Part 4

"I'm no rooster," replied the little donkey. But he gave a gentle bray, just the same, and then the Good Gray Horse neighed, and after that a little adder crawled out of a hole in the ground and said:

"Gracious me! What's all this noise?" And that only goes to show what a dreadful din it must have been, for adders are deaf, so they tell me.

Well, anyhow, Puss didn't wait any longer, but rode away, and by and by, after a while, he met a funny little man with a sack over his back.

"What have you in your bag?" asked Puss, for he felt sorry for the little old man and meant to give him a lift in case he had a heavy load, you see.

"What's that to you?" asked the little old man, with a scowl. And before you could say "Jack Robinson!" he disappeared inside a stump.

Puss jumped off his Good Gray Horse and peeped in. But he couldn't see anything, only a big black hole. Well, he was just going to turn away when he heard a voice say:

"Mother, I've brought you a bag of gold For the little pink-and-white pig I sold."

So Puss peeped in again, and pretty soon he saw a tiny light way down deep, like the flicker of a candle. And by and by, as his eyes grew used to the darkness, he saw a flight of stairs. Then what do you think he did? Jump into the hollow stump and climb down? That's just what he did, and it wasn't long before he found himself in a little hall opposite a small door with a glass knob inside of which was an electric light, which I suppose had been put there by the little old man in case he got home after twelve at night and his wife had blown out the candle.

All of a sudden the door opened and a little old woman, bent and withered, asked, in a shrill voice:

"How dare you come down to our Hollow Stump hall? I'll cut off your whiskers, tail and all."

"Please, ma'am," said little Puss, Junior, "I won't tell anybody." And I guess he would have climbed up the stairs then and there if he hadn't feared she might cut off his tail when he turned around.

"Let him go, mother," said the little old man. "He would have given me a ride on his horse on my way home had we met sooner." But how he knew that is more than I can tell. "Here, Sir Cat. Take this gold piece and tell neither man nor beast where you got it." And he pushed Puss up the little flight of stairs.

"TICK, TACK, TOO"

ONE day Puss, Junior's, Good Gray Horse lost a shoe.

"Gracious me! I must find a smithy," said Puss, Junior, anxiously. Luckily there was a small village near by, and pretty soon he drew rein in front of a blacksmith shop. But, oh, dear me! there was no one there except a small boy.

Jack Jingle went 'prentice To make a horseshoe; He wasted the iron Till it would not do.

His master came in And began for to rail. Said Jack, "The shoe's spoiled, But 'twill still make a nail."

He tried at the nail, But, chancing to miss, Said, "If it won't make a nail, It shall yet make a hiss."

Then into the water Threw the hot iron, smack, "Hiss!" quoth the iron. "I thought so," said Jack.

"You good for nothing!" cried the blacksmith, coming into the shop, "here's a customer at hand and you have no shoe for his horse."

"How long will it take to make one?" asked Puss, Junior.

"All day and maybe longer," said the smith--"that is, if you depend on that clumsy lad."

"Well, I don't want to depend on him," said Puss, with a grin; "neither do I want to take chances with my good horse."

"Neither shall you, my Lord Cat," replied the smith. "I will see that your horse is well shod, for he is indeed a fine beast."

"He has good legs, has he not?" asked Puss, running his paw down the foreleg of the big gray horse, like a professional horseman.

"He has that," said the blacksmith, "and a fine head, too."

"He's a good roadster," added Puss, seating himself on a three-legged stool while the smith lifted the horse's leg and held it between his knees.

"Yes, he has good feet," said the smith, "and he shall have a fine shoe."

Here a nail, and there a nail, tick, tack, too.

As soon as the shoe was on, Puss, Junior, mounted and rode away. But before he left he turned to Jack and said:

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Tick, tack, too; learn to make a shoe! Some day you may turn out ten If you don't get blue."

LULLABY BABY

MATTHEW, Mark, Luke, and John, Bless the bed I lie upon. Four corners to my bed, Five angels there lie spread; Two at my head, Two at my feet, One at my heart, My soul to keep.

Puss, Junior, looked in at the window. On a little white bed lay a pretty child.

"Now go to sleep, my little one," softly whispered his mother. "Snuggle down and find a little dream--a little dream about woolly lambs and white daisies."

Then she tiptoed from the room, and no sound was heard except her footsteps on the stairs. Just as she looked through the open door she saw Puss slide down the post that held up the roof of the porch.

"Don't worry, madam," he explained, politely. "I climbed up to see if anyone were at home. Nobody answered the doorbell. But when I saw your little boy I kept very, very still so as not to disturb him."

"You are a good cat," she answered, with a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you were quiet."

