This is a modern-English version of The Tale of Samuel Whiskers; Or, The Roly-Poly Pudding, originally written by Potter, Beatrix. It has been thoroughly updated, including changes to sentence structure, words, spelling, and grammar—to ensure clarity for contemporary readers, while preserving the original spirit and nuance. If you click on a paragraph, you will see the original text that we modified, and you can toggle between the two versions.

Scroll to the bottom of this page and you will find a free ePUB download link for this book.

THE TALE OF

SAMUEL WHISKERS

Or,

THE ROLY POLY PUDDING

In Remembrance of
"SAMMY,"
The intelligent pink-eyed Representative
of
a Persecuted (but Irrepressible) Race
An affectionate little Friend,
and most accomplished
thief

In Remembrance of
"SAMMY,"
The clever pink-eyed Representative
of
a Persecuted (but Unstoppable) Race
A loving little Friend,
and a very skilled
thief

FREDERICK WARNE

First published 1908
(Originally published in U.S.A. as The Roly-Poly Pudding)

Once upon a time there was an old cat, called Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit, who was an anxious parent. She used to lose her kittens continually, and whenever they were lost they were always in mischief!

Once upon a time, there was an old cat named Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit, who was a worried mom. She kept losing her kittens, and every time they were lost, they were always getting into trouble!

On baking day she determined to shut them up in a cupboard.

On baking day, she decided to lock them in a cupboard.

She caught Moppet and Mittens, but she could not find Tom.

She found Moppet and Mittens, but she couldn't find Tom.

Mrs. Tabitha went up and down all over the house, mewing for Tom Kitten. She looked in the pantry under the staircase, and she searched the best spare bedroom that was all covered up with dust sheets. She went right upstairs and looked into the attics, but she could not find him anywhere.

Mrs. Tabitha walked around the house, calling for Tom Kitten. She checked the pantry under the staircase and searched the dusty spare bedroom that was covered in dust sheets. She went upstairs and looked in the attics, but she couldn't find him anywhere.

It was an old, old house, full of cupboards and passages. Some of the walls were four feet thick, and there used to be queer noises inside them, as if there might be a little secret staircase. Certainly there were odd little jagged doorways in the wainscot, and things disappeared at night—especially cheese and bacon.

It was a really old house, full of closets and hallways. Some of the walls were four feet thick, and there were strange noises coming from inside them, as if there might be a hidden staircase. There were definitely quirky little jagged doorways in the paneling, and things would go missing at night—especially cheese and bacon.

Mrs. Tabitha became more and more distracted, and mewed dreadfully.

Mrs. Tabitha became increasingly distracted and meowed terribly.

While their mother was searching the house, Moppet and Mittens had got into mischief.

While their mom was searching the house, Moppet and Mittens had gotten into trouble.

The cupboard door was not locked, so they pushed it open and came out.

The cupboard door wasn't locked, so they pushed it open and stepped outside.

They went straight to the dough which was set to rise in a pan before the fire.

They went right to the dough that was set to rise in a pan by the fire.

They patted it with their little soft paws—"Shall we make dear little muffins?" said Mittens to Moppet.

They gently patted it with their tiny soft paws—"Should we make some cute little muffins?" Mittens asked Moppet.

But just at that moment somebody knocked at the front door, and Moppet jumped into the flour barrel in a fright.

But just at that moment, someone knocked on the front door, and Moppet jumped into the flour barrel in a panic.

Mittens ran away to the dairy, and hid in an empty jar on the stone shelf where the milk pans stand.

Mittens ran away to the dairy and hid in an empty jar on the stone shelf where the milk pans are kept.

The visitor was a neighbour, Mrs. Ribby; she had called to borrow some yeast.

The visitor was a neighbor, Mrs. Ribby; she had come to borrow some yeast.

Mrs. Tabitha came downstairs mewing dreadfully—"Come in, Cousin Ribby, come in, and sit ye down! I'm in sad trouble, Cousin Ribby," said Tabitha, shedding tears. "I've lost my dear son Thomas; I'm afraid the rats have got him." She wiped her eyes with her apron.

Mrs. Tabitha came downstairs crying badly—"Come in, Cousin Ribby, come in, and have a seat! I'm in such trouble, Cousin Ribby," said Tabitha, crying. "I've lost my dear son Thomas; I’m afraid the rats have gotten him." She wiped her eyes with her apron.

