The King O' the Cats
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
It was a cold night. A woman sat by the warm fire. The fire glowed. Her big black cat, Old Tom, slept. He slept on her lap. The Woman waited. Old Tom waited too. They waited for The Man. He was not home.
The Man came in fast. He looked very surprised. He called out loud. His voice was loud. "Who is Tommy Tildrum?" he asked. The Woman looked at him. Old Tom looked up too. The Man looked very strange. He seemed scared.
"I was working outside," said The Man. "I slept. I closed my eyes. A cat said 'Miaou!' It woke me. Old Tom heard. He said "Miaou!" too. The Man looked at Old Tom. "Yes, just like that!" he said. It was true.
"I looked over the edge," said The Man. "I saw something strange. Nine black cats carried a box. It held a crown. The cats were all black."
The Man told more. Black Cats said 'Miaou!' Old Tom said 'Miaou!' He listened with big eyes. He watched The Man speak. Old Tom knew this story. He seemed to know it well. His ears twitched.
"One cat came to me," said The Man. "It looked right at me. It spoke in a clear voice. It said 'Tell Tom Tildrum.' It said 'Tim is gone.' The Man asked, 'Who is Tom?'"
"Look at Old Tom!" cried The Woman. Her voice was loud. Old Tom looked very big. He stared with wide eyes. His fur stood up tall. He was not sleeping now. He was not like himself. He looked surprised.
Old Tom made a loud sound. He shouted. "What?" he cried. Old Tom cried, "Tim is gone?" He shouted, "I am the King of Cats!" His voice was strong. The Man and Woman gasped. They were very shocked.
Old Tom ran very fast. He ran up the chimney. He went out of sight. The Man and Woman watched. They were very surprised. Old Tom was never seen again. He became the King of the Cats. He found his new home.
Original Story
The King o' the Cats
One winter's evening the sexton's wife was sitting by the fireside with her big black cat, Old Tom, on the other side, both half asleep and waiting for the master to come home. They waited and they waited, but still he didn't come, till at last he came rushing in, calling out, "Who's Tommy Tildrum?" in such a wild way that both his wife and his cat stared at him to know what was the matter.
"Why, what's the matter?" said his wife, "and why do you want to know who Tommy Tildrum is?"
"Oh, I've had such an adventure. I was digging away at old Mr. Fordyce's grave when I suppose I must have dropped asleep, and only woke up by hearing a cat's Miaou."
"Miaou!" said Old Tom in answer.
"Yes, just like that! So I looked over the edge of the grave, and what do you think I saw?"
"Now, how can I tell?" said the sexton's wife.
"Why, nine black cats all like our friend Tom here, all with a white spot on their chestesses. And what do you think they were carrying? Why, a small coffin covered with a black velvet pall, and on the pall was a small coronet all of gold, and at every third step they took they cried all together, Miaou—"
"Miaou!" said Old Tom again.
"Yes, just like that!" said the Sexton; "and as they came nearer and nearer to me I could see them more distinctly, because their eyes shone out with a sort of green light. Well, they all came towards me, eight of them carrying the coffin, and the biggest cat of all walking in front for all the world like—but look at our Tom, how he's looking at me. You'd think he knew all I was saying."
"Go on, go on," said his wife; "never mind Old Tom."
"Well, as I was a-saying, they came towards me slowly and solemnly, and at every third step crying all together, Miaou!—"
"Miaou!" said Old Tom again.
"Yes, just like that, till they came and stood right opposite Mr. Fordyce's grave, where I was, when they all stood still and looked straight at me. I did feel queer, that I did! But look at Old Tom; he's looking at me just like they did."
"Go on, go on," said his wife; "never mind Old Tom."
"Where was I? Oh, they all stood still looking at me, when the one that wasn't carrying the coffin came forward and, staring straight at me, said to me—yes, I tell 'ee, said to me, with a squeaky voice, 'Tell Tom Tildrum that Tim Toldrum's dead,' and that's why I asked you if you knew who Tom Tildrum was, for how can I tell Tom Tildrum Tim Toldrum's dead if I don't know who Tom Tildrum is?"
"Look at Old Tom, look at Old Tom!" screamed his wife.
And well he might look, for Tom was swelling and Tom was staring, and at last Tom shrieked out, "What—old Tim dead! then I'm the King o' the Cats!" and rushed up the chimney and was never more seen.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
One winter evening, a sexton's wife and her cat, Old Tom, await the sexton's return. He bursts in, asking about 'Tommy Tildrum,' and recounts a bizarre experience: while digging a grave, he witnessed nine black cats carrying a tiny coffin with a golden coronet. One of the cats spoke to him, instructing him to tell 'Tom Tildrum that Tim Toldrum's dead.' Upon hearing this, Old Tom dramatically swells, declares, 'What—old Tim dead! then I'm the King o' the Cats!' and vanishes up the chimney, never to be seen again.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to shock
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale is a classic example of a 'talking animal' folk tale, often found in British oral traditions, where the mundane world intersects with a hidden, magical one.
Plot Beats (9)
- The sexton's wife and Old Tom are waiting for the sexton to come home.
