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[Illustration]
_Little Puss Boots, hat in paw
Bowed as Miss Pussy opened the door.
"Glad to see you," she purred. "Come in!
My little house is as neat as a pin!"_
[Illustration]
_"Robinson Crusoe, how do you do!"
As a strangely dressed man came into view,
Cried little Puss Junior, raising his paw,
As he stood 'neath a palm tree by the shore._
[Illustration]
_A frog among some rushes dwelt;
A bachelor was he.
No frog was ever so polite
Or such a beau as he._
[Illustration]
_"This makes a fine table I'd have you know,"
Laughed Puss to Fairy Little Tiptoe.
"We might all dine here on fairy cake,
Unless you fear the toadstool break."_
THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR.
[Illustration: THE KNAVE OF HEARTS RUNS AWAY WITH THE TARTS.
_Frontispiece._]
THE ADVENTURES OF
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR.
BY
DAVID CORY
AUTHOR OF
LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS,
LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND,
PUSS IN BOOTS BOOKS, Etc.
[Illustration]
PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
Made in the United States of America
ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR.
Copyright, 1917, by Harper & Brothers
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
PAGE
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., BEGINS HIS TRAVELS 9
A VISIT TO PIGGIE'S MAMMA 13
PUSS SEES THE COW JUMP OVER THE MOON 16
PUSS MEETS YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 21
PUSS SINGS A SONG AND HELPS A BEGGAR 25
PUSS FOLLOWS WEE WILLIE WINKIE 31
PUSS, JR., MEETS THREE JOLLY WELSHMEN AND THE
QUEEN OF HEARTS 35
PUSS LEARNS WHERE HIS FATHER IS AND RECEIVES
A TART FROM THE QUEEN 40
PUSS CROSSES A WONDERFUL BRIDGE 43
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., VISITS THE OLD WOMAN IN THE
SHOE 45
PUSS, JR., JOINS THE CIRCUS 51
PUSS, JR., PROVES TO BE A WONDERFUL CIRCUS
PERFORMER 54
A TERRIBLE FIGHT STOPPED BY USING PLUM-CAKE 57
PUSS, JR., MEETS ANOTHER CAT AND MORALIZES ON
CONTENTMENT 60
PUSS MEETS MOTHER GOOSE 63
TRIPPING WITH THE STARS 66
PUSS FINDS ADVENTURE AT THE TOP OF JACK'S
FAMOUS BEAN-STALK 69
PUSS DISCOVERS WHERE JACK IS HIDING 74
PUSS AND JACK MAKE A BOLD RESCUE 77
PUSS, JR., MEETS MR. ROWLEY FROG 80
PUSS IS HEARTILY WELCOMED BY JACK THE JUMPER 83
OLD KING COLE'S FIDDLERS ARE RATHER RUDE TO
PUSS 86
THE MILLER OF THE DEE 88
PUSS, JR., RENDERS A MOTHER AID 93
THE MILKMAN'S HORSE, OLD NAGGETTY NOGG 96
WHO IS A MAN'S MOST FAITHFUL FRIEND? 99
PUSS BUYS A PAIR OF BOOTS MADE FOR HIS FAMOUS
SIRE 102
PUSS MEETS A MODEST MENDING MAN AND A JOLLY
MILLER 105
PUSS OVERHEARS A PROPOSAL AND IS INVITED TO A
WEDDING 110
PUSS AND SEVERAL ACQUAINTANCES JOURNEY TO THE
WEDDING 113
THE GUESTS ARRIVE SAFELY AT THE WEDDING 116
PUSS IS WELCOMED AT THE WEDDING 119
THE BRIDE RECEIVES SOME HANDSOME PRESENTS 122
PUSS MAKES A NEW FRIEND AND GAINS A STEED 125
PUSS MEETS A HUNTER AND THEY BOTH LEARN THAT
THE OWL IS A USEFUL BIRD 130
PUSS GOES ON A SHOPPING TRIP TO MAKE A LITTLE
MAID HAPPY 133
PUSS CONVERSES WITH AN INTELLIGENT GRAY
DONKEY 136
PUSS MEETS A HAPPY FARMER BUT MISSES A GOOD
MEAL 139
PUSS HELPS A STRANGER CATCH A RUNAWAY PIG 142
PUSS HELPS A LITTLE BOY WHO IS IN TROUBLE 147
ILLUSTRATIONS
PUSS, JR., TRUDGED ALONG BRAVELY Page 17
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BUY WITH THE
MONEY?" PUSS ASKED " 27
PUSS JOINED IN THE CHASE TO HELP THE QUEEN " 37
OUT ON A LIMB, FROM WHICH HE DANGLED HIS
RED-TOPPED BOOTS " 47
"GOOD MORNING, MA'AM," SAID HE, LIFTING
HIS CAP POLITELY " 71
"AREN'T WE GREAT FRIENDS?" ASKED THE
MILLER " 89
"IF I'D AS MUCH MONEY AS I COULD SPEND" " 107
"I GUESS YOU ARE RIGHT, MY GOOD SIR," SAID
PUSS " 127
"TO MARKET, TO MARKET, TO BUY A FAT PIG" " 143
THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS, JR.
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., BEGINS HIS TRAVELS
[Illustration]
Puss had made a great discovery in the garret. It seems strange that he
should have found something more important than a rat or mouse, but he
had. From the moment he had seen the picture-book he was a changed cat!
"Yes," he said, holding it a little to one side, so that the light from
the small attic window would show the picture more distinctly, "this is
certainly a portrait of my father."
It was the story of "Puss in Boots," and on the cover was a beautiful
picture of a cat wearing a magnificent pair of boots with shiny red
tops. Puss sat down and opened the book. The further he read the more
excited he became. When he had finished he jumped up and, proudly
looking at the portrait of his handsome father, he exclaimed, with
flashing eyes, "From to-day I shall call myself 'Puss in Boots, Junior';
I shall go forth in search of adventure, just as my father did, and I
shall not rest until I have found him!"