"He's a bad kitten, Cousin Tabitha; he made a cat's cradle of my best bonnet last time I came to tea. Where have you looked for him?"

"He's such a naughty kitten, Cousin Tabitha; he turned my favorite bonnet into a cat's cradle the last time I came for tea. Where have you looked for him?"

"All over the house! The rats are too many for me. What a thing it is to have an unruly family!" said Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit.

"Everywhere in the house! There are way too many rats for me to handle. What a hassle it is to have such a wild family!" said Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit.

"I'm not afraid of rats; I will help you to find him; and whip him too! What is all that soot in the fender?"

"I'm not afraid of rats; I'll help you find him and give him a good whipping too! What’s all that soot in the fender?"

"The chimney wants sweeping—Oh, dear me, Cousin Ribby—now Moppet and Mittens are gone!"

"The chimney needs to be swept—Oh no, Cousin Ribby—now Moppet and Mittens are gone!"

"They have both got out of the cupboard!"

"They have both gotten out of the cupboard!"

Ribby and Tabitha set to work to search the house thoroughly again. They poked under the beds with Ribby's umbrella, and they rummaged in cupboards. They even fetched a candle, and looked inside a clothes chest in one of the attics. They could not find anything, but once they heard a door bang and somebody scuttered downstairs.

Ribby and Tabitha got to work searching the house thoroughly again. They poked under the beds with Ribby's umbrella and rummaged through cupboards. They even got a candle and looked inside a clothes chest in one of the attics. They couldn’t find anything, but they did hear a door slam and someone scurry downstairs.

"Yes, it is infested with rats," said Tabitha tearfully. "I caught seven young ones out of one hole in the back kitchen, and we had them for dinner last Saturday. And once I saw the old father rat—an enormous old rat, Cousin Ribby. I was just going to jump upon him, when he showed his yellow teeth at me and whisked down the hole."

"Yes, it's overrun with rats," Tabitha said with tears in her eyes. "I caught seven little ones from a hole in the back kitchen, and we had them for dinner last Saturday. And once I saw the big old father rat—an enormous old rat, Cousin Ribby. I was just about to pounce on him when he bared his yellow teeth at me and scurried down the hole."

"The rats get upon my nerves, Cousin Ribby," said Tabitha.

"The rats are getting on my nerves, Cousin Ribby," said Tabitha.

Ribby and Tabitha searched and searched. They both heard a curious roly-poly noise under the attic floor. But there was nothing to be seen.

Ribby and Tabitha searched and searched. They both heard a strange roly-poly noise beneath the attic floor. But there was nothing to be found.

They returned to the kitchen. "Here's one of your kittens at least," said Ribby, dragging Moppet out of the flour barrel.

They went back to the kitchen. "At least here’s one of your kittens," said Ribby, pulling Moppet out of the flour barrel.

They shook the flour off her and set her down on the kitchen floor. She seemed to be in a terrible fright.

They brushed the flour off her and placed her on the kitchen floor. She looked really scared.

"Oh! Mother, Mother," said Moppet, "there's been an old woman rat in the kitchen, and she's stolen some of the dough!"

"Oh! Mom, Mom," said Moppet, "there's an old rat lady in the kitchen, and she stole some of the dough!"

The two cats ran to look at the dough pan. Sure enough there were marks of little scratching fingers, and a lump of dough was gone!

The two cats rushed over to check out the dough pan. Sure enough, there were traces of tiny scratching fingers, and a chunk of dough was missing!

"Which way did she go, Moppet?"

But Moppet had been too much frightened to peep out of the barrel again.

But Moppet had been too scared to peek out of the barrel again.

Ribby and Tabitha took her with them to keep her safely in sight, while they went on with their search.

Ribby and Tabitha brought her along to keep her in view while they continued their search.

They went into the dairy.

They went into the store.

The first thing they found was Mittens, hiding in an empty jar.

They tipped up the jar, and she scrambled out.

They tilted the jar, and she climbed out.

"Oh, Mother, Mother!" said Mittens—

"Oh, Mom, Mom!" said Mittens—

"Oh! Mother, Mother, there has been an old man rat in the dairy—a dreadful 'normous big rat, mother; and he's stolen a pat of butter and the rolling-pin."

