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Or down from the library came a loud ping |
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From a vase which was commonly said to be Ming-- |
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Then the family would say: 'Now which was which cat? |
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It was Mungojerrie! AND Rumpelteazer!'--And there's nothing at all to be done about that! |
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