The Tailor of Gloucester
Beatrix Potter1903

In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets—when gentlemen wore ruffles, and gold-laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta—there lived a tailor in Gloucester.
It is Christmas Eve and the mayor must have a new coat to be married on Christmas Day morning, what is a poor tailor to do?
This tailor is very poor indeed, so poor he has barely enough money to feed himself and keep warm. With his last strength he sends out his sly cat Simpkin to fetch him the last twist of pink thread he needs to finish the coat but Simpkin has his eyes on his supper. Only some kind and rather resourceful mice that live in the dresser can save the tailor from certain ruin, will they finish in time and will they keep out of the jaws of the hungry Simpkin?