"Oh! Mom, Mom, there's been an old rat in the dairy—a huge rat, Mom; and he's stolen a stick of butter and the rolling pin."

Ribby and Tabitha looked at one another.

Ribby and Tabitha glanced at each other.

"A rolling-pin and butter! Oh, my poor son Thomas!" exclaimed Tabitha, wringing her paws.

"A rolling pin and butter! Oh, my poor son Thomas!" exclaimed Tabitha, wringing her hands.

"A rolling-pin?" said Ribby. "Did we not hear a roly-poly noise in the attic when we were looking into that chest?"

"A rolling pin?" said Ribby. "Did we not hear a rumbly noise in the attic when we were checking that chest?"

Ribby and Tabitha rushed upstairs again. Sure enough the roly-poly noise was still going on quite distinctly under the attic floor.

Ribby and Tabitha hurried upstairs again. Sure enough, the rolling noise was still clearly happening under the attic floor.

"This is serious, Cousin Tabitha," said Ribby. "We must send for John Joiner at once, with a saw."

"This is serious, Cousin Tabitha," Ribby said. "We need to call for John Joiner immediately and bring a saw."

Now this is what had been happening to Tom Kitten, and it shows how very unwise it is to go up a chimney in a very old house, where a person does not know his way, and where there are enormous rats.

Now this is what had been happening to Tom Kitten, and it shows how unwise it is to climb up a chimney in a very old house, where a person doesn’t know their way, and where there are huge rats.

Tom Kitten did not want to be shut up in a cupboard. When he saw that his mother was going to bake, he determined to hide.

Tom Kitten didn’t want to be locked up in a cupboard. When he noticed that his mom was about to bake, he decided to hide.

He looked about for a nice convenient place, and he fixed upon the chimney.

He looked around for a convenient spot and decided on the chimney.

The fire had only just been lighted, and it was not hot; but there was a white choky smoke from the green sticks. Tom Kitten got upon the fender and looked up. It was a big old-fashioned fire-place.

The fire had just been started, and it wasn’t hot yet; but there was a white, choking smoke coming from the green sticks. Tom Kitten climbed onto the fender and looked up. It was a large, old-fashioned fireplace.

The chimney itself was wide enough inside for a man to stand up and walk about. So there was plenty of room for a little Tom Cat.

The chimney was wide enough for a man to stand up and walk around. So there was plenty of space for a little Tom Cat.

He jumped right up into the fire-place, balancing himself upon the iron bar where the kettle hangs.

He jumped right up into the fireplace, balancing himself on the iron bar where the kettle hangs.

Tom Kitten took another big jump off the bar, and landed on a ledge high up inside the chimney, knocking down some soot into the fender.

Tom Kitten jumped again off the bar and landed on a ledge inside the chimney, high up, knocking some soot down onto the fender.

Tom Kitten coughed and choked with the smoke; and he could hear the sticks beginning to crackle and burn in the fire-place down below. He made up his mind to climb right to the top, and get out on the slates, and try to catch sparrows.

Tom Kitten coughed and struggled with the smoke; he could hear the sticks starting to crackle and burn in the fireplace below. He decided to climb all the way to the top, get out onto the roof, and try to catch sparrows.

"I cannot go back. If I slipped I might fall in the fire and singe my beautiful tail and my little blue jacket."

"I can't go back. If I slip, I might fall into the fire and burn my beautiful tail and my little blue jacket."

The chimney was a very big old-fashioned one. It was built in the days when people burnt logs of wood upon the hearth.

The chimney was a very large, old-fashioned one. It was built back when people burned logs on the fireplace.

The chimney stack stood up above the roof like a little stone tower, and the daylight shone down from the top, under the slanting slates that kept out the rain.

The chimney stack rose above the roof like a small stone tower, with daylight streaming down from the top, beneath the slanted tiles that kept out the rain.

Tom Kitten was getting very frightened! He climbed up, and up, and up.

Tom Kitten was really scared! He climbed higher and higher.

Then he waded sideways through inches of soot. He was like a little sweep himself.

Then he shuffled sideways through inches of soot. He looked just like a little chimney sweep himself.

It was most confusing in the dark. One flue seemed to lead into another.

It was really confusing in the dark. One vent seemed to connect to another.

There was less smoke, but Tom Kitten felt quite lost.

There was less smoke, but Tom Kitten felt pretty lost.