He looked around to see if he could find a pair of boots like those in
the picture.
To his delight he saw in a corner the very pair he wanted, and they had
red tops, too. He slipped them on and looked at himself in an old
cracked mirror which stood against the wall.
On a peg near by hung a cap, dusty, but not a bit shabby or worn.
Placing it on his head, he hunted around until he found an old cane with
a bent handle. "There's a cane in the picture--I suppose they called it
a staff in those days; at any rate, I'm now complete; I'm a real Puss in
Boots, Junior!" and with these words he scampered down the stairs as
fast as he dared, not yet being used to his new-found boots.
"Hurray!" he cried, as he reached the front door, and he took a hop,
skip, and jump across the piazza, holding his tail gracefully in his
left paw. "Hurray!"
Down the steps he skipped, two at a time, down the walk to the gate, his
heels clattering on the stone pavement, rat-a-tat-tat, like a
cavalryman. The road was dusty, but he went along gaily, the sun shining
on the bright-red tops of his boots, making him very proud indeed.
He hadn't gone very far when he heard a funny little squeak, and,
looking to the side of the road from which the sound came, he saw a
small pig stuck between two boards in the fence.
"Squeak, squeak! Oh, help me out!" cried Piggie.
Puss in Boots, Jr., ran up and, with the help of his cane, pried the
boards apart so that the little pig could just squeeze himself through.
"Squeak, squeak! Oh, thank you!" cried the little fellow. "I wish I
could do something to repay you!"
"You can," replied Puss, Jr., who had by this time grown very hungry, "I
would like something to eat."
"Come with me," said Piggie. "Mother always gets some milk from the
dairymaid about this time. Come." And he took Puss, Jr., by the front
paw and started to run across the field.
"Hold on! I mean, let go!" cried Puss in Boots, Jr. "How do you know
your mother will want visitors for lunch?"
"She'll be only too delighted, especially when she knows how you pulled
me out of the fence. You're not bashful, are you?"
"No-o-o!" replied Puss, Jr., "but you see I've never lunched with pigs
before!"
"Oh, don't let that worry you," replied his little friend, who seemed to
be pretty sure of himself for so small a pig. "Come along!"
And Puss did.
A VISIT TO PIGGIE'S MAMMA
Puss, Jr., followed his friend the little pig, whom he had so
fortunately rescued from between the fence boards, across the field and
into the woods. Indeed, he was so hungry by this time that he felt he
would be brave enough to follow a lion. Just then he heard some one
singing in a high, squeaky voice:
"This little Pig went to market,
This little Pig stayed at home,
This little Pig had roast beef,
This little Pig had none,
This little Pig cried, 'Wee, wee, wee!'
All the way home."
"That's mother," replied the little pig in answer to an inquiring look
from Puss, Jr. "She always sings that when any of us is naughty. You
see," he added, apologetically, "I should not have tried to get through
the fence and out on the road."
"Oh, I understand," replied Puss, Jr. "Is that your house?"
"Yes, and there's mother."
Puss, Jr., saw a very nice-looking lady pig standing in the doorway of a
queer little cabin. She had on a blue gingham apron over a short skirt
of gray, and a very tight-fitting shirt-waist, which was stretched
almost to the bursting-point as she raised her right forefoot to shade
her eyes.
"Well, here you are at last!" she exclaimed to Piggie. "But look at your
trousers; you've torn a big hole in them!"
He looked ruefully at the rent in his little blue jeans. "I got stuck in
the fence," he whimpered.
"He'd be there yet if I hadn't pulled him out," volunteered Puss, Jr.,
hoping to divert her attention from his little friend.
Mrs. Porker, for that was her name, turned and looked at him, as much as
to say, "Where did you come from?" but she didn't; she only very
politely remarked: "Thank you for helping Piggie. I'm sorry to say he
does not always mind mother. But come, you both are hungry, I know." And
she led the way into the cabin.
At a round table in the room two little pigs were already eating their
dinner. "What is your name?" asked Mrs. Porker in a kindly tone, pushing
a chair up next to hers for Puss.
"Puss in Boots, Junior, madam," he replied, with a polite bow.
"This is Wiggie and this is Tiggie," said their mother, and the two
small pigs got up and shook hands with him.
They had a merry lunch, and he was surprised to see how clean and well
behaved the Porker family was.
"You know," said Mrs. Porker, as if reading his thoughts, "that pigs are
really the cleanest of animals, only man is so cruel to pigs--he shuts
them up in small pens and makes them appear quite the opposite. Just
read the books about us and you will see. Yes," she continued, "when
pigs are allowed to run around they are clean as they can be; only when
they are little they are often most disobedient." And she looked at
Piggie, who got very red in the face.
"I don't believe he'll disobey again," answered Puss, Jr. "You have such
a nice playground here in the woods I shouldn't think he would want to
run away to that dusty road again; just look at my boots." And he thrust
his foot out and showed the bright-red tops all dingy with the day's
travel.
Lunch was now over, and after politely thanking Mrs. Porker for her
goodness Puss said good-by to the three little pigs.
"Don't forget me," called out Piggie as Puss, Jr., climbed over the
fence.
"Of course I won't," he called back, and waved his paw to Piggie in the
doorway.
PUSS SEES THE COW JUMP OVER THE MOON
Puss, Jr., trudged along bravely for some time, but, finding it very
dusty, he left the road and climbed over the low stone wall that
bordered the big pasture on his right.
"It's funny to see the moon in the daytime," he remarked as he crossed
the long green meadow dotted everywhere with yellow cowslips; "I don't
understand it," and he looked curiously at the big, white moon which
hung low in the skies just overhead. As he spoke, across the grass
hopped a big silver spoon, closely followed by a dish with a blue
border, which rolled along over the ground at a great rate.
