Foreward

"The Duel" (The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat) by Eugene Field, published in 1894, is a beloved children's poem. It’s a whimsical poem about a fight between a gingham dog and a calico cat… which ends in an unexpected way (!)

Verse I

The gingham dog and the calico cat

Side by side on the table sat;

'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)

Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!

The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate

Appeared to know as sure as fate

There was going to be a terrible spat.

(I wasn't there; I simply state

What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

Verse II

The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"

And the calico cat replied "Mee-ow!"

The air was littered, an hour or so,

With bits of gingham and calico,

While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place

Up with its hands before its face,

For it always dreaded a family row!

(Now mind: I'm only telling you

What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

Verse III

The Chinese plate looked very blue,

And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"

But the gingham dog and the calico cat

Wallowed this way and tumbled that,

Employing every tooth and claw

In the awfullest way you ever saw—

And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!

(Don't fancy I exaggerate— I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Verse IV

Next morning, where the two had sat

They found no trace of dog or cat;

And some folks think unto this day

That burglars stole that pair away!

But the truth about the cat and pup

Is this: they ate each other up!

Now what do you really think of that!

(The old Dutch clock it told me so,

And that is how I came to know.)

The Wrap

It’s a playful yet macabre twist at the end, don’t you think?

It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked rivalry!

But, as it’s wrapped in a whimsical, rhyming narrative, it’s fun and not too heavy at all, for children and adults alike to enjoy!