He scrambled up and up; but before he reached the chimney top he came to a place where somebody had loosened a stone in the wall. There were some mutton bones lying about—

He climbed higher and higher; but before he got to the top of the chimney, he found a spot where someone had knocked loose a stone in the wall. There were some mutton bones scattered around—

"This seems funny," said Tom Kitten. "Who has been gnawing bones up here in the chimney? I wish I had never come! And what a funny smell? It is something like mouse; only dreadfully strong. It makes me sneeze," said Tom Kitten.

"This is kind of funny," said Tom Kitten. "Who’s been chewing on bones up here in the chimney? I wish I had never come! And what’s with this strange smell? It’s a bit like mouse, but really strong. It makes me sneeze," said Tom Kitten.

He squeezed through the hole in the wall, and dragged himself along a most uncomfortably tight passage where there was scarcely any light.

He pushed through the hole in the wall and crawled along a very cramped passage that barely had any light.

He groped his way carefully for several yards; he was at the back of the skirting-board in the attic, where there is a little mark * in the picture.

He carefully felt his way for several yards; he was at the back of the baseboard in the attic, where there’s a little mark * in the picture.

All at once he fell head over heels in the dark, down a hole, and landed on a heap of very dirty rags.

All of a sudden, he fell head over heels into the dark, down a hole, and landed on a pile of really dirty rags.

When Tom Kitten picked himself up and looked about him—he found himself in a place that he had never seen before, although he had lived all his life in the house.

When Tom Kitten got up and looked around, he realized he was in a place he'd never seen before, even though he'd lived in the house his whole life.

It was a very small stuffy fusty room, with boards, and rafters, and cobwebs, and lath and plaster.

It was a tiny, cramped, old room, with wooden floors, beams, cobwebs, and lath and plaster.

Opposite to him—as far away as he could sit—was an enormous rat.

Opposite him—as far away as he could get—was a huge rat.

"What do you mean by tumbling into my bed all covered with smuts?" said the rat, chattering his teeth.

"What do you mean by falling into my bed all dirty?" said the rat, chattering his teeth.

"Please sir, the chimney wants sweeping," said poor Tom Kitten.

"Please, sir, the chimney needs to be swept," said poor Tom Kitten.

"Anna Maria! Anna Maria!" squeaked the rat. There was a pattering noise and an old woman rat poked her head round a rafter.

"Anna Maria! Anna Maria!" squeaked the rat. There was a scurrying noise and an old woman rat poked her head around a beam.

All in a minute she rushed upon Tom Kitten, and before he knew what was happening—

All of a sudden, she rushed at Tom Kitten, and before he realized what was going on—

His coat was pulled off, and he was rolled up in a bundle, and tied with string in very hard knots.

His coat was taken off, and he was wrapped up in a bundle and tied with string in very tight knots.

Anna Maria did the tying. The old rat watched her and took snuff. When she had finished, they both sat staring at him with their mouths open.

Anna Maria did the tying. The old rat watched her and took snuff. When she was done, they both sat there staring at him with their mouths hanging open.

"Anna Maria," said the old man rat (whose name was Samuel Whiskers),—"Anna Maria, make me a kitten dumpling roly-poly pudding for my dinner."

"Anna Maria," said the old rat named Samuel Whiskers, "Anna Maria, make me a kitten dumpling roly-poly pudding for my dinner."

"It requires dough and a pat of butter, and a rolling-pin," said Anna Maria, considering Tom Kitten with her head on one side.

"It takes dough and a pat of butter, and a rolling pin," said Anna Maria, looking at Tom Kitten with her head tilted to one side.

"No," said Samuel Whiskers, "make it properly, Anna Maria, with breadcrumbs."

"No," said Samuel Whiskers, "make it right, Anna Maria, with breadcrumbs."

"Nonsense! Butter and dough," replied Anna Maria.

The two rats consulted together for a few minutes and then went away.

The two rats talked for a few minutes and then left.

Samuel Whiskers got through a hole in the wainscot, and went boldly down the front staircase to the dairy to get the butter. He did not meet anybody.

Samuel Whiskers squeezed through a gap in the wall and confidently made his way down the front stairs to the dairy to grab the butter. He didn't run into anyone.

He made a second journey for the rolling-pin. He pushed it in front of him with his paws, like a brewer's man trundling a barrel.