"Wow, wow! Ha, ha!" laughed a little dog from the other side of the
fence. "Keep on rolling; you'll tire him out pretty soon."
Puss, Jr., watched the funny race with much amusement until he was
startled by a voice at his side, saying, "Glad to see you," and, turning
around, he saw a small cat with a fiddle under her paw.
[Illustration: PUSS, JR., TRUDGED ALONG BRAVELY]
"Hey diddle-diddle," she sang in a high, sweet voice, and scratched away
on the strings like a player in an orchestra.
"Tell me," Puss, Jr., said to her as the music stopped for a moment,
"why is the moon out to-day? I thought it only came out at night."
"Why, don't you know?" she replied. "It is going to let the cow jump
over it to-day."
"Indeed! and when does that happen?"
"Oh, any minute now; in fact, there she comes through the gate." And,
sure enough, across the fields a beautiful black-and-white cow came
leisurely toward them.
"Good morning," she exclaimed, as she neared our two friends, and,
turning to the cat with the fiddle, she said: "Are you ready? If you
are, just strike up a lively tune so that I can get into step before I
try for my jump."
Puss, Jr., was so interested that he forgot to ask another question, but
stood still while the cow commenced to prance around, keeping perfect
time to the music.
"Faster, faster!" she called, as she swung into a canter. "I'm going to
get a flying start; you know, if you get a flying start the higher you
will fly when you do fly."
This undoubtedly was true, for in a moment more she rose gracefully from
the ground toward the moon.
"Be careful!" screamed the Man in the Moon, leaning out as she
approached near enough for his voice to reach her. "Be careful and don't
clip off a piece with your hoof as you go over!"
She did as he told her, and sailed over in a long, sweeping curve and
landed safely in a patch of clover at the other end of the field.
"Great!" exclaimed Puss, Jr. "You did it splendidly!"
"Oh, that's nothing!" she answered, although she seemed rather proud of
her feat. "Oh, that's nothing at all!"
"I don't agree with you," he replied. "I should think you'd be very
proud of your feet; they're as good as wings."
The Jumping Cow paid no more attention to him, but munched away at the
clover like an ordinary cow.
"She won't say another word to-day," whispered the cat behind her
fiddle; "but if you're around this way to-morrow morning and it's a nice
day she may try another jump."
"I'm sorry," Puss, Jr., replied, "but by that time I shall be far away
upon my journey. Thank you just the same." And with these words he took
off his hat to Miss Pussy and resumed his travels along the cool, shady
path through the woods.
PUSS MEETS YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
The broad highway was somewhat dusty and not nearly so pleasant as the
cool, shady path through the woods. At the same time Puss felt that it
was leading him on toward his journey's end, and the thought that then
he would find his dear father made his heart beat fast with hope.
He began to whistle, when suddenly he heard the sound of hoofbeats. Then
a voice commenced singing, loudly and clearly:
"Yankee Doodle came to town,
Riding on a pony;
He stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni.
"Yankee Doodle came to town,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
He stuck a feather in his cap
And called it sugar candy."
Down the road came a pony at a mad gallop, and seated upon his back was
a very queer-looking person. In his cap was a long feather and in his
right hand was a big whip. The pony was galloping along at a great rate,
and every now and again his rider would give a tremendous whoop, like an
Indian brave. "Yankee Doodle Dandy!" he yelled, and then the pony would
stand up on his hind legs and neigh.
"Look out!" yelled the rider, as he approached Puss. "Don't you see you
are in the way?"
"Am I?" said Puss, drawing to one side of the road.
"Well, not now," said the rider, drawing rein and looking at Puss with a
good deal of interest. "Where's your horse?"
"Where's my horse?" repeated Puss, looking about as if he expected to
find one.
"Yes, where's your steed?" continued the stranger.
"Haven't got any," said Puss. "My two legs are all that I have to carry
me."
"Get up behind me," said the stranger. "My name is Yankee Doodle Dandy,
and a Yankee is always willing to give a fellow-traveler a lift, whether
he be on the high seas or on the road."
"Thank you, my fellow-traveler," replied Puss, and he sprang nimbly to
the saddle and clung tightly to the coat-tails of Yankee Doodle Dandy.
"Git-ap!" cried the latter, and away went the pony down the road. In a
short time the towers and church steeples of a town came into view.
Suddenly a queer-looking figure tumbled down from the sky on to the road
just in front of them. Yankee Doodle Dandy reined in his horse just in
time; otherwise he would have run over the Man in the Moon.
"Why don't you fall any other place but right in front of my horse?"
asked Yankee Doodle Dandy, in a stern voice.
"Couldn't help it," answered the Man in the Moon. "You must remember
it's not such an easy thing to hit the exact spot you intend to when you
jump all the way from the moon. It's almost impossible. I've even heard
that an aeroplane has some difficulty in dropping bombs so that they hit
the mark."
"Well, I've heard that, too," admitted Yankee Doodle Dandy, "although up
to this time Yankeeville has not suffered from any air attacks."
"Well, don't be too sure," answered the Man in the Moon. "I've seen a
few things from my moon house that you never even dreamed of."
"Did you never hear the rhyme about the Man in the Moon?" Puss asked,
politely.
"No, I never did," said the Man in the Moon.
"What!" exclaimed Puss in surprise.
"The Man in the Moon came tumbling down
And asked the way to Norwich;
He went by the south and burnt his mouth
With eating cold pease porridge."
"Ha, ha!" laughed the Man in the Moon, "you are joking; I'm sure you
are," and he turned his footsteps toward the south.
"'He went by the south and burnt his mouth,'" said Puss.
"We can't help it," said Yankee Doodle; "he will go that way."
PUSS SINGS A SONG AND HELPS A BEGGAR
After he had said good-by to Yankee Doodle Dandy, Puss, Jr., had a good
time playing all the morning with some little boys whom he met. One of
the little boys got out his hobby-horse and he and Puss, Jr., took turns
galloping up and down the sidewalk.
