Puss, Jr., almost felt like crying. "Did you ever hear of Puss inBoots?" he asked.
"Certainly," replied all three fiddlers at once, "but he doesn't livehere. No cats do. We make all the noise in this castle. You don't thinkfor a moment Old King Cole could stand any more noise, do you?"
"My father wouldn't make any noise," replied Puss, Jr., indignantly.
"I never heard of a cat that didn't," said one of the fiddlers.
"All cats make an awful noise at night," said another.
"They meow and cry like everything on the back fence," said the thirdfiddler. "They make more noise than a fiddle, and a worse noise than afiddle out of tune."
"I don't like you," said Puss. "People who don't like cats are not to betrusted."
"Ha, ha!" laughed all three fiddlers, "you're jealous of us!"
"Not the least," replied Puss, stoutly. "I'm not jealous at all. I'mjust indignant that you should make such a remark about my family."
"No harm meant," said the three fiddlers, "no harm meant, my good SirCat."
"Very well, we won't argue the matter," said Puss, "for a traveler hasno time to argue if he would reach his journey's end. Time is precious,and I must be on my way. Only let me tell you, I have heard many afiddle that made a worse noise than a cat," and with this parting remarkour little hero continued on his way.
THE MILLER OF THE DEE
"What a lovely old mill!" thought Puss, Jr. "Is that your 'hush-a-bybaby upon the tree-top'?" he asked the miller on entering the old mill.
"No, sir-ee!" answered the jolly miller, with a jolly laugh. "Haven'tyou ever heard the song about me? This is the way it goes:
"There was a jolly miller once Lived on the River Dee; He worked and sang from morn till night, No lark so blithe as he.
"And this the burden of his song Forever used to be: 'I care for nobody! No, not I! And nobody cares for me!'"
"Doesn't anybody care for you?" asked Puss. "It seems strange, for youare so jolly."
"AREN'T WE GREAT FRIENDS?" ASKED THE MILLER]
"Well," answered the miller, "you see, it's this way: I am here allalone all day; there's no room in the mill except for me and the sacksof corn. It all belongs to me, even the old willow-tree. I let a littlewoman who lives quite near here hang the cradle on the limb everymorning. As she goes to work in the village, she puts her baby in thecradle and the wind rocks it to sleep until she comes back at noon. Thenshe goes away again and comes back at evening and takes the cradle homewith her. The baby is very good; that is, it has been so far; but youcan never tell how long a baby will be good."
"That's true of every one," said Puss, with much gravity.
"If it ever starts crying--that is, a long crying spell, she'll have toget another willow-tree or another baby. I can't be bothered with acrying baby so close at hand."
"But you haven't answered my question yet," said Puss.
"Oh," replied the miller. "You mean because I care for nobody and nobodycares for me."
"Yes; I don't quite understand it."
"Come inside and I'll explain it to you," said the miller.
Puss walked inside and sat down on a bag of flour. "All I do is to grindcorn for people," continued the miller, sitting down on a dusty stool."They bring their corn in to be ground and then they leave. When theycome back the corn is ready for them,--that is, the flour. They take itaway and I'm left all alone. So what do I do? Well, I make friends witha little mouse and a big rat that live in the old mill." As he spokethe little mouse ran out of her hole and sat down by the miller. "We aregreat friends, aren't we, mousie?" he said.
The little mouse squeaked, "Yes, Mr. Miller."
Then the big rat came out and sat down by the miller, only on the otherside.
"Aren't we great friends?" asked the miller.
The rat said, "You are the best friend I have." At which the millersmiled and Puss grinned.
"Animals make good friends," said the miller.
"Yes, indeed," replied Puss, "but rats and mice are so destructive. Theyeat your corn."
"Not much," said the miller; "only a little bit."
"We only eat what we need," said the mouse and the rat in chorus.
PUSS, JR., RENDERS A MOTHER AID
Puss, Jr., was very much interested in the jolly miller and his twosmall friends, the rat and the mouse. It seemed strange to Puss that amiller should have two such friends as these. But when he thought itover he saw there was much reason to the miller's words.
