Your sides may crack, as has been shown, And we with laughing crack our own. Some mice who saw fit, once a quarter to meet, To arrange the concerns of their city; Thought it needful to choose, as is common with us, First a chairman, and then a committee. When the chairman was seated, the object he stated For which at that meeting they sat: Which was, it should seem, the concerting a scheme To defeat the designs of the cat. Dr. Nibblecheese rose, and said, "I would propose, To this cat we fasten a bell; He who likes what I've said, now will hold up his head; He who does not, may hold up his tail." So out of respect, they their noses erect, Except one who the order reversed; Ayes , all then but one, but yet nought could be done, Until he had his reasons rehearsed.