"I had a little hobby-horse,
And it was dapple gray;
Its head was made of pea straw,
Its tail was made of hay,"
sang his mother from the front porch. "My little boy has had a fine
time," she said, "but he must come in now and rest, for it is almost
luncheon-time."
"And I must be going," said Puss, Jr., "for I have many miles yet to
travel ere I find my father, Puss in Boots."
"You have been so kind," said the little boy's mother as she shook hands
with Puss.
"Good-by!" cried the little boy, quite sorrowfully, waving his hat as
Puss disappeared down the street.
"Heigh-ho!" said Puss to himself, "once more on my journey. I'm a
wandering minstrel, as it were," and to suit his words he began to sing:
"A wandering little cat am I,
Seeking father cat,
In my paw my trusty staff,
On my head my hat
With the magic plume the owl
Gave to me one day.
When the journey ends I'll have
Lots of time to play!"
"A pussy-cat poet!" cried a voice close at hand.
Puss, Jr., started and turned. At his side stood a beggar-man.
"I'm hungry," said the poor fellow, "and poets, I hear, are always
generous," and he held out his hat for Puss to drop in a penny.
"Are they?" inquired Puss, with a grin; he put his hand into his pocket
and took out a sixpence. "Here, my good man," he said, "take this little
piece of money. It is more than I will get for the song which you seem
to admire so much.
"What are you going to buy with the money?" he asked, after they had
walked along for some time. They had left the city and were now in the
country.
[Illustration: "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BUY WITH THE MONEY?" PUSS ASKED]
"I'm going to get some pease porridge hot," answered the beggar. "I'm
going to spend that sixpence in short order! I haven't had a thing to
eat since yesterday morning."
"I have never gone hungry so long as that," said Puss. "I think I've
been pretty lucky since I started out to find my father, Puss in Boots."
"Puss in Boots!" exclaimed the beggar-man with surprise. "Why, I once
stopped at a castle where there was a most wonderful cat. He was the
seneschal, I think, and a most intelligent animal."
"Where was the castle?" asked Puss. "I mean, in what country?"
"I don't remember," replied the beggar-man. "You see, I have begged at
so many back doors and so many postern gates that I have them all
jumbled up together in my memory."
"Dear me," said Puss. "Will I ever find anybody who really knows where
my father lives?"
"Pease porridge hot,
Pease porridge cold,
Pease porridge in the pot,
Nine days old."
Along the road came a man with a big white apron over his coat. In front
of him he wheeled a little cart in which was a large pot of porridge.
"Some like it hot,
Some like it cold,
Some like it in the pot,
Nine days old."
"Well, it won't be in that pot even nine minutes!" cried the beggar-man.
"Here, my good friend," he cried, "give me sixpence worth of your
porridge, and be quick about it."
"Don't be in a hurry," said the porridge-man. "Where's the sixpence?"
"Here in my good right hand," replied the beggar-man.
"Ah!" said the porridge-man, "you shall have your porridge."
"I will also have some," said Puss.
"Hot or cold?" asked the man.
"You take yours hot and I'll take mine cold," said the beggar-man, and
in a few minutes the porridge was all gone.
PUSS FOLLOWS WEE WILLIE WINKIE
The vesper bells were ringing as Puss, Jr., entered the great gate that
led into the city of Babylon. Along the street the lamps were being
lighted and their flickering gleams sent the shadows hiding in building
and alley.
Puss, however, in spite of shadows, trudged on with a brave heart,
waiting for an opportunity to get his supper and a comfortable place to
sleep.
Suddenly he was startled by a strange sight. A small boy in his
nightgown came racing down the street:
"Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up-stairs and down-stairs in his nightgown,
Rapping at the windows, crying through the lock,
'Are the children in their beds? It's past eight o'clock!'"
"Wait for me!" cried Puss, Jr., but Wee Willie Winkie did not stop. On
he ran, turning the next corner before Puss could overtake him. Half-way
down the block Puss stopped and ran up the steps of a small house.
Lifting the big brass knocker, he let it fall with a rap that soon
brought a maid to the door.
"Goodness me!" she exclaimed. "What have we here?"
"Is anybody at home?" said Puss, flicking the dust off the red tops of
his boots in a most unconcerned way, as if, indeed, he had been
accustomed to making calls all his life.
The maid held out a little silver tray. "I will take your card."
Poor Puss! He didn't have any!
"But I'm Puss in Boots, Junior," he said, with such a lovely purr that
the maid opened the door wide:
"Come in, dear Puss, Junior."
Just then Wee Willie Winkie ran down the stairs, crying: "Are the
children in their beds? It's past eight o'clock." Closing the front
door, he whispered through the keyhole, "Are the children in their
beds?" And before he reached the sidewalk he turned back and, rapping on
the window, cried, "It's past eight o'clock!"
"Little kittens don't need Wee Willie Winkie, I guess," said the maid,
tickling Puss, Jr.'s, head.
"Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy;
Thy mammy has gone to the mill
To get some meal to bake a cake,
So pray, my dear baby, lie still."
The lullaby made Puss, Jr., sleepy, for the man's voice was low and
tender, and Puss was very tired.
In a sleepy voice he asked, "And has the mother gone to the mill to get
the meal for the cake?"
"Indeed she has," replied the maid.
After this she went into the kitchen. Puss gazed about him for a while
and then dropped off to sleep, hearing the drowsy voice of the man
up-stairs singing:
"Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy."
All was very quiet. "Tick-tock, tick-tock," said the big clock, and a
mouse peeped out of his hole and laughed to himself when he saw Puss
fast asleep. He tiptoed over to the red-topped boots that had fallen off
Puss, Jr.'s, tired little feet, and even crawled inside. Perhaps he
wanted to tell his father how brave he had been to go inside a big cat's
high-top boots while the owner snored close by. Presently he ran over to
the hole in the wall. I imagine it did not take him long to tell his
story, for in a few minutes three little mice crept out and tiptoed over
to where Puss lay sleeping so soundly.
