00:00King of the Cats.
00:28Story told and illustrated by Paul Galdone.
00:35One October evening, the gravedigger's wife was sitting by the fireside with her big black
00:41cat Old Tom.
00:43They were waiting for the gravedigger to come home.
00:49They waited and they waited, but still he didn't come.
00:57At last he came rushing in, and as he came he called,
01:02Who's Tom Tildrum?
01:05He said it in such a wild way that both his wife and his cat stared at him in fright.
01:12Why, what's the matter, said his wife, and why do you want to know who Tom Tildrum is?
01:21Oh, I've had such an adventure, said the gravedigger.
01:29I was digging away at old Mr. Fordyce's grave, when I suppose I must have dropped asleep.
01:37I only woke up when I heard a cat's meow.
01:46Said old Tom in answer, Yes, just like that, said the gravedigger.
01:52So I looked over the edge of the grave, and what do you think I saw?
01:58Now how can I tell, said his wife.
02:01Why nine black cats, all like our friend Tom here.
02:10All of them had white spots on their chest, and what do you think they were carrying?
02:15Why, a small coffin, covered with a velvet paw.
02:20On the paw was a small coronet of gold, and at every third step they took, they cried
02:26all together, Meow.
02:34Said old Tom again, Yes, just like that, said the gravedigger, and as they came nearer and
02:42nearer to me, I could see them more distinctly because their eyes shone with a sort of green
02:47light.
02:49The biggest cat of all was walking in front, and he looked for all the world like, Suddenly
02:55the gravedigger stopped talking.
03:01Just look at our Tom, how he's looking at me, said the gravedigger.
03:06You'd think he knew all I was saying.
03:09Go on, go on, said his wife, never mind old Tom.
03:15Well, as I was a saying, the nine cats came toward me slowly and solemnly, and at every
03:25third step they all cried together, Meow, said old Tom again, Yes, just like that, said
03:34the gravedigger.
03:40The cats came on and on until they stood right opposite Mr. Fordyce's grave where I was.
03:47Then they all stood still and looked straight at me.
03:50I did feel strange that I did.
03:57But look at old Tom, said the gravedigger, he's looking at me just like they did.
04:03Go on, go on, said his wife, never mind old Tom.
04:08Where was I, said the gravedigger, oh yes, there they all stood, still looking at me,
04:15when the one that wasn't carrying the coffin came forward, staring straight at me, he said
04:21to me, yes, I tell you, he said to me in a squeaky voice, Tell Tom Tildrum that Tim Toldrum's
04:32dead.
04:37And that's why I ask you if you knew who Tom Tildrum was, for how can I tell Tom Tildrum
04:43that Tim Toldrum's dead if I don't know who Tom Tildrum is?
04:51Look at old Tom, look at old Tom, screamed the gravedigger's wife, and well he might
04:57look, for Tom was swelling, and Tom was staring, and at last Tom shrieked out, What?
05:06Old Tim is dead, then I, Tom Tildrum, am king of the cats.
05:16And old Tom rushed up the chimney and was never seen again.
05:27I hope you enjoyed that story.
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05:33to check out all the other stories that are already uploaded.
05:36Thank you so much for watching.