He made a second trip for the rolling pin. He pushed it in front of him with his paws, like a brewery worker rolling a barrel.

He could hear Ribby and Tabitha talking, but they were busy lighting the candle to look into the chest.

He could hear Ribby and Tabitha chatting, but they were busy lighting the candle to look inside the chest.

They did not see him.

They didn't see him.

Anna Maria went down by way of the skirting-board and a window shutter to the kitchen to steal the dough.

Anna Maria went down along the baseboard and a window shutter to the kitchen to steal the dough.

She borrowed a small saucer, and scooped up the dough with her paws.

She took a small saucer and scooped up the dough with her hands.

She did not observe Moppet.

She didn't notice Moppet.

While Tom Kitten was left alone under the floor of the attic, he wriggled about and tried to mew for help.

While Tom Kitten was left alone under the attic floor, he squirmed around and tried to meow for help.

But his mouth was full of soot and cobwebs, and he was tied up in such very tight knots, he could not make anybody hear him.

But his mouth was filled with soot and cobwebs, and he was tied up in such tight knots that he couldn’t get anyone to hear him.

Except a spider, which came out of a crack in the ceiling and examined the knots critically, from a safe distance.

Except for a spider that crawled out of a crack in the ceiling and inspected the knots closely from a safe distance.

It was a judge of knots because it had a habit of tying up unfortunate blue-bottles. It did not offer to assist him.

It was a judge of knots because it had a habit of trapping poor blue-bottles. It didn’t offer to help him.

Tom Kitten wriggled and squirmed until he was quite exhausted.

Tom Kitten wriggled and squirmed until he was completely worn out.

Presently the rats came back and set to work to make him into a dumpling. First they smeared him with butter, and then they rolled him in the dough.

Currently, the rats returned and got to work turning him into a dumpling. First, they coated him with butter, and then they rolled him in the dough.

"Will not the string be very indigestible, Anna Maria?" inquired Samuel Whiskers.

"Isn't the string going to be really hard to digest, Anna Maria?" Samuel Whiskers asked.

Anna Maria said she thought that it was of no consequence; but she wished that Tom Kitten would hold his head still, as it disarranged the pastry. She laid hold of his ears.

Anna Maria said she thought it didn't matter; but she wished that Tom Kitten would keep his head still, as it was messing up the pastry. She grabbed his ears.

Tom Kitten bit and spat, and mewed and wriggled; and the rolling-pin went roly-poly, roly; roly, poly, roly. The rats each held an end.

Tom Kitten bit, spat, meowed, and squirmed; and the rolling pin went rolling, rolling, rolling. The rats each held one end.

"His tail is sticking out! You did not fetch enough dough, Anna Maria."

"His tail is sticking out! You didn't bring back enough cash, Anna Maria."

"I fetched as much as I could carry," replied Anna Maria.

"I grabbed as much as I could carry," replied Anna Maria.

"I do not think"—said Samuel Whiskers, pausing to take a look at Tom Kitten—"I do not think it will be a good pudding. It smells sooty."

"I don't think"—said Samuel Whiskers, pausing to glance at Tom Kitten—"I do not think it's going to be a good pudding. It smells like soot."

Anna Maria was about to argue the point, when all at once there began to be other sounds up above—the rasping noise of a saw; and the noise of a little dog, scratching and yelping!

Anna Maria was about to make her case when suddenly there were other sounds overhead—the grinding noise of a saw and the sound of a little dog, scratching and barking!

The rats dropped the rolling-pin, and listened attentively.

The rats dropped the rolling pin and listened closely.

"We are discovered and interrupted, Anna Maria; let us collect our property—and other people's,—and depart at once."

"We’ve been found out and interrupted, Anna Maria; let’s gather our things—and everyone else’s—and leave right away."

"I fear that we shall be obliged to leave this pudding."

"I’m afraid we’ll have to leave this pudding."

"But I am persuaded that the knots would have proved indigestible, whatever you may urge to the contrary."

"But I'm convinced that the knots would have been hard to digest, no matter what you might say to argue otherwise."

"Come away at once and help me to tie up some mutton bones in a counterpane," said Anna Maria. "I have got half a smoked ham hidden in the chimney."

"Come here right away and help me tie up some mutton bones in a blanket," said Anna Maria. "I’ve got half a smoked ham hidden in the chimney."

