"Whew! Mew!" cried Puss. "Well, here goes. I'll do the best I can, butif I do not return you will know that I turned to the left when I shouldhave turned to the right, and then that I turned to the right when Ishould have turned to the left, and so got all mixed up and never foundthe tiny shop where the beautiful gloves are made." This was a longsentence for Puss, but he was learning how to make conversation afterthe manner of little girls!
But his good gray horse must have remembered the directions, for helanded his small master safe at the glove-shop. Puss, Jr., bought alovely pair of gloves and remounted his horse. Soon he was back again infront of the little gate where a short half-hour before the little girlhad been swinging back and forth. She had disappeared, but he heard hersinging.
"Where are the gloves for Easter Day?" she cried, running out of thedoor of the cottage.
"Here they are, my pretty one," said Puss.
"The rose is red, the violet blue; The gillyflower's sweet, and so are you,"
sang the little girl as she tried them on.
"These are the words you bade me say For a pair of new gloves on Easter Day,
"Aren't they, dear Puss, Junior?" she said, with a smile, looking up athim.
PUSS CONVERSES WITH AN INTELLIGENT GRAY DONKEY
"Donkey, donkey, old and gray, Ope your mouth and gently bray, Lift your ears and blow your horn To wake the world this sleepy morn,"
called Puss, Jr., who always remembered his _Mother Goose_ rhymesperfectly.
The donkey paused in his grazing and looked up. "This sleepy morn," herepeated. "I don't call this a 'sleepy morn.' I should say it was verywide awake."
"I guess it is," admitted Puss, "but, you see, I was only saying alittle rhyme from _Mother Goose_."
"Well, I don't see how it applies to the present situation at all,"replied the donkey, in a rather ungracious manner. "The only thing youhave right is the donkey part."
Puss felt rather crestfallen. To be corrected by a donkey, generallyconsidered one of the stupidest of animals, was not at all to hisliking. Puss evidently forgot for the moment that all _Mother Goose_animals are very intelligent, for otherwise how would they have beencelebrated in rhyme? But, like a wise cat, he took the rebuke meekly andsaid nothing.
"Well," said the donkey, after a pause, "can I do anything else for you,Sir Cat? Granting that it is too late to wake the morn, there may beother requests with which I will gladly comply."
"Gracious me!" thought Puss to himself, "he uses big words."
The donkey cocked up both ears as if awaiting Puss, Jr.'s, reply.
"Which is the shorter road across Mother Goose Land?" inquired Puss.
"I don't know the exact number of miles," replied the donkey,thoughtfully, "but the road to your left is the shorter. The one to yourright leads to the seashore. Gingerbread Bridge is at the ending."
"What!" exclaimed Puss, Jr. "Why, you don't say so!"
"What do you know about Gingerbread Bridge?" asked the donkey.
"I crossed it once, and not so very long ago, either," replied Puss.
"Then you certainly don't want to take Gingerbread Road," replied thedonkey, "so it is not hard to choose which way to go."
"Thank you," said Puss, turning his horse's head down the road to theleft. "I will take the left road because it is the right road!"
"Ha, ha!" brayed the donkey, "that's a good joke for a cat. May you havea pleasant journey!"
"Lift your ears and blow your horn; the sheep's in the meadow, the cows'in the corn!" cried Puss, gaily. "Although the morn is awake, I fear BoyBlue is still asleep."
And with these words our small hero cantered down the road and out ofsight.
PUSS MEETS A HAPPY FARMER BUT MISSES A GOOD MEAL
Toward noon of a fine day Puss, Jr., halted his good gray horse near ameadow. Standing near the fence, sharpening his scythe, stood a youngfarmer. His wide straw hat kept off the sun and his loose shirt and opencollar let in the breeze which was blowing across the green grass.
"Warm day," said Puss, as he drew rein.
"Well," replied the farmer, "it's not so bad. I don't feel it." And hecommenced to sing:
"My maid Mary she minds the dairy, While I go a-hoeing and mowing each morn, Gaily run the reel and the little spinning-wheel, Whilst I am singing and mowing my corn."
"Are farmers always so happy?" asked Puss when the man stopped singing.
The farmer smiled and said: "My good sir, when one is blessed with afine wife and a good farm he can beat a canary-bird at singing."
"You don't say so!" said Puss, Jr. "But suppose one has neither, whatshould such an unlucky one do?"
"Don't ask me," said the farmer, setting to work again. "I'm a simpleman, and what is happiness for me might not be for another."
As he swung his scythe back and forth the tall grass fell in gracefulrows and the sweet scent of the new-mown hay was everywhere. SuddenlyPuss saw a field-mouse scampering over the ground. This was too much forPuss. He had eaten nothing since breakfast, and he had not had a mouseto eat for so long that he had almost forgotten how mice tasted. Jumpingdown from his good gray horse, he gave chase.
"Go it, Sir Cat!" cried the farmer. "Don't lose him."