At the time the miller was talking the mouse and the rat kept a closewatch on Puss, Jr. They knew from experience, most likely, that cats arenot millers, and although Puss, Jr., with his boots and cap, his clothesand staff, did not resemble an ordinary cat, at the same time he was acat. So the rat and the mouse kept at a safe distance.
"Tell your little friends," said Puss to the jolly miller, "that I won'thurt a hair of them."
"Mousie," said the miller, leaning over and patting the little mouse,"Sir Cat says he will not harm a hair of your tiny head."
"That's very kind of him," replied the little mouse in a squeaky voice.
The rat made the same answer when the miller patted him.
Just then the mother of the baby who was in the cradle on the tree-topcame by. She smiled at the miller, who took off his rusty, dusty cap."There she goes," he said to Puss. "She's going to take the cradle downnow. She'll take 'cradle, and baby, and all' home with her."
Puss stepped to the doorway to watch her. First she stood on tiptoe andlooked into the cradle. Then she smiled and leaned over and kissed thebaby, who began to crow and clap his hands. After she had kissed himmany times she lifted him out of the cradle and danced him up and downon her knee. As she danced him gently up and down, she sang:
"Down in the village, all the day long, Mother's been singing a sweet little song; Just to herself she's been singing all day, While baby's been rocking and rocking away: 'Hush-a-by, baby, upon the tree-top, Mother is watching the tick-tocky clock; Counting the minutes go by until she Will be taking her baby boy down from the tree.'"
Then she laid the baby over her shoulder and, picking up the cradle,started off for home.
"Let me carry the cradle for you," said Puss, Jr., running out of themill.
"That would be a great help," she replied, "for baby is getting veryheavy, and mother has been working hard all day."
So Puss put the cradle on his shoulder and, bowing to the miller,followed after her, while the baby kicked and crowed and tried to reachdown and pull his whiskers. And Puss tickled the baby's hand and winkedat the baby, who gurgled and laughed and tried to pull the feather outof Puss, Jr.'s, cap. And the little mother forgot all about her ownweariness, for baby lay so warm against her neck and his laugh tinkledso sweetly in her ear!
THE MILKMAN'S HORSE, OLD NAGGETTY NOGG
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! Over the hills, and over the bog.
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! Many a mile this day I've trod.
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! I'm the milkman's horse, old Naggetty Nogg."
"Are you really?" exclaimed Puss, Jr., looking up into the face of theold white horse. "And is your name 'Naggetty Nogg'?"
"Yes, that's my name," replied the old horse. "You see, every horse is anag. So in some way or another they got to calling me 'Naggetty,' andthen, after a while, they added on the 'Nogg.'"
"Yes, every one has at least two names," replied Puss, "and it isnatural that you should have two, just like everybody. I like the name'Naggetty Nogg' very much. It's quite fine."
"It sounds 'horsy' all right," he answered, giving his tail a sweep tobrush off some flies that had settled on his side. "It sounds realhorsy."
"And it fits you perfectly," said Puss. "You couldn't have chosen abetter name."
"But I didn't choose it," replied the old horse, quickly; "it was givento me. You see, my master and I start out early every morning.
First wego to the farm to get the milk. It's so early in the morning that it'squite dark sometimes--that is, in the winter-time. The farmer comes outand opens the milk-house door with his key. The milk is all kept ingreat big pans in long rows. It's very cool inside, for the milk-houseis built over a spring that bubbles away all the time, running out ofthe old stone milk-house down to the meadows, where the cows drink itand the little fish swim in it. I know, because one time when my rightforefoot was hurt they put me out in the meadow and many a good drinkI've had from that same little brook. The bottom is all bright littlestones, and the ferns hang over the edge of the bank, and the littlebirds hop down and drink. Oh, it's very pleasant out there in themeadow. I sometimes wish my old foot would go lame again so that I mightenjoy the green grass and the cool breezes. But that wouldn't do at all.My master would lose money. He would have to hire another horse. Andthen, too, I would miss the mothers who come out to get the nice freshmilk from my master. Sometimes they have a baby in their arms and twoor three small children hanging on to their skirts. And they always patmy nose and say:
"'How is old Naggetty Nogg to-day?' Sometimes I get a lump of sugar,too."
