Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse, page 1
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Title: Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse
Author: David Cory
Release Date: June 24, 2010 [eBook #32964]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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* * *
* * *
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., AND
THE GOOD GRAY HORSE
* * *
THE GOOD GRAY HORSE RUNS AWAY WITH PUSS JUNIOR AND THE LITTLE OLD MAN.
Puss-in-Boots Jr. and the Good Gray Horse. Frontispiece.
* * *
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR.
AND THE GOOD GRAY
HORSE
BY
DAVID CORY
AUTHOR OF
LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS,
LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND,
PUSS IN BOOTS BOOKS, Etc.
PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
Made in the United States of America
* * *
Copyright, 1921, by Harper & Brothers
Printed in the United States of America
G-V
* * *
CONTENTS
PAGE
The Magic Wings 1
The Hold-up 6
Willow Tree Inn 9
The Robber Fairies 12
Bicycle Puss 15
Puss Recovers His Steed 18
Georgy Porgy 21
A Jolly Gallop 23
The Runaway 26
Humpty-bumpty 29
The Haymow 32
Chauffeur Taffy 35
Three Little Kittens 37
Mr. Rat 40
A Big Tumble 43
Hungry Kittens 46
Kittens Wash Mittens 49
Pie for Mrs. Mouse 52
Sing a Song of Sixpence 54
Doctor Foster 57
A Miscount 60
Plum Pudding Story 64
"One I Love, Two I Love" 67
Little Jenny Wren 69
The Mischievous Raven 71
Candy Town 73
The Bramble-bush Man 76
Daffy-down-dilly 78
"Donkey, Donkey, Old and Gray" 81
"Tick, Tack, Too" 84
Lullaby Baby 87
The Fire 90
The Old Woman's Riddle 93
The Cobbler 95
Doctor Drake 98
"No Bigger than My Thumb" 101
Tell-tale-tit 104
On the Way 106
Little Boy Blue 109
Alphabet Town 112
Lucy Locket 114
Tom, the Piper's Son 117
Old Dame Trot 119
Bobby Shafto 121
Little Robin Redbreast 124
The Elf Child 127
* * *
PUSS IN BOOTS, JR., AND
THE GOOD GRAY HORSE
* * *
THE MAGIC WINGS
ONE morning as little Puss, Junior, on his Good Gray Horse rode through Mother Goose country he saw a spider sitting in her tiny lace house. She kept very still, for the early dewdrops still clung to the delicate web. And as the sun shone down they looked for all the world like diamonds on a piece of lace. So little Puss, Junior, stretched out his paw and, would you believe it, instead of a drop of water he picked off a real diamond.
"Ha, ha!" cried the little black spider. "The witch's feather in your hat has changed the dewdrop into a diamond. But I have no use for precious stones, so you may have it. The flies that come to my net are more to my liking." And then she tied the strings of her little black bonnet and put on her black silk mitts and waited for a fly to make a call.
Well, after putting the diamond in his pocket, Puss rode away, and by and by, after a while he came to a steep hill. And, oh, dear me! it was a dreadfully steep hill, for Puss had missed his way and there was no path or road for him to follow. And while he waited, not knowing what to do, he heard a little voice say:
"If I bring four wings to you
To fasten on your horse's shoe
Will you give me for my locket
The sparkling diamond in your pocket?"
"How do I know my Good Gray Horse can fly with these wings?" asked Puss.
"He may try them first," said the voice, and out from behind a stump jumped a little dwarf, dressed in green, with a red turban on his head. Quick as a wink he fastened a wing to each foot of the Good Gray Horse. And then he clicked his tongue against his teeth and away went the Good Gray Horse up in the air like a great bird.
"Hold on!" shouted the dwarf. "Don't forget to give me the diamond," and he held out his little hat for Puss to drop it in as the Good Gray Horse sailed away on his winged feet over the mountain.
Well, as soon as he crossed the top of the great high mountain he came down to earth and, strange to say, as soon as he touched the ground the wings on his feet changed into long, silky hairs, and, but for these, he was just the same as he was before meeting the dwarf.
"Come, little master, since I have lost my wings, to yonder inn. I am hungry for oats." So Puss rode forward and, after leaving him in the stable, sat down in the inn and waited for his dinner. Pretty soon a little bird settled on the window sill and sang:
"From my snug little nest in the old apple tree,
All covered with blossoms so fair,
I never have seen, though I'm over thirteen,
A horse that could fly thro' the air."
Just then the innkeeper's wife came in, and when she saw the little bird on the window sill close to Puss, Junior, she cried, "Time for little birds to be in their nests." So the little bird flew away, and as soon as Puss had eaten his dinner he again mounted his Good Gray Horse. After a while he met an old man and a little dog. The little dog was carrying a basket in his mouth and the little old man a big pipe, from which the smoke curled up in the shape of a bird. All of a sudden he gave a puff and, would you believe it, a glossy gray pigeon flew away.
Pretty soon the smoke again curled up from the pipe into the form of a pigeon, and then, just as before, the little old man gave a puff, and away flew a pigeon, only this time it was grayish blue.
I don't know how long this would have gone on if the little old man had not suddenly turned around.
"You have a wonderful pipe," said little Puss, Junior. "I've never seen one like it."
"There are lots of strange things in Mother Goose Land," answered the little old man. "If you are a traveler, as I think you are, you will meet with many strange adventures."
Then with a bow he turned in at the gate of a little pink-and-blue cottage, at the rear of which stood a pigeon house on top of a tall pole. As Puss turned around for a last look, again the smoke from the little old man's pipe changed into a pigeon, which flew straight toward the little pigeon house.
Well, after that Puss rode along for some time, and by and by the moon came out and dimly lighted the road, which now led through a forest. It was very quiet, except for the tooting of an owl or the cry of a tree toad.
Little Puss commenced to whistle when, all of a sudden, the Good Gray Horse jumped to the side of the road, and there, right in front of him, stood a tiny fairy, dressed in green. "Halt, Sir Cat!" he cried, waving his silver wand.
* * *
THE HOLD-UP
"OH, who is so merry, so merry, heigh ho!
As the light-hearted fairy, heigh ho, heigh ho!"
As soon as the little fairy I mentioned in the last story finished his song Puss, Junior's, Good Gray Horse stood up on his hind legs, for he wasn't used to these little people of the forest, you see.
"Whoa, my good steed," cried Puss. "Don't you see it's only a little fairy?"
"Only a little fairy!" cried the forest fay. "I would have you understand, Sir Cat, that I have at my command a million subjects. I have but to sound a call upon my silver horn and they will surround you."
"Bah!" cried Puss, scornfully. "I have no fear of such tiny things."
But, oh, dear me! no sooner had he said this than the fairy blew a shrill blast upon his silver horn, and from all directions came thousands of little fairies on moth millers and fireflies. And, oