Molly, with a long-handled frying-pan, made a capital "Queen," in a tucked-up gown, checked apron, and high crown, to good "King Arthur," who, very properly, did not appear after stealing the barley-meal, which might be seen in the pan tied up in a pudding, like a cannon-ball, ready to fry.
But Tobias, Molly's black cat, covered himself with glory by the spirit with which he acted his part in, "Sing, sing, what shall I sing?
The cat's run away with the pudding-bag string." First he was led across the stage on his hind legs, looking very fierce and indignant, with a long tape trailing behind him; and, being set free at the proper moment, he gave one bound over the four-and-twenty blackbirds who happened to be in the way, and dashed off as if an enraged cook had actually been after him, straight downstairs to the coal-bin, where he sat glaring in the dark, till the fun was over.
When all the characters had filed in and stood in two long rows, music struck up and they danced, "All the way to Boston," a simple but lively affair, which gave each a chance to show his or her costume as they pranced down the middle and up outside.
Such a funny medley as it was, for there went fat "King Cole" with the most ragged of the beggar-maids.

"Mistress Mary," in her pretty blue dress, tripped along with "Simple Simon" staring about him like a blockhead.

The fine lady left her horse to dance with "Bobby Shafto" till every bell on her slippers tinkled its tongue out.

"Bo-Peep" and a jolly fiddler skipped gayly up and down.

"Miss Muffet" took the big spider for her partner, and made his many legs fly about in the wildest way.