"You make me wish that I could drive a milk-wagon," said Puss, Jr.,with a sigh. "I'd like to be a milkman if I had a Naggetty Nogg todrive."
WHO IS A MAN'S MOST FAITHFUL FRIEND?
"What is your master's name?" asked Puss, Jr., as the old whitemilk-horse paused in his story.
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! My master's name is Roundey K. Rogg.
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! He's a good man; he drinks no grog.
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! Never does he old Naggetty flog."
"That's a blessing," said Puss, Jr. "I've seen so many poor horseswhipped. It's a shame that a man can hurt a horse."
"Yes, a horse is a man's most faithful friend," replied old Naggetty."He works for him all the time."
"Don't you get tired?" asked Puss.
"No-o-o," replied the old horse, "not very tired. You see, when we startout we have the cans full. So we go very slowly so as not to churn themilk or spill it. If we went too fast the tops of the cans might flyoff. Then on our way home, when all the milk has been delivered and allthe hungry little children have had all they can drink, we come along ata good clip. The cans bump and make a most cheerful noise. And everystep is nearer home, where my supper of oats is waiting for me, and mygood master's supper is waiting for him."
"I'd like to climb up into your wagon and go home with you," said Puss."Do you suppose your master would object?"
"You can ask him," replied the old horse. "But you mustn't climb upuntil you do."
"Certainly not," replied Puss, indignantly. "I wouldn't take such aliberty. Tell me more about him." The old horse whisked his tail andcommenced:
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! I'll bear him safe through all this fog.
"Jockety jog, jockety jog! How the darkness this way doth clog."
The old horse paused. "I was thinking of a dark night some time ago. Themoon was hidden behind the clouds and not a star was to be seen. We hadgone a long ways out of our usual track, for my master had heard of apoor woman who had a sick baby, and he said he must take her some freshmilk. When we started back for home it was already pretty dark, but Iknew the road. My master left it all to me. He just let the reins hangdown over the dashboard and gave me my head. So I kept along, takinggood care not to stumble. The tin cans bumped and banged together andthe wheels creaked over the rough places. Master began to sing hisfavorite song:
"Place the little candle-light In the window clear and bright. Tho' the night be dim and dark I shall see its tiny spark."
PUSS BUYS A PAIR OF BOOTS MADE FOR HIS FAMOUS SIRE
Solomon Grundy, Born on a Monday, Christened on Tuesday, Married on Wednesday, Took ill on Thursday, Worse on Friday, Died on Saturday, Buried on Sunday. This is the end of Solomon Grundy.
Puss, Jr., stood before a little shop. In the window was this sign. "Toobad," said Puss to himself; "he had such a nice little store."
"He did that!" cried a voice. Puss looked up and saw a little old woman.On her head was a queer green bonnet and over her shoulders hung a fadedred shawl. "Are you Mrs. Grundy?" asked Puss. For some reason he feltsure it was, so he was not at all surprised when she answered yes.
"And do you still run the little shop?" he asked.
"Yes, my good Sir Cat," she replied, "and I have a very fine pair ofred-topped boots which I would like to sell you."
"I guess I need a new pair," said Puss, Jr., looking down at his own.There was a big hole in the toe of one and the other was minus a heel.
"Walk in," said little old Mrs. Grundy, "and you may try them on." Pussfollowed her into the store and sat down. Mrs. Grundy climbed up alittle step-ladder and took down a box from the top shelf. "This pair ofboots," she said, "was made once upon a time, very long ago, for a veryfamous cat whose name was Puss in Boots."
At these words Puss, Jr., jumped off his seat and threw his paws aroundMrs. Grundy.
"Gracious me!" she cried, "what are you doing?"
"Oh, my dear madam," cried Puss, "the famous cat you mention is myfather--I am Puss in Boots, Junior."
