The boy he was kind o' 'fraid 'o the dark, so he got up clus t' the panther 'n lay 'tween his paws.

The boy he thought the panther smelt funny an' the panther he didn't jes' like the smell o' the boy.

An' the boy he hed the legache 'n kicked the panther 'n the belly, so 't he kin' o' gagged 'n spit an' they want neither on 'em reel comf'able.

The sof paws o' the panther was jes' like pincushions.

He'd great hooks in 'em sharper 'n the p'int uv a needle.
An' when he was goin' t' sleep he'd run 'em out jes' like an ol' cat--kind o' playfull--'n purr 'n pull.