Puss needed no words of encouragement. He longed for a good run, and hismouth fairly watered at the idea of a nice fat little mouse for lunch.But the field-mouse saw him coming and wasted no time. Away he went,hopping over the grass and looking wildly about for a place in which tohide. A trunk of a fallen tree at no great distance attracted hisattention, and with a final burst of speed he reached it and crawledinto a hole before Puss had the opportunity to seize him by the tail.
"Oh, pshaw!" cried Puss, sitting down on the log. "I surely thought Ihad him."
"You did, eh?" squeaked the little mouse, peering out of his hole andlaughing at poor Puss. "I prefer to be inside this log rather thaninside even so famous a character as Puss in Boots, Junior."
"How do you know my name?" asked Puss, surprised at what he heard.
"Why, I'm one of the three blind mice whose tails the farmer's wife cutoff," said the mouse.
"I thought there was very little tail to you," said Puss, "or else youwent into the hole so fast that it made your tail look very short, for Icouldn't even get a little hold on it."
"Well, having my tail clipped did me some good," said the mouse.
PUSS HELPS A STRANGER CATCH A RUNAWAY PIG
"To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jiggety jig. To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, Home again, home again, jiggety jog. To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, Home again, home again, market is done."
A funny little man came dancing down the road. Before him he drove a fatpig, which squeaked and grunted loudly. To one of its hind legs wasfastened a rope, the other end of which the funny little man heldtightly in his hand.
"To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jiggety jig."
sang the little old man. "How do you like my piggety pig?" he asked,looking up at Puss, Jr., who had stopped his good gray horse to watchthe funny sight.
"He looks like a fine pig," replied Puss.
"TO MARKET, TO MARKET, TO BUY A FAT PIG"]
"Whoa, there, piggety pig!" cried the old man as the pig began tostruggle to get away.
"Look out!" cried Puss. But the warning came too late. The pig hadwriggled his foot out of the noose and went racing down the road.
"Take me up behind you!" cried the little old man. "Then let us followand catch him."
"Jump up! Quick about it!" cried Puss, Jr.
In a moment the little old man was on the good gray horse, whoimmediately set off at a gallop to overtake the piggety pig. It was along race, for he had a good head start and terror lent wings to hisfeet.
"Git up!" cried Puss, digging his heels into the sides of the good grayhorse. "Git up! Don't you see the pig is getting away from us?"
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"Neigh, neigh!" cried the good gray horse as he gave a spring forward.
"Then go faster!" screamed the little old man.
"Gid ap!" yelled Puss, Jr. At this the horse with leaps and bounds camecloser and closer to the fleeing pig.
"I've got the rope!" cried the little old man.
"Make a big noose at one end," said Puss, "and as we draw near throw itover his head."
"That I will," answered the little old man. "When I was young I was acowboy. I hope I've not forgotten how to swing a lariat."
As good luck would have it, he had not. All at once the little old manswung the rope in the air and the noose fell over the pig's head.
"I've got him! I've got him!" cried the old man, and Puss, Jr., pulledin his horse. The race was over and the old man, jumping down to theground, thanked Puss again and again for his assistance.
PUSS HELPS A LITTLE BOY WHO IS IN TROUBLE
The town of Banbury Cross was very pretty, situated at the corner of twocross-roads, close to a sparkling river over which ran a bridge. AsPuss, Jr., on his good gray horse, whose feet went rackety-rackety,rackety-tak over the broad planking, drew rein at the farther end asmall boy, who stood by the side of a pretty little pony, began to sing:
"I had a little pony, His name was Dapple-gray, I lent him to a lady To ride a mile away. She whipped him, she lashed him, She rode him through the mire; I would not lend my pony now, For all the lady's hire."
"Neither would I," said Puss.
The little boy opened his eyes very wide. They were blue as the skiesoverhead and were full of tears. "She whipped him, she lashed him,"continued the boy. "I'll never again lend my pony to anybody."
"I wouldn't lend my good gray horse," said Puss, "for one never knowswhether a person is kind to animals or not."
"I never thought a lady would hurt my pony," sobbed the boy. "Just lookat him. He's all covered with mud."
"So he is," said Puss, consolingly; "but never mind. A good washing willfix him up."
"But my father will be angry," said the boy. "He doesn't like to wash mypony, and I'm too little."
"Let's take your pony down to the riverbank," Puss suggested. "We'llfind a shallow spot and wash him off. Perhaps we can ride him a littleway into the water; that would help." Tying his good gray horse to apost near by, Puss led the pony down the bank to the river, the littleboy following.
"Do you want to ride him in," asked Puss, "or shall I?"
"You do it," said the little boy. "I'm afraid."
So Puss jumped on the pony's back and gently urged him into the river.After going out some distance he stopped, for the water was almost up tohis boots. "I guess I can wash him now," cried Puss, and, leaning over,first on one side and then on the other, he splashed up the water andscrubbed off the mud and dirt until the pony was as clean as a whistle.
