# The True Story of the Cat and the Fiddle explained — At the Back of the North Wind

> Chapter companion for At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald.

## What happens

This chapter presents a whimsical, extended narrative poem that reimagines the nursery rhyme 'Hey Diddle Diddle,' detailing the adventures of the cat, fiddle, cow, dog, dish, spoon, and the man in the moon, with a playful and chaotic turn of events.

## Key lines

> Hey, diddle, diddle! The cat and the fiddle! He played such a merry tune, That the cow went mad With the pleasure she had, And jumped right over the moon.

The cat played a joyful song on the fiddle, causing the cow to become so ecstatic that she leaped over the moon.

_Opening lines of the nursery rhyme reimagined._

> But the man in the moon, Coming back too soon From the famous town of Norwich, Caught up the dish, Said, 'It’s just what I wish To hold my cold plum-porridge!'

The man in the moon returned early from Norwich, grabbed the dish, and declared it perfect for his cold plum porridge.

_The man in the moon intervenes in the dish and spoon's dance._

> Gave the cow a rat-tat, Flung water on the cat, And sent him away like a rocket.

He knocked on the cow, threw water on the cat, and sent the cat flying off rapidly.

_The man in the moon's harsh actions toward the cow and cat._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/the-true-story-of-the-cat-and-the-fiddle
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