"I am very tired, madam," said Puss, "for I have journeyed far to-day. Would it be asking too much if I might sleep on your front porch?"

"You may sleep on a big red cushion in the hall," she replied, "and I will also give you a bowl of milk."

"May I put my Good Gray Horse in your barn?"

"Of course," she answered. "You will find plenty of hay and oats for his supper."

The Good Gray Horse followed his small master to the stable and was soon made comfortable for the night. Then Puss locked the stable door and brought the key into the house.

"Hang it up on the nail behind the door," said the mother of the little child. "And take off your boots. They make so much noise on the kitchen floor. I fear they will keep my little one awake."

"I will gladly take them off," said Puss, and he placed them behind the door underneath the big barn key.

"My husband will be home very soon," she said, "but if you are very tired I will give you your supper at once."

"I would like it now," said Puss, with a weary sigh. And when he had finished he jumped upon the big red cushion and was soon fast asleep.

THE FIRE

MY Lady Wind, my Lady Wind, Went round about the house to find A chink to get her foot in; She tried the keyhole in the door, She tried the crevice in the floor, And drove the chimney soot in.

And then one night when it was dark She blew up such a tiny spark That all the house was pothered; From it she raised up such a flame As flamed away to Belting Lane, And White Cross folks were smothered.

Puss, Junior, awoke with a start to find his room filled with smoke. And, oh, dear me! when he opened his door red flames were already crawling up the woodwork.

Running up the stairs two at a time, he pounded on the nursery door and shouted, "Fire! fire!" And then, of course, the baby awoke with a cry.

"Oh, Puss, Junior, what shall I do?" cried the mother, for the cruel flames were now creeping across the hall.

"Don't open the door," he cried. "The hall is a mass of flames. Climb through the window to the roof of the porch. Be quick!" and he jumped through the little hall window and ran across the roof to the nursery. "Come out here!" he shouted. "Be quick, or the flames will be in your room before you can get out."

Just then, all of a sudden, a ladder was placed against the porch, and a kind fireman with a big red helmet on his head held out his arms. "Give me the baby and follow me." Puss held the top of the ladder to steady it until they were safe on the ground and then slid down without touching the rungs.

"Our pretty house will be burned," sobbed the baby's mother.

"And my red-top boots," cried Puss.

"There goes the stable!" shouted the fireman.

"Goodness me!" cried Puss. "I'd better get my Good Gray Horse!"

By this time the hose was connected and soon the engine was pumping water on the flames. But, oh, dear me! it was too late. The pretty little house quickly burned to the ground--only the big red chimney was left. It was hard work to save the stable, but at last the flames were put out.

"We all must sleep in the hay loft," said Puss.

So the Good Gray Horse was led back into his stall. He was the only one who was comfortable that night, I guess.

THE OLD WOMAN'S RIDDLE

"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.

THE COBBLER

"CAN you make me a pair of boots?" asked Puss, Junior, reining in his Good Gray Horse.

The cobbler, who was sitting close to the open window of his little shop, looked up from his bench.

"Will you need two pair?" he asked.

"One pair, my good man," replied Puss, Junior, haughtily. "Do you imagine I wear boots on my front paws?"

"Well, my good Sir Cat," answered the cobbler, "I did not know for certain. I can make two pair as well as one."

"And charge for two pair, I warrant, also," cried Puss, with a grin.

"I can give you fine work," said the cobbler.

"Are you sure?" asked Puss. "My last pair, which was unfortunately burned up in a fire, was made by a royal cobbler."

"I have not made boots for royalty," replied the cobbler, "but I made the shoe in which an old woman lives with so many children that it would take you an hour to count them all. That was some job, let me tell you. One doesn't often live in a shoe, although one may walk in one."

"You don't mean to tell me you made that wonderful shoe?" cried Puss.

"Most certainly, my good Sir Cat."

"Then you shall make me a pair of boots. And, mind you, my good man, they must have red tops."

"That they shall," said the cobbler. "Dismount, and come into my humble shop. I would measure your feet."

"Perhaps you have a pair on hand that will fit me," said Puss, gazing about the tiny shop.

"I will see," replied the cobbler.

"I am in haste," said Puss, as the cobbler looked over his stock. "I am in haste, for I have yet a long journey before me, and cannot delay. I am in search of my illustrious father, Puss in Boots."

"What!" cried the cobbler. "I once made a pair of boots for a cat. Could it have been the noble Puss in Boots?"

"Tell me where he lives," cried Puss, much excited.

"Ah," replied the cobbler, "that I do not know, for it is many years ago since I made the boots. But here is a pair I think will fit you."

"I would rather that you had told me where my father lives," said little Puss, Junior, "than to have found a pair of boots."