"Did you ever see any nicer boots than these?"
Mr. Mouse put on a very wise expression.
"They are certainly a very fine pair of boots," said he, "and they have
the mark of a royal cobbler."
"Gracious me! how interesting!" cried Mrs. Mouse; "let me take a
look." And she inspected Puss, Jr.'s, footwear with much interest.
"Beautifully made," she said. "This must be a royal cat, for otherwise
why should he have a royal cobbler?"
"I only hope he is not a royal mouser," replied Mr. Mouse, "and I think,
now that we have seen all we have, we had better return, for who knows
when he may awake?"
So they scampered off, leaving Puss, Jr., still sound asleep.
PUSS, JR., MEETS THREE JOLLY WELSHMEN AND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
As Puss, Jr., staff in hand, wandered down the green hills to the
lowlands, he came to a sandy beach, and there stood three jolly Welshmen
looking toward the sea:
One said it was a ship,
The other he said "Nay,"
The third one said it was a house
With the chimney blown away.
"It's nothing of the sort," cried Puss, Jr., jumping nimbly about, "it's
nothing of the sort."
"Perhaps it's a submarine," suggested one of the three jolly Welshmen,
walking over to inspect the little craft.
"Wrong again," tooted a little owl who was perched upon a tree close by.
"It looks like a cheese," suggested the smallest of the three jolly
Welshmen.
"Nonsense," answered Puss, Jr. "Who ever heard of a person sailing about
in a cheese?"
"Well, I didn't mean a Swiss cheese," replied the Welshman who up to
this time had said nothing. "Swiss cheeses are full of holes. I guess
they wouldn't float very long."
"This boat has a big crack in it," said Puss. "Just look and see for
yourself."
"Crackers and cheese!" laughed one of the three jolly Welshmen. "How do
you like my joke?"
"It makes me feel hungry," said Puss, Jr. "I've had nothing to eat for a
long time."
"Come with us, then," said the three jolly Welshmen; "we'll take you to
see the Queen."
"I don't look very neat," replied Puss, rubbing the salt spray from his
boot-tops.
"Neither do I," cried the little owl, preening his feathers and
stretching out his tail. "I'm all ruffled up."
"Well, the Queen's making tarts to-day," cried the three jolly Welshmen
all at once. "We're going, anyway."
Puss, Jr., and the little owl waited no longer, but followed the three
Welshmen at once. In the distance could be seen the turrets of a stately
castle. On arriving at the postern gate they were admitted after a
slight delay. In the courtyard all was bustle and excitement. On long
tables were spread the most delicious-looking tarts--raspberry,
strawberry, lemon, apple, and all the other delicious varieties that
could be imagined. Puss, Jr.'s, mouth fairly watered at the sight, and
the little owl could hardly restrain himself from picking out
strawberries that protruded from under the crust of a tart near at hand.
The three jolly Welshmen also showed signs of impatience. They were as
anxious to taste the tarts as were their small companions.
[Illustration: PUSS JOINED IN THE CHASE TO HELP THE QUEEN]
At that instant a great commotion arose. The Knave of Hearts was seen
rushing away with a whole trayful of tarts. After him ran the Queen,
holding up her long train so as to run faster. Puss joined in the chase
to help the Queen.
PUSS LEARNS WHERE HIS FATHER IS AND RECEIVES A TART FROM THE QUEEN
The Knave of Hearts was a pretty good runner, and Puss, Jr., found it no
easy task to catch him. Finally, however, he did, and after some
difficulty brought him back to the castle. As they entered the postern
gate,
The King of Hearts
Called for those tarts,
And beat the Knave full sore.
"I'm glad I didn't take a tart," said Puss, in a whisper to his little
friend the owl, while the three jolly Welshmen looked much relieved to
think that they had not touched one, either. At this point the Queen
came graciously forward and offered them all a tart apiece.
"How do you like it?" she asked Puss, smiling in a kind way. "You
deserve much more than a tart for having caught that naughty Knave. What
can I do to reward you?"
Puss carefully wiped his whiskers with his pocket-handkerchief before
replying. "Your Majesty," he answered, "I am in search of my illustrious
father, Puss in Boots. Could you but direct me to him I shall consider
you have more than repaid me for my trouble."
"Come into the castle," said the Queen, "and I will have my seneschal
inquire. No doubt he will know, as he is a very wise man and an old
retainer." So saying, she led the way into the castle, followed by Puss,
Jr., and the little owl.
"Puss in Boots? Puss in Boots?" repeated the old man, in an inquiring
tone, talking half to himself. "Why, is he not in the employ of my Lord
of Carabas?"
"Yes, indeed!" cried the Queen. "Now I remember. My dear Puss in Boots,
Junior, you still have a long journey before you; but to the brave all
things are possible. Although he lives far beyond the border-line of
Mother Goose Land, a good traveler need not despair."
"No, indeed, your Highness," replied Puss, Jr., "I have a good heart and
strong legs. 'Tis but a question of time before I see him, for danger I
fear not, neither stony roads nor stormy seas."
"Bravely said," cried the Queen. "But who is your little friend?" she
added, turning to look at the owl, who had perched himself on the
shoulder of Puss, Jr.
"He is the owner of the 'beautiful pea-green boat,'" replied Puss, "and
to him I owe much, for had he not come to my rescue when the Giant of
the Bean-stalk pursued me I should have been captured. His boat was on
the shore and we sailed away just in time."
"Most exciting," said the Queen; "and so that is how you landed on
Cranberry Tart Island?"
"Yes, your Highness," said Puss, "but I did not know it was an island
nor that it was called 'Cranberry Tart.'"