So it happened that by the time John Joiner had got the plank up—there was nobody under the floor except the rolling-pin and Tom Kitten in a very dirty dumpling!

So, by the time John Joiner got the plank up, there was no one under the floor except the rolling pin and Tom Kitten in a really dirty dumpling!

But there was a strong smell of rats; and John Joiner spent the rest of the morning sniffing and whining, and wagging his tail, and going round and round with his head in the hole like a gimlet.

But there was a strong smell of rats, and John Joiner spent the rest of the morning sniffing, whining, wagging his tail, and going around and around with his head in the hole like a drill.

Then he nailed the plank down again and put his tools in his bag, and came downstairs.

Then he nailed the board back down and put his tools in his bag, and came downstairs.

The cat family had quite recovered. They invited him to stay to dinner.

The cat family had fully recovered. They invited him to stay for dinner.

The dumpling had been peeled off Tom Kitten, and made separately into a bag pudding, with currants in it to hide the smuts.

The dumpling had been taken off Tom Kitten and made separately into a bag pudding, with currants in it to cover up the stains.

They had been obliged to put Tom Kitten into a hot bath to get the butter off.

They had to put Tom Kitten in a hot bath to get the butter off.

John Joiner smelt the pudding; but he regretted that he had not time to stay to dinner, because he had just finished making a wheel-barrow for Miss Potter, and she had ordered two hen-coops.

John Joiner smelled the pudding, but he regretted that he didn't have time to stay for dinner because he had just finished making a wheelbarrow for Miss Potter, and she had ordered two hen coops.

And when I was going to the post late in the afternoon—I looked up the lane from the corner, and I saw Mr. Samuel Whiskers and his wife on the run, with big bundles on a little wheel-barrow, which looked very like mine.

And when I was heading to the post office late in the afternoon, I glanced up the lane from the corner and saw Mr. Samuel Whiskers and his wife running with big bundles on a little wheelbarrow that looked a lot like mine.

They were just turning in at the gate to the barn of Farmer Potatoes.

They were just pulling in at the gate to Farmer Potatoes' barn.

Samuel Whiskers was puffing and out of breath. Anna Maria was still arguing in shrill tones.

Samuel Whiskers was out of breath and panting. Anna Maria was still arguing in loud, high-pitched tones.

She seemed to know her way, and she seemed to have a quantity of luggage.

She appeared to know where she was going, and she looked like she had a lot of bags.

I am sure I never gave her leave to borrow my wheel-barrow!

I’m sure I never gave her permission to borrow my wheelbarrow!

They went into the barn, and hauled their parcels with a bit of string to the top of the hay mow.

They went into the barn and dragged their packages up to the top of the hayloft with a piece of string.

After that, there were no more rats for a long time at Tabitha Twitchit's.

After that, there weren't any more rats at Tabitha Twitchit's for a long time.

As for Farmer Potatoes, he has been driven nearly distracted. There are rats, and rats, and rats in his barn! They eat up the chicken food, and steal the oats and bran, and make holes in the meal bags.

As for Farmer Potatoes, he’s been almost driven crazy. There are rats, and more rats, in his barn! They’re eating all the chicken feed, stealing the oats and bran, and making holes in the bags of flour.

And they are all descended from Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Whiskers—children and grand-children and great great grand-children.

And they all come from Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Whiskers—children, grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

There is no end to them!

There’s no stopping them!

Moppet and Mittens have grown up into very good rat-catchers.

Moppet and Mittens have become excellent rat-catchers.

They go out rat-catching in the village, and they find plenty of employment. They charge so much a dozen, and earn their living very comfortably.

They go out catching rats in the village, and they find plenty of work. They charge a set rate per dozen, and earn a comfortable living.

They hang up the rats' tails in a row on the barn door, to show how many they have caught—dozens and dozens of them.

They hang the rats' tails in a line on the barn door to show how many they've caught—dozens and dozens.

But Tom Kitten has always been afraid of a rat; he never durst face anything that is bigger than—

But Tom Kitten has always been afraid of a rat; he never dared to face anything that is bigger than—

THE TALE OF

SAMUEL WHISKERS

Or,

THE ROLY POLY PUDDING

FREDERICK WARNE

First published 1908 (Originally published in U.S.A. as The Roly-Poly Pudding)

First published 1908
(Originally published in U.S.A. as The Roly-Poly Pudding)