- The sexton rushes in, agitated, asking 'Who's Tommy Tildrum?'
- The sexton explains he fell asleep while digging a grave and was woken by a cat's 'Miaou'.
- He describes seeing nine black cats, similar to Old Tom, carrying a small coffin with a coronet.
- Old Tom repeatedly mimics the cats' 'Miaou' as the story is told.
- The sexton recounts how one cat spoke to him, instructing him to deliver a message: 'Tell Tom Tildrum that Tim Toldrum's dead.'
- The sexton's wife points out Old Tom's strange behavior, as he swells and stares.
- Old Tom suddenly shrieks, 'What—old Tim dead! then I'm the King o' the Cats!'
- Old Tom rushes up the chimney and is never seen again.
Characters
The Sexton
A man of average height and build, likely somewhat sturdy from his work digging graves. His face might show signs of weariness from his profession.
Attire: Simple, practical working clothes suitable for a grave digger in a winter's evening in an unspecified European country, likely a thick wool tunic or coat over a linen shirt, sturdy trousers, and worn leather boots. Colors would be muted, like browns, greys, or dark blues.
Wants: To return home to his wife and cat after a day's work, and later, to share his incredible, frightening experience.
Flaw: His credulity and fear make him susceptible to supernatural events, and he doesn't immediately grasp the significance of what he's told.
He experiences a supernatural event that profoundly disturbs him, but he remains largely unchanged in his understanding until the very end, when his cat's reaction reveals the truth.
Superstitious, easily startled, a bit verbose when excited, observant (noticing details of the cats), and somewhat naive (not realizing the implication of the cats' message).
The Sexton's Wife
A woman of an age to be married to the sexton, likely of a practical and perhaps robust build from managing a household.
Attire: Simple, warm domestic clothing suitable for a winter's evening in an unspecified European country, likely a long, dark wool or linen dress, possibly with an apron, and sturdy, comfortable shoes. Colors would be practical and muted.
Wants: To wait for her husband, listen to his story, and understand what has happened to him.
Flaw: Her initial skepticism and focus on the mundane prevent her from understanding the deeper implications of her husband's story until it's too late.
She begins as a patient listener and ends in shock and fear, witnessing the transformation of her own cat.
Patient, curious, practical, and ultimately easily startled and prone to screaming when faced with the supernatural.
Old Tom
A large, black domestic cat. He is described as being 'big' and 'like our friend Tom here' by the sexton, implying a robust, healthy build. He has a distinctive white spot on his chest, similar to the funeral cats.
Attire: None, as he is a cat.
Wants: To maintain his hidden identity as a powerful cat, and upon hearing of Tim Toldrum's death, to claim his rightful place as the King o' the Cats.
Flaw: His secret identity is vulnerable to being exposed by human gossip, as seen when the sexton recounts the message.
He begins as a seemingly ordinary pet and ends by revealing his true identity and ascending to his rightful throne, disappearing from human sight.
Initially placid and sleepy, he is revealed to be a powerful, hidden figure with a secret identity. He is observant, intelligent, and capable of speech and strong emotion (shock, then regal assertion).
The Funeral Cats
Nine black cats, all similar in appearance to Old Tom, meaning they are large and black. Each has a distinctive white spot on its chest. They move with solemnity and purpose.
Attire: None, as they are cats, but they carry a small coffin covered with a black velvet pall, adorned with a small golden coronet.
Wants: To perform the funeral rites for Tim Toldrum and to deliver the message of his death to Tom Tildrum.
Flaw: Their purpose is tied to a specific ritual and message; once delivered, they disappear.
They appear to perform their duty and then vanish, their role fulfilled.
Solemn, purposeful, mysterious, and ritualistic. They are messengers of the supernatural world.
Tim Toldrum
Deceased, but implied to be a cat of royal stature, likely similar in appearance to Old Tom and the funeral cats (large, black, with a white chest spot).
Attire: None, as he is a cat, but his coffin is adorned with a black velvet pall and a golden coronet, signifying his royal status.
Wants: Deceased.
Flaw: Mortality.
His death is the inciting incident for the story, leading to the revelation of Old Tom's true identity.
Unseen, but his death triggers significant events in the cat world.
Locations
Sexton's Cottage Fireside
A cozy, humble cottage interior, likely with rough-hewn timber beams and a stone hearth. The fire casts a warm, flickering light, illuminating simple domestic furnishings. The air is still and quiet, filled with the comfortable presence of a sleeping cat and a waiting wife.
Mood: warm, cozy, domestic, initially peaceful, then tense and bewildered
The sexton's wife and Old Tom await the sexton's return. The sexton recounts his strange encounter, leading to Old Tom's dramatic revelation and departure.
Old Mr. Fordyce's Grave
A freshly dug grave in an old, possibly neglected churchyard. The ground is cold and damp, likely with bare earth and sparse, winter-hardened vegetation. The scene is illuminated by an eerie, supernatural green light emanating from the cats' eyes, cutting through the darkness of night.
Mood: eerie, mysterious, supernatural, solemn, chilling
The sexton witnesses a funeral procession of nine black cats carrying a coffin, and receives a cryptic message from one of them.