"Well, it is," replied the Queen, "and if you will spend the night here
I will see that you reach the mainland to-morrow without delay."
So Puss, Jr., consented to spend the night in the stately castle of Tart
Island.
PUSS CROSSES A WONDERFUL BRIDGE
The next morning, bright and early, Puss, Jr., left the stately castle
of Cranberry Tart Island and continued his journey. The Queen had bidden
him a kind farewell, at the same time instructing one of her retainers
to show him the bridge connecting Cranberry Tart Island with the
mainland.
On arriving at the bridge Puss, Jr., was most surprised to see that it
was built entirely of gingerbread. "Goodness!" he exclaimed to himself,
"if many stopped on their way over to take a bite, there would soon be
no bridge left."
Probably the builder had been aware of this fact, for at the entrance of
the bridge was displayed a large sign which read as follows:
No loitering allowed on the bridge. The gingerbread must not be
eaten, under penalty of a fine and imprisonment.
"It looks pretty stale, anyway," tooted the little owl, who blinked and
winked in the early morning light as he flew beside Puss, Jr.
"You can't see very well, my dear friend," answered Puss. "It looks
perfectly delicious to me."
"Never mind how it looks," said the retainer, overhearing Puss, Jr.'s,
remark. "You must obey the law."
"I have no intention of not obeying," answered Puss, "nor would I
endanger our safety by biting off a piece. Should the bridge fall into
the water I should be forced to swim, and swimming is no easy matter for
a cat, especially with high-top boots."
"Wisely said," replied the retainer. "And now that we have crossed over
safely, I will leave you to pursue your journey, for you need no further
help from me."
"Thank you," cried Puss, Jr.
"Yet there is one thing I would warn you of," replied the retainer,
pausing before taking himself off. "In yonder forest is a gingerbread
cottage. Beware of it, for within lives a wicked witch." With these
words he turned away and crossed the gingerbread bridge that led back to
Cranberry Tart Island.
"A gingerbread cottage," laughed Puss to himself, following the path
that led into the forest:
"A gingerbread bridge
And a gingerbread house,
A gingerbread cat
And a gingerbread mouse.
But the gingerbread cat
Ate the gingerbread mouse
As she ran on the bridge
From the gingerbread house."
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., VISITS THE OLD WOMAN IN THE SHOE
It was now about high noon; but the air was cool and balmy, for the sun
hardly penetrated the deep recesses of the green forest. As Puss trudged
along he sang a little song to himself. I think he must have been
something of a poet, for unconsciously his words rhymed and the air also
was of his own making. A little brown wren, who was hopping along on the
green moss that covered the floor of the great forest, heard him, and
she told it to some one who afterward told it to me. And this is the way
the little song went:
Through the woods, the cool woods,
The green woods, sweet with balm and fir,
To the music of the breeze
Singing softly through the trees
This the song I purr:--
Happy he who travels far,
Travels far and free,
Over valley, over hill,
Over smiling lea;
Never weary of the road,
Happy that he be
Just a jolly traveler
Wandering, like me!
As Puss finished his song he emerged from the woods and found himself
upon a broad highway. "This must be the road that will lead me to my
father's home," he said to himself, and joyfully proceeded on his
journey.
In the distance he saw what looked like a queer little house, but as he
drew nearer he saw it wasn't a house at all, but a big shoe. So many
children were playing around, running in and out, that he would have
found it difficult to count them, even if he had tried.
"Hello!" he called out to a little boy who was the only one who hadn't
run into the shoe to tell mother that a big cat with boots on was coming
up the garden walk.
"Hello!" Puss, Jr., said again, and the little fellow bashfully put out
his hand.
"You have pretty boots," he said, looking down at them.
"Yes," answered their owner, "I'm rather proud of them myself; but what
are your little brothers and sisters afraid of?" he added, as he noticed
them peeking at him out of the window. "I won't hurt them."
Just then the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe came out, and, seeing one
of her children talking to a strange cat who wore boots, she hurried up
to them and asked:
"Are you Puss in Boots?"
[Illustration: OUT ON A LIMB, FROM WHICH HE DANGLED HIS RED-TOPPED
BOOTS]
"No, ma'am, but I'm his son," was the quick reply. "I'm Puss in Boots,
Junior."
"Oh, of course," she said. "I knew your father years ago, and for a
moment I forgot how time flies. Yes, we were very good friends in those
old days. He was a very fine cat."
Puss, Jr., nodded politely.
"Won't you come in?" the Old Woman asked, turning toward her shoe house,
"though you may find it difficult, as I can hardly find room for all my
children. I suppose people think I'm very cross," she continued, as they
managed to squeeze past the children in the hallway, "because I give
them all a whipping before putting them to bed; but if I didn't, those I
put to bed first wouldn't lie still. You see, by the time I get the last
one to bed it's time to take the first one up for breakfast."
Puss, Jr., felt very sorry for her, as she didn't seem cross a bit, and
the children clung to her skirt in a loving manner.
"Will you have a bowl of broth?" she asked. "It is about lunch-time, and
I'm going to give the children some."
He thanked her, and said he would gladly, as he was hungry and tired. He
sat down with the children, who had by this time arranged themselves in
a row, each one with an empty bowl in his hands. The broth tasted very
good, and Puss, Jr., felt so much better after eating it that he
proposed a game of tag. They all ran outside and stood around in a ring
while he counted "eeny, meeny, miney, mo," till all were out except
himself.
"You're it!" the children cried, gleefully.
What a frolic followed! He finally caught the biggest boy, making
believe for some time to miss the little tots, who screamed with fun as
he chased them in and out among the trees.
It was a different matter, however, when it came to catch Puss, Jr. At
last, with a jump, he ran up a tree and out on a limb, from which he
dangled his red-topped boots over their heads. When every one gave up,
he came down, and, after thanking the Old Woman for her kindness with a
flourish and bow, he resumed his journey.
