ONE day as little Puss, Junior, was traveling through New Mother Goose
country, he came to a funny little house all covered with rose vines,
even up to the top of the small red chimney they grew in crimson
splendor. And as Puss stopped to look at the pretty sight, a tiny blue
bird in a cage on the front porch began to sing:
"Jack Sprat had a pig,
Who was not very big;
He was not very lean
He was not very fat;
'He'll do for a grunt,'
Says little Jack Sprat."
"Oh, ho," thought Puss, and he turned into the yard and walked around to
the little red barn. There stood Jack Sprat himself, leaning against the
sty, watching his pig eat his dinner.
Well, just then, all of a sudden, a swarm of golden bees came humming
into the little farmyard, and before long they had made a home in the
empty beehive that stood close by.
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"You have brought me luck," said little Jack Sprat, turning to Puss.
"Now I shall have honey, and with bees and a pig I shall grow rich and
supply all Mother Goose Country with good things to eat." And would you
believe it, the pig began to grow fat, and the bees to buzz out of the
hive and wing their way over to the roses for sweets with which to make
their honey.
Then Jack Sprat asked Puss to come into his little house, and when he
went to the cupboard to look for bread and butter, he found all kinds of
good things to eat.
"What luck you have brought me," said little Jack Sprat, but Puss was as
much surprised as he. But pretty soon when they had sat down to the
table, they heard a strange little voice from the hearth, and looking
down they saw a tiny black cricket, who began to sing:
"I'm just a little cricket,
But if you'll let me stay
Within your house this winter
You will not rue the day."
"It is the little cricket that brings you luck," said truthful little
Puss, Junior. And then Jack Sprat began to laugh happily, for up to this
time the pig was the only thing he owned, and that wasn't very much, let
me tell you. Oh, dear, no. Not in these hard times when eggs are worth
their weight in gold and a gallon of milk costs a ton of silver.
Well, by and by, Puss, Junior, once more went on his way, and perhaps
pretty soon he'll find his father, the famous Puss in Boots, unless,
A great big husky giant
Jumps into a trolley car,
And turns the coin box upside down
To see how many nickels there are.