"OH, dear me!" sighed little Puss, Junior, as he thought of his lovely
red-top boots which had been destroyed by the fire. "Where shall I get
another pair?" for he knew that no ordinary bootmaker had the skill to
make boots for a cat. However, when he mounted his Good Gray Horse he
found, to his surprise, a couple of gold sovereigns in his pocket.
"That's something to be thankful for," he laughed, as he set out upon
his journey through Old Mother Goose Land. "I'll stop at the first
cobbler shop and see what I can buy."
As he rode gayly along he came across a funny little old woman. On her
head was a red sunbonnet and over her shoulders a bright-green shawl.
Black-lace mits covered her thin hands, and a pair of white slippers her
two little feet.
"My good woman," said Puss, Junior, politely raising his cap as he drew
in his Good Gray Horse, "can you tell me where I may find a shoemaker?"
The old woman smiled and said:
"What shoemaker makes shoes without leather,
With all the four elements put together?
Fire and water, earth and air,
And every customer wears a pair."
"I don't know," answered Puss.
"Why, a blacksmith, you goosey!" cried the little old woman, tossing her
head.
"I don't want shoes for my Good Gray Horse," said Puss, in a disgusted
tone of voice. "I want a pair of shoes for myself."
"Ho, ho!" laughed the little old woman. "So my fine Sir Cat would have a
pair of shoes?"
"No, my good woman--a pair of _boots_!"
"Well, then," she replied, "keep on your way until you reach yonder
village. Then cross the bridge and you will soon come to a bootmaker. He
will, no doubt, be able to fit a pair of boots to Your Royal Highness's
feet." Then she turned up a lane and left Puss to continue his way
alone.
"Ah, me!" sighed Puss. "I don't feel a bit like myself without my
red-topped boots. Indeed, I feel like an imposter. How will anyone
believe that I am Puss in Boots, Junior, if I have no boots?" And, for
the first time in his life, he felt discouraged. He had met with many
disappointments on his journey through Mother Goose country, but to be
without boots seemed almost too hard to bear. Still, with a brave heart,
he rode on toward the village. "I have at least the money with which to
buy them," he said, "and this is much to be thankful for." Which was a
wise saying, I think, for a cat who had been out in the world for so
short a time as had little Puss, Junior.