PUSS, JR., JOINS THE CIRCUS
As Puss, Jr., neared a pretty village his attention was attracted to a
large tent in a field. Gaily colored wagons were standing close by, and
every now and then a roar or a growl could be heard quite distinctly.
"A circus!" cried Puss, and he hastened forward and entered a small
opening in the fence. As he approached the great tent he heard a voice
singing; it came from a little side-tent. It was a woman's voice, quite
soft and low:
"Oh, mother, I'm to be married
To Mr. Punchinello;
To Mr. Pun, to Mr. Chin, to
Mr. Nel, to Mr. Lo,
Mr. Pun, Mr. Chin, Mr. Nel, Mr. Lo,
To Mr. Punchinello."
As the last words died away a clown came from behind a circus-wagon.
"Nello, Nello!" he called.
"What is it, Punch?" inquired the owner of the pretty voice, appearing
in the doorway of her tent. But before he could answer she exclaimed:
"Oh, look! See the cat with red-topped boots!"
The clown turned and gazed at Puss, Jr., who came forward and put out
his paw.
"Won't you join our circus?" said the clown, with an engaging smile.
Puss did not reply for a moment. He was thinking it over quite
seriously. Whether or not it would interfere with his finding his father
was the question. While he stood debating as to what was the thing to
do, the circus-lady came out of her tent and cried:
"Oh, _do_ join our circus, Sir Puss! I am sure you would be a great
attraction. Every child in town would want to see a cat who wore boots!"
At this Puss, Jr.'s, face was all smiles. In fact, his whiskers curled
up in a most laughable way, making his little face quite irresistible.
"Thank you both very much," he replied, "but before I answer I must tell
you that I am in search of my illustrious parent, the famous Puss in
Boots. If I join your circus how am I to find my dear father?"
"Easy as not," answered the clown, quickly. "We are always on the move.
A new town 'most every day. We never linger long in any one spot."
"No, indeed, we don't!" cried the circus-lady. "We give a performance
this afternoon and to-night, and then we pack up and are off again."
"You can have one of the circus-horses to ride," suggested the clown, by
way of encouragement; "you need not travel on foot if you join us."
"That's a big inducement," admitted Puss, Jr.
"It's a merry life," added the circus-lady, "and when all the little
children clap their hands and cry 'Bravo!' it's very exciting."
"I'll join," said Puss; "here's my paw!"
"And here's my hand," said the clown.
"And here's mine," cried the circus-lady.
"Come with me," said the clown, "and I'll put your name on the program
and you shall be a regular circus performer from now on."
And that is how Puss, Jr., joined the circus.
PUSS, JR., PROVES TO BE A WONDERFUL CIRCUS PERFORMER
It was about eight-thirty o'clock in the evening. The big tent was all
aglow with lights. A long line of people reached from the dusty roadway
to the ticket-office. Flaring torches threw strange streaks of light
over the field, lighting up the circus-wagons with their gleaming red
bodies and yellow wheels.
Now and then the roars of the lions and the trumpetings of the elephants
could be heard, then the music of the band, a bugle-call, a shrill
voice, a snap of whips--all the familiar sounds of a traveling circus,
as the evening breeze ruffled the many flags that decked the great white
tent. Puss, Jr., stood by the side of the clown in the tan-bark ring and
looked about him. On all sides were eager faces. Hundreds of children
screamed and yelled as the clown came forward and motioned for silence.
When the sounds had died away he spoke, loud and clear:
"Ladies and gentlemen and little children, we have with us to-night the
son of the famous Puss in Boots, the well-known nursery character,
dearly loved by old and young. Puss, Junior, is in search of his father,
but in the meantime has consented to join our circus. I venture to say
that no other circus in the world has so wonderful a cat among its
performers. You will all be charmed to see him act. His first
performance will be to ride around the ring on our beautiful Arabian
horse, White Marvel!" As the clown finished Puss jumped nimbly to the
horse's back and commenced riding around the ring as if he had been
accustomed to this sort of thing all his life.
The children clapped their hands, and the grown-ups smiled and nodded
approvingly. The white horse broke into a gallop, but Puss stood first
on one leg and then on the other, bowing gracefully here and there. Not
once did he lose his balance, although he wore his red-topped boots, and
to stand on the bare back of a horse under such conditions is not the
easiest thing in the world.
When the clown brought out a wooden ring covered with tissue-paper the
crowd held its breath. Would Puss, Jr., dare jump through it? Around
galloped the big white horse in a swift canter, Puss balancing himself
on one leg. As he neared the clown, who stood on a big blue barrel close
to the ringside, Puss gathered himself together for the jump. Through
the tissue-paper he went like a bird on the wing, and landed safely on
the horse's back.
A wild round of applause greeted his daring deed. The children clapped
their hands and screamed, forgetting in their excitement to eat their
peanuts and candy popcorn. The man who carried the pink lemonade in
funny little glasses all set in rows in a tin tray stood still to watch.
He forgot to cry, "Anybody want some delicious, pink lemonade?" because
he was so excited over the success of the new member of the circus
family.
Then all the rest of the actor folk did their stunts; the monkeys played
baseball, and the elephants had a boxing-match, and when all was over
the clown and the circus-lady ran up to Puss, Jr., and said, "You were
the star performer of the whole show!" which, of course, pleased Puss
immensely.
A TERRIBLE FIGHT STOPPED BY USING PLUM-CAKE
As the circus entered a town one bright, sunny morning, the lion and the
unicorn escaped from their cages. Great was the excitement! All the
circus people started after them with long ropes, hoping to be able to
lasso them.
At first the townsfolk were greatly frightened, but gradually, as they
found out that the lion and the unicorn paid little attention to them,
their fear gave way to interest. It seems that the lion was an enemy of
the unicorn, and as soon as they were free they began to fight.
The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown,
The Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town.
Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown,
Some gave them plum-cake and sent them out of town.
