It happened at Grandmother Polly's house,
And there was a bonnet put away
For Polly to wear when she went to church.
She would not wear it every day.
It had some little flowers on,
And it was standing on its head
In a bonnet box where it was safe,
Away up stairs on the company's bed.
And Grandmother Polly was going to church,
And she sent her Alice up the stair —
Alice was black — she was Evaline's child —
She waited on Polly and combed her hair.
And Alice said, “Oh, lawsie me!”
And then she cried and came running down.
And everyone went to see, and the cat
Had five little cats in the bonnet crown.