Is this the correct usage of commas in Alice in Wonderland?

Reading Alice in Wonderland, I noticed a strange use of commas:

The only things in the kitchen that did not sneeze, were the cook, and a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from ear to ear.

I would have expected no commas:

The only things in the kitchen that did not sneeze were the cook and a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from ear to ear.

Why is this, and is it correct?