"Is that possible?" exclaimed Mrs. Grundy, letting the box fall with abang to the floor. "Is that possible? I'm so glad that I saved theseboots all these years. And to think that his son will wear them," sheadded, sitting down in her excitement.
"But I don't care much about the boots!" cried Puss, Jr. "I want sobadly to find my father. Can't you tell me where he lives?"
Mrs. Grundy looked puzzled. "I did know, my little friend," she replied,"but I have clean forgotten now. Indeed I have," she added, in asympathetic voice, seeing how disappointed poor little Puss looked.
"Just the same, I will pay you well for the boots," said Puss, Jr., "andbe on my way at once. One never can tell what each day may bring, and Imight find my father, although it grieves me to think you have forgottenjust where he lives."
PUSS MEETS A MODEST MENDING MAN AND A JOLLY MILLER
"If I'd as much money as I could spend I never would cry old chairs to mend; Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend, I never would cry old chairs to mend.
"If I'd as much money as I could tell, I never would cry old clothes to sell; Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell, I never would cry old clothes to sell."
"Well, what would you do?" asked Puss, Jr., coming up to the funnylittle man who was singing this song as he journeyed along over theroadway down the hill, across the bridge to the creaking mill.
"I'd buy a little house and a little cow and a little pig, and I'd liveall the days of my life as happy as could be," replied the funny littleman.
"That wouldn't take such an awful lot of money," replied Puss. "You saidin your song if you had 'as much money as you could spend.' I shouldthink that would mean a big castle and a big automobile and a big yacht,and, and--"
"I couldn't spend more than a little, for I've never had much practicein spending," answered the funny little man.
Before Puss could make reply they crossed the bridge and foundthemselves opposite the old mill. In the doorway stood the miller allcovered with flour. His hat was dusty, too; even his hair and eyelasheswere white with the dusty flour.
"Any old chairs to mend?" asked the funny little man.
"I have a stool here that has lost a leg," replied the miller, "and anold clock that has lost a hand, and my wife has a pitcher that has losta mouth and a needle that has no eye. Can you mend them all?"
"You'd better call in the doctor," said the funny little man; "he's theperson you want."
"Ha, ha!" roared the miller, "I was only joking."
"So was I," answered the little man. "Give me the stool. I will healthat patient first, then will see about the others."
The miller presently brought out the injured stool, and while it wasbeing mended he and
Puss, Jr., had a talk.
"IF I'D AS MUCH MONEY AS I COULD SPEND"]
"Yes," said the miller as Puss seated himself on a sack of flour, "I'm abusy man. It's grind, grind all day long. Red corn and yellow corn andwhite corn from the cribs of the farmers. From the fields to my mill,and then from here to the baker or the kitchen, and then into cakes forlittle children. The big wheel goes round and round all day long and thewater splashes and gurgles as it turns it. And then I tie up the sacksafter they are well filled, and then the wagon comes and takes themaway. Every day the same thing, year in and year out."
"It's nice and cool," said Puss, "and the flour smells sweet, and it'shome, you know. I'm a little tired with my long journey and wish I couldfind my dear father."
"Cheer up," said the miller. "You'll find him soon, I'm sure of that."
PUSS OVERHEARS A PROPOSAL AND IS INVITED TO A WEDDING
It was a merry time, When Jenny Wren was young, So neatly as she danced, And so sweetly as she sung--
Robin Redbreast lost his heart; He was a gallant bird; He doffed his hat to Jenny, And thus to her he said:
"My dearest Jenny Wren, If you will but be mine, You shall dine on cherry pie, And drink nice currant wine."
"I'll dress you like a goldfinch, Or like a peacock gay; So if you'll have me, Jenny, Let us appoint the day."
While on his journey Puss, Jr., paused to listen to this sweet song. Ona branch above him sat Robin Redbreast. With his hat held in one claw hebowed most beautifully to a little wren that sat on a limb just belowhim. "I'll dress you like a goldfinch," repeated Robin, swinging hisbeautiful green hat with its long black feather up and down in thebreeze.