"They are certainly a fine fit," said the cobbler, gazing with admiration at Puss, Junior's, feet.

"Yes," answered Puss, "and here is the money. Good-by," and off rode our little hero, still in search of his father, the famous Puss in Boots.

DOCTOR DRAKE

DOCTOR DRAKE kept a shop, Of dimensions not large, In a hole in the haystack By the side of the yard, Where he dispensed certain small stones And one or two gravels, With sundry rare herbs He had found in his travels.

"I hope the good doctor's at home," said Puss, as he reined in his Good Gray Horse. "I don't feel at all well to-day."

So he dismounted and knocked on the front door, and pretty soon the famous duck doctor appeared. He wore a big pair of spectacles and a very high collar, around which was tied a green cravat which matched the feathers of his tail.

"Quack, quack!" said Doctor Drake. "What do you want?"

"I don't know, Doctor," answered Puss, Junior. "I feel far from well; in fact, I think I'm going to be very ill."

"Don't worry," replied Doctor Drake; "that's what we doctors are looking for--sick people. I can cure you, never fear."

"Thank you," said Puss, Junior.

"Don't thank me yet," answered Doctor Drake; "wait till you're cured--then pay me."

"That will I gladly do," replied Puss, Junior; "only make me feel like myself again."

"I think," said Doctor Drake, after looking at Puss, Junior's, tongue, "you had better give up horseback riding; it's bad for you."

"Oh, dear!" sighed poor Puss, Junior. "What shall I do with my Good Gray Horse?"

"Sell him to me," replied Doctor Drake. "I'm in need of a horse. My practice is growing so large I find it difficult to make my calls."

"Yes, I suppose you do," said Puss. "Your feet are not for walking, but for swimming."

"Right you are," assented the doctor. "Of course, some of my patients live in the pond; but, then, again, a lot of them don't. Take these pills." And the famous duck doctor handed Puss, Junior, a little round box. "One every hour; they'll soon fix you up, all right. Now, how much do you want for your horse?"

Puss, Junior, scratched his head. "What will you give?" he asked, tearfully.

"Twenty-five pounds," replied the doctor.

"Very well," said Puss. "The horse is yours. Give me my money and I will journey along on foot, though it goes hard with me to part with my faithful steed." Then, tucking the box of pills in his pocket, Puss proceeded on his journey.

"NO BIGGER THAN MY THUMB"

HAVING traveled so long on horseback, Puss, Junior, found it hard to resume his journey on foot. However, he manfully set out once more. The pills Doctor Drake had given him made him feel quite frisky, and he ran along at a good rate. In fact, he felt that perhaps he might just as well have kept his Good Gray Horse and taken the chance of becoming really ill. But it was too late now; the bargain had been made and he must make the best of it. So on he jogged, whistling a merry tune to help along his tired feet.

By and by he came to a pretty cottage and, entering the front gate, looked in through the window. At a table sat a woman, singing:

"I had a little husband, no bigger than my thumb; I put him in a pint pot, and there I bid him drum. I bought a little horse that galloped up and down; I saddled him and bridled him and sent him out of town. I gave him some garters to garter up his hose, And a little pocket handkerchief to wipe his pretty nose."

"I wish she had given me the little horse," said Puss, with a sigh, "for I certainly miss my good gray steed."

Just then the woman looked up and, seeing Puss at the window, called out, "Come in, little Sir Cat."

Puss, Junior, jumped nimbly through the open window and stood beside her.

"What do you think of my little husband?"

"He certainly is no bigger than your thumb, madam."

"He is a good little man, all the same," she replied, "and when he's astride of his little horse he makes a fine appearance. Wait, and I will show you how well he can ride."

All of a sudden Puss heard the pawing of hoofs, and there stood the prettiest little horse he had ever seen. It was no larger than a play toy, but well built. A long, silky mane fell over his neck, and a curly tail almost reached to the ground. Then, quick as a wink, the little husband jumped out of the pint pot and vaulted nimbly into the saddle.

"Gid-ap," he cried, and away went the little horse down the road.

"Good-by, madam," cried Puss, running after the tiny horseman. But it was impossible to catch up with him, and pretty soon he disappeared in a cloud of dust. "Well, well," cried Puss to himself, "I had no idea that such a tiny steed could run so fast. Will wonders never cease until I have found my dear father, Puss in Boots?"

Then, taking out his pocket handkerchief, he wiped his forehead. "I shall not despair, however," he said, bravely, "for I have a good pair of legs, and all journeys come to an end at last, so I shall keep merrily on my way."

TELL-TALE-TIT

TELL-TALE-TIT! Your tongue shall be slit, And all the dogs in the town Shall have a little bit.