If it had not been for the plum-cake I verily believe they would have
been fighting still. But as soon as the unicorn saw the plum-cake he
said to the lion:
"What's the use of fighting, Leon? Let's have a truce. In fact, I'm
hungry."
"So am I," replied the lion. "I haven't had a sweet thing since I joined
the circus. And you know how hard it is to see all the little boys and
girls eating candy and popcorn and not be able to get even one little
piece."
"That's quite true," replied the unicorn. "People seem to think all I
require is hay. And as for you, they think raw meat is enough."
With these friendly words they stopped fighting and began to eat the
plum-cake. All the townsfolk stood by watching them. When the circus-men
arrived on the scene they were too surprised for the moment to do a
thing. They just stood still and watched the two animals eat the cake,
even waiting until the lion had picked up the last crumb and the unicorn
the last raisin. Then they came forward very quietly and threw a rope
first over the lion's head and then over the unicorn's, and led them
back to their cages. Puss, Jr., who had by this time arrived on the
scene, turned to the people and said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, it was very kind of you to give plum-cake to our
animals. It only goes to show what kindness will do. I hope you will
appreciate how much we thank you for what you have done, and also that
you will come to our show to-night. I can assure you we will give you a
double bill to show you how much we appreciate what you have done for
us."
"Hurrah!" cried the crowd. "Three cheers for Sir Cat!"
That night there was a tremendous attendance. The tent was crowded.
Everybody was in a jolly frame of mind. All the circus people did their
best. Puss, Jr., jumped through three hoops without touching the back of
the big white horse, and the clown was funnier than he had ever been in
all his life. The circus-lady never looked so pretty, nor did she ever
ride so well before. And it took the ticket-seller all night to count
the money.
PUSS, JR., MEETS ANOTHER CAT AND MORALIZES ON CONTENTMENT
For some time Puss, Jr., traveled with the circus, but at last, finding
that he could make better time if he traveled alone, he said good-by and
started off by himself. Perhaps he remembered the old saying, "He
travels faster who travels alone." At any rate, he made up his mind on
this point and set bravely out by himself.
But he was not lonely, for he was continually seeing new sights and new
people.
One morning as he trudged along a road bordered by green meadows he saw
at some little distance ahead a large apple-tree. As he drew near a
pussy-cat ran up the trunk.
Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree,
Up went Pussy-Cat, and down went he;
Down came Pussy-Cat, away Robin ran;
Said Little Robin Redbreast, "Catch me if you can!"
Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall,
Pussy-Cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall;
Little Robin chirp'd and sang, and what did Pussy say?
Pussy-Cat said, "Mew," and Robin flew away.
"What are you trying to do?" asked Puss in Boots, Jr., stopping in front
of the tree and looking up at the pussy-cat, who sat upon the wall,
looking after the robin, who had flown away.
"I'm not trying to do anything," replied the pussy-cat, crossly, "but I
was wishing I had wings."
"They would be very nice," replied Puss, Jr., reflectively; "they would
be most convenient at times."
"Indeed they would!" answered the pussy-cat; "they'd be lots better even
than red-topped boots."
Puss looked down at his feet. "Perhaps," he answered, "but I have found
my boots most helpful. Do you know," he continued, "if people would be a
little more contented with what they have I think they'd get more."
The pussy-cat did not answer for a few minutes. Then she said: "What you
say is very true. I suppose I ought to be thankful that I have such nice
strong claws. It's not hard work climbing trees, and, as far as running
goes, my legs carry me very well. Perhaps I don't need wings, after
all."
"Well, I never saw a flying cat," admitted Puss, Jr., "although I've
seen some remarkable things since I started out to find my father, Puss
in Boots."
"So you are a traveler," said the pussy-cat, jumping down from the wall
and walking up to Puss. "How long have you been seeking your father?"
"A long, long time," replied Puss, Jr. "Do you know, sometimes I almost
get discouraged, for this is a big world and at times I feel so very,
very small."
"Well, you come home with me," said the pussy-cat, "and get a good rest.
I think you're tired out." This was the truth, for he had traveled far
that day.
PUSS MEETS MOTHER GOOSE
"Oh, my pretty cock, oh, my handsome cock,
I pray you do not crow before day,
And your comb shall be made of the very beaten gold,
And your wings of the silver so gray."
Puss, Jr., opened his eyes sleepily to find himself in Mother Goose's
arms. They were seated on a gander's back, who was flying along as if
such a thing as traveling with two passengers was nothing at all. As
Mother Goose finished her little verse, the gander alighted on the roof
of a big red barn on which a weathercock sedately turned this way and
that in the early morning breeze. The sun was just coming up, for it was
early, very early. Puss rubbed his eyes and sat up. "And how's my little
pussy-cat?" asked Mother Goose, stroking him kindly. "Did he have a good
night's sleep?"
"Yes, indeed, thank you," answered Puss, now thoroughly awake and
remembering how he had met Mother Goose the previous day, and how
fortunate it was that she had agreed to take him back to Mother Goose
Land.
"Cock-a-doodle-do!" said the weathercock.
"Crow as much as you like," said Mother Goose. "Now that Puss is awake
you can make all the noise you wish. At first I thought we were not
going to stop on your barn, Sir Chantecler, and that was the reason I
asked you to delay your early morning crow so that we could be far away
before you commenced. Puss is in need of all the sleep he can get, for
in a few days he will be on his feet again. He has still a long ways to
go ere he finds his famous father, Puss in Boots."
"Well," answered the weathercock, "I didn't crow before day, so kindly
give me a gold comb and silver wings."
"That I will," answered Mother Goose, "this very evening."
"And who will bring them?" asked the weathercock, for he was very vain,
and is sometimes called a weather-vane, perhaps for that reason. "Who
will bring them to me, and how am I to know that a gold comb will be
becoming or that silver wings will suit my complexion?"