Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew

In Short

Georgiana M. Craik’s early-reader classic follows Bow-Wow, a quarrelsome black pup, and Mew-Mew, a cross white cat, who live in a farm-house where they find fault with everything. When Bow-Wow gets injured, Mew-Mew becomes his reluctant nurse, sparking an unlikely bond. United in their grumbling, the pair run away to seek a better life, only to endure starvation, physical attacks, and harsh weather. Their shared hardship transforms their bitterness into deep loyalty, driving them home wiser and reformed. Written in accessible monosyllables, it has endured as a gentle story of moral growth and friendship.

The Story

Bow-Wow, an ill-mannered little black dog, and Mew-Mew, a vain white cat, spend their days arguing in a farm-house firelight. Neither animal is happy; they dislike their food, complain about their gentle mistress, and resent every other creature on the farm, from the noisy ducks to the heavy farm animals.

Their dynamic changes when Bow-Wow enters the barn-yard to chase chickens and is pinned beneath a falling log. With his leg badly hurt, he is confined to bed. Mew-Mew initially mocks his suffering, but as night falls, she stays by his side. When Bow-Wow groans in pain, Mew-Mew reluctantly helps him by removing his binding and offering cold pork. Facing the fear of death together, the two drop their hostility and vow to become true friends.

Once Bow-Wow recovers, their newfound loyalty does not extend to the rest of the farm. Still convinced that the pigs, chicks, and ducks make their lives unbearable, Bow-Wow suggests running away, and Mew-Mew agrees to join him. After a final meal at the farm, they slip out through the gate, dreaming of an ideal world.

The reality of the road sets in quickly. Mew-Mew grows exhausted and develops swollen, sore paws from running across rough cornfields. Bow-Wow must go without supper, but the next morning Mew-Mew catches birds for them to eat. As they travel further through woods and fields, they encounter real danger. A massive sheep-dog named Rex attacks Bow-Wow, rolling him over and shaking him by the neck. Mew-Mew escapes up a tree, but once the sheep-dog leaves, she returns to care for her badly bruised companion.

With no easy food available, the pair suffer from hunger and cold rain. Their fur grows dirty and thin, and local farm boys throw stones at them. Though stress briefly causes them to trade blows again, they quickly reconcile, realizing how fragile their lives have become. Lost and starving, they wander aimlessly, wishing only to return to the comfort they once took for granted.

Eventually, Mew-Mew collapses from exhaustion, telling Bow-Wow to go on without her. Refusing to leave her side, Bow-Wow stays through the cold night. At dawn, he looks up and realizes they have collapsed just outside their original farm-house. Bow-Wow barks wildly and summons a farmhand, who carries the sick cat inside. Their mistress welcomes them back with warm milk, meat, and baths, restoring them to health as permanently reformed pets.

How It Unfolds

Petty quarrels at home Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew pass their days fighting over the hearth and complaining about their mistress, the food, and the farm animals.

An accidental injury Bow-Wow gets trapped under a heavy log while chasing chicks, leaving him with a injured leg that requires bed rest.

An unlikely alliance Mew-Mew watches over Bow-Wow through a painful night, removing his tight bandage and sharing cold pork until they pledge to be friends.

Escaping the farm Recovered but still discontented, Bow-Wow convinces Mew-Mew to run away with him to find a life free of farm animals.

The toll of the road Mew-Mew suffers from swollen paws and shortness of breath as they navigate sharp cornfields and unfamiliar terrain.

Attack by the sheep-dog A ferocious sheep-dog named Rex attacks Bow-Wow and shakes him severely, forcing a terrified Mew-Mew to hide up a tree before nursing him.

Hardship and hunger Rain, starvation, and hostility from local boys wear the runaways down until their coats turn filthy and their strength fades.

Collapsing at the threshold Mew-Mew gives up in exhaustion during a dark night, but sunrise reveals they have unknowingly reached the edge of their old farm.

Reunion and restoration Bow-Wow fetches help, and their forgiving mistress nurses them back to health, leaving them permanently grateful and well-behaved.

The People

• Bow-Wow: A fat, energetic black puppy who begins as a selfish bully who barks at chicks and picks fights. His severe leg injury and subsequent rescue by Mew-Mew reveal a vulnerable side, and his loyalty shines through when he refuses to abandon her in the wild.
• Mew-Mew: A vain white cat obsessed with keeping her coat clean and dreaming of luxurious rooms with milk on every floor. Though initially spiteful toward the injured puppy, her inner kindness awakens during his illness, turning her into a devoted nurse and companion.
• The Mistress: The patient farm-house owner who provides warm fires, food, and medical care. She treats the pets with consistent kindness, never whipping them even after they run away and steal food, ultimately welcoming them back with open arms.
• Rex: A formidable sheep-dog encountered on their journey whose sudden, violent attack teaches the runaways that the outside world contains real hazards far worse than the farmyard animals they despised.

In Its Own Voice

When Bow-Wow lies injured and fears his life is ending, his plea breaks through their history of fighting:

"You will go on just the same, when you will never have me to look at--or to speak to--or to fight with?"

Later, after enduring days of rain, hunger, and injury in the wild, Mew-Mew realizes the true value of what they discarded:

"We had a fire all the year round to keep us warm."

At her weakest moment, collapsed in the dark and unable to walk any further, Mew-Mew urges her friend to save himself:

"When the day comes, you must say good-by to me and go on alone."

What It's Really About

Beneath its simple surface, the story explores how gratitude and empathy are forged through experience. At the start, Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew suffer from an entitlement that makes them blind to their comfortable life; every minor annoyance feels like a severe hardship. It is only when genuine tragedy strikes—first through physical injury, then through real starvation and exposure—that they learn to value safety, kindness, and mutual support. Their journey illustrates that true companionship is built on shared vulnerability rather than convenience. By stripping away their comforts, the narrative demonstrates that happiness depends less on changing one's surroundings than on changing one's heart and perspective.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers looking for historical children's literature will find this early-reader text surprisingly charming in its emotional directness. Written largely in short, simple words, the prose flows with an rhythmic, oral simplicity that makes it accessible for young children or historical enthusiasts interested in late 19th-century pedagogy.

The story does carry the clear moral instruction typical of its period, framed explicitly around character improvement and obedience. However, it avoids feeling like a dry sermon because the emotional weight comes directly from the animals' realistic struggles. The depiction of their physical suffering—getting bruised, starving, and sleeping in cold mud—gives real stakes to their foolish decision to run away. The primary barrier for modern audiences may be the repetitive cadence designed for beginner readers, but the genuine warmth between the title characters creates a moving arc of redemption that remains satisfying across eras.