Oh, dear me! This is what was going to happen to the little girl who had told on her brothers. And all the little dogs were standing around, wagging their tails, as Puss, Junior, passed by.

It was a wonder that the dogs didn't rush out and bark at him, but they were so anxious to get a piece of the little girl's tongue that they didn't notice him at all. Perhaps a cat with boots and spurs, a hat and plume, and a trusty sword didn't look like an ordinary cat to them. And neither was our little traveler.

You see, these little boys had gone into an alley to play marbles, on their way to school, and then the little girl had told her father how they had missed their lessons.

"And Jimmy Jones won all the marbles, and there was a fight! And the teacher kept them in after school!"

"Oh me! oh my!" cried Puss, Junior. "Please don't slit her tongue!"

"But why did you tell tales on your brothers?" asked her father.

"Oh, please don't slit her tongue!" cried Puss, Junior, again.

"That's what they did in _Mother Goose_."

"It must have been very long ago in the dark ages," answered Puss, laying hold of his sword.

"Well, it's only a rhyme!" laughed her father, picking up his little girl and hugging her. "Come on, Sir Cat, follow me. You are quite a Knight of the Round Table. If a fair lady be in distress you are her champion!"

Pretty soon all three came to a little house and Puss was invited to come in and play. There was a nice swing under an old apple tree, and soon he was swinging as high as the little girl could push him. All of a sudden he jumped out up among the branches and hung on to a limb, just like a trapeze performer.

"I once was with a circus," he explained, sliding down the rope and turning a somersault on the ground.

Just then the little boys came in the gate and how they did laugh! And Jimmy gave Puss all the marbles which he had won, and his father, who had been sitting on the porch watching the fun, gave Puss a dollar. After that they all went in for lunch and Puss didn't start out on his journey until late in the afternoon.

ON THE WAY

"ON the way, on the way, To see my father, old and gray. Faster still, my good gray steed, Over hill and flowering mead.

"Faster, faster, Good Gray Horse, Hasten swiftly on your course, Till I see the stately towers Where my father spends his hours."

"Urge me not too much!" panted the faithful steed. "I'm doing my best, but these hills have made me short of breath."

Dear me! I forgot to tell you that the Good Gray Horse had run away from the famous Doctor Drake and had caught up to Puss, Junior, just as I commenced this story.

"Forgive me," cried little Puss, Junior. "In my anxiety to see my father I have been selfish." And he slipped a lump of sugar into the mouth of the Good Gray Horse.

Well, after several miles had gone by, Puss drew rein at a drinking trough beside the road, where his faithful steed drank long and deep. And as they rested a while, who should fly by but a busy bumblebee, buzzing from flower to flower.

He was a jolly-looking bee, and presently he said to Puss, "Whither are you bound, my good Sir Cat?"

"To the castle of my Lord of Carabas," replied our little traveler. "I'm seeking my father, who is seneschal to my lord."

"Ah, is that so?" exclaimed the bee. "These are stirring times. I heard only last week that my Lord of Carabas was going to war!"

"What!" exclaimed our small hero, jumping to his feet and clapping his paw to his sword. "I must hurry on!"

"Bravely spoken," answered the bee. "I have seen many soldiers at the castle of late. Indeed, the country is all excitement--flags flying, drums beating, men drilling, women scraping lint. All is bustle and hustle."

"And what brings you so far from there?" inquired Puss, replacing his sword in his scabbard.

"My two good wings," replied the bumblebee, and he laughed as he dove head first into a flower after its dewy sweetness.

"Come, little master," cried the Good Gray Horse. "I am rested. Let us hasten on our journey."

Puss bade good-by to the golden bumblebee and sprang once more into the saddle. And the Good Gray Horse threw out his heels and galloped off toward the castle of my Lord of Carabas, but evening came upon them and they were still far from their destination, so Puss dismounted for the night beneath a grove of trees.

LITTLE BOY BLUE

YOU remember in the last story that Puss and his Good Gray Horse had camped in a grove of trees for the night. Well, just as Puss was about to curl up and take a little trip to dreamland he heard a voice singing:

"Little Boy Blue, Come, leave your toys. It's time to wash hands For little boys.

"Supper is ready, You must not wait. Tuck in your napkin And don't tip your plate.

"Oh, where is Boy Blue? Let's all take a peep. He's there on the sofa, Fast asleep."

Puss opened his eyes and saw a little light twinkling through the trees. So he got up and went toward it to find that it shone from the window of a small cottage. As he knocked on the door he thought, "I may be asked to spend the night, and that will be much more comfortable than lying beneath the trees." And it turned out just as he thought. The pretty woman who opened the door asked him in, saying, softly: