A Cornish Tale
The Mousehole Cat
Once, at the far end of England, there lived in the village of Mousehole, a magical cat whose name was Mowzer. She had an old cottage overlooking the harbour, an old rocking-chair with patchwork cushions and an old fisherman named Tom. Mowzer loved Tom because he gave her delicious fresh fish to eat. They ate marinated pilchards, grilled sardines, cod pie and every variety of fish you can imagine. They loved fish!
In winter, the weather in Cornwall can become very stormy. Once, in the weeks before Christmas, a ferocious storm was brewing. The wind rushed through the village of Mousehole like a wildcat in the woods. Waves crashed into the harbour and all the fisherman had to remain at home. The villagers were running out of food! No one dared to go out in the fishing boats for fear of being drowned in the treacherous sea.
On the night before Christmas Eve, Mowzer the cat peered out of her cottage window. She could see the storm stirring the sea. Mowzer’s stomach rumbled. ”Mowzer”, exclaimed Tom, “There is no food left in the village. The people are starving. As I am the oldest fisherman, I must go fishing. If I am drowned, at least I have had a good life.”
Mowzer hated the thought of losing her Tom. If he was going to brave the storm, she would go with him. So Mowzer followed Tom to his fishing boat and leapt in. The waves were colossal and the rain fell from the sky like a thousand hooves pounding against the ground. The storm cat threw Tom’s boat into the air like a frightened mouse.
Suddenly, Mowzer had an idea. She made her way to the front of the boat and began to sing as loudly as she possibly could. She sang and sang until the storm cat stopped to listen. The sound of Mowzer’s voice calmed him. He stopped stirring the sea and instead began to purr like a kitten.
Eventually,Tom cast his nets over the side of the boat and when he drew them in they were full of fish. Mowzer continued to sing until she and Tom had made it safely back to the harbour. The villagers were overjoyed at their safe return and began to celebrate with Starry gazey pie. Tom and Mowzer were heroes!
(story by Antonia Barber)
A Cornish Tale
The Mousehole Cat
Once, at the far end of England, there lived in the village of Mousehole, a magical cat whose name was Mowzer. She had an old cottage overlooking the harbour, an old rocking-chair with patchwork cushions and an old fisherman named Tom. Mowzer loved Tom because he gave her delicious fresh fish to eat. They ate marinated pilchards, grilled sardines, cod pie and every variety of fish you can imagine. They loved fish!
In winter, the weather in Cornwall can become very stormy. Once, in the weeks before Christmas, a ferocious storm was brewing. The wind rushed through the village of Mousehole like a wildcat in the woods. Waves crashed into the harbour and all the fisherman had to remain at home. The villagers were running out of food! No one dared to go out in the fishing boats for fear of being drowned in the treacherous sea.
On the night before Christmas Eve, Mowzer the cat peered out of her cottage window. She could see the storm stirring the sea. Mowzer’s stomach rumbled. ”Mowzer”, exclaimed Tom, “There is no food left in the village. The people are starving. As I am the oldest fisherman, I must go fishing. If I am drowned, at least I have had a good life.”
Mowzer hated the thought of losing her Tom. If he was going to brave the storm, she would go with him. So Mowzer followed Tom to his fishing boat and leapt in. The waves were colossal and the rain fell from the sky like a thousand hooves pounding against the ground. The storm cat threw Tom’s boat into the air like a frightened mouse.
Suddenly, Mowzer had an idea. She made her way to the front of the boat and began to sing as loudly as she possibly could. She sang and sang until the storm cat stopped to listen. The sound of Mowzer’s voice calmed him. He stopped stirring the sea and instead began to purr like a kitten.
Eventually,Tom cast his nets over the side of the boat and when he drew them in they were full of fish. Mowzer continued to sing until she and Tom had made it safely back to the harbour. The villagers were overjoyed at their safe return and began to celebrate with Starry gazey pie. Tom and Mowzer were heroes!
(story by Antonia Barber)