"Now," exclaimed Puss, "he looks like himself again." The pony seemedquite relieved also, for after gaining the bank he neighed and kicked uphis heels in a delighted manner.
"He looks better than ever," said the little boy. "He was really quitedusty before I lent him to the lady."
"Yes, he's in fine shape," said Puss. "I must now leave you, for I am ona long journey."
"Thank you," said the boy. "A pleasant journey to you, my good Sir Cat."
* * * * *
How our little hero, Puss in Boots, Jr., at last finds his famousfather, Puss in Boots, at the castle of my Lord of Carabas, will be toldin _Further Adventures of Puss in Boots, Jr._
THE END
_Little Tom Thumb with his tiny spear Follows Puss Boots both far and near. Did you ever see such a brave little cat, With a shiny sword and a feathered hat?_
_"Faster, faster, Good Gray Horse, Hasten swiftly on your course, 'Till I see the stately towers Where my father spends his hours."_
_"Grandmother Goose your trusty broom Makes spick and span each cottage room," Said little Puss Boots, doffing his hat, For he was a most polite little cat._
_This funny gnome is puzzled quite Why little Puss Junior is so polite. But Puss has manners very grand I would have everyone understand._
THE PUSS-IN-BOOTS, Jr. SERIES
By DAVID CORY
Author of "The Little Jack Rabbit Stories" and "Little Journeys toHappyland"
Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. Each Volume Complete inItself.
To know Puss Junior once is to love him forever. That's the way all thelittle people feel about this young, adventurous cat, son of a veryfamous father.
THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR. FURTHER ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, Jr. PUSS-IN-BOOTS, Jr. IN FAIRYLAND TRAVELS OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR. PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND OLD MOTHER GOOSE PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., IN NEW MOTHER GOOSE LAND PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND THE GOOD GRAY HORSE PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND TOM THUMB PUSS-IN-BOOTS, Jr., AND ROBINSON CRUSOE PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND THE MAN IN THE MOON
Little Jack Rabbit Books
(Trademark Registered)
By DAVID CORY
Author of "Little Journeys to Happyland"
Colored Wrappers With Text Illustrations.
A new and unique series about the furred and feathered little people ofthe wood and meadow.
Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack Rabbit, and theclever way in which he escapes from his three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr.Wicked Wolf and Hungry Hawk will delight the youngsters.
LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND OLD MAN WEASEL LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MR. WICKED WOLF LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND HUNGRY HAWK LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE POLICEMAN DOG LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MISS MOUSIE LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE LUCKY LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE YELLOW DOG TRAMP
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND
By DAVID CORY
Profusely Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers.
Printed in large type--easy to read. For children from 6 to 8 years.
A new series of exciting adventures by the author of the LITTLE JACKRABBIT books. This series is unique in that it deals with unusual andexciting adventures on land and sea and in the air.
THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK
This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day Mr. Noah invitesMarjorie to go for a trip in Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in timeand away it floats out into the big wide world.
THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE
The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which he blows a wonderfulbubble and taking Ed. with him they both have a delightful time inGnomeland.
THE ICEBERG EXPRESS
The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into a mermaid. ThePolar Bear Porter on the Iceberg Express invites her to take a trip withhim and away they go.
THE WIND WAGON
Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and started on a journey tomany wonderful places and had a delightful time.
THE MAGIC UMBRELLA
A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella which took him toHappyland, where he had many adventures.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS SERIES
By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. For Children 6 to 12Years
This series presents early American history in a manner that impressesthe young readers. Because of George and Martha Washington Parke, twoyoung descendants of the famous General Washington, these stories followexactly the life of the great American, by means of playing they act thelife of the Washingtons, both in battles and in society.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS
Their thrilling battles and e
xpeditions generally end in "punishment"lessons read by Mrs. Parke from the "Life of Washington." The culpritslisten intently, for this reading generally gives them new ideas forfurther games of Indian warfare and Colonists' battles.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS RELATIVES
The Davis children visit the Parke home and join zealously in the gamesof playing General Washington. So zealously, in fact, that little Jimalmost loses his scalp.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' TRAVELS
The children wage a fierce battle upon the roof of a hotel in New YorkCity. Then, visiting the Davis home in Philadelphia, the patrioticWashingtons vanquish the Hessians on a battle-field in the empty lotback of the Davis property.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS AT SCHOOL
After the school-house battle the Washingtons discover a band of gypsiescamping near the back road to their homes and incidentally they securethe stolen horse which the gypsies had taken from the "butter and eggfarmer" of the Parkes.
THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' HOLIDAYS
They spend a pleasant summer on two adjoining farms in Vermont. Duringthe voyage they try to capture a "frigate" but little Jim is caught andabout to be punished by the Captain when his confederates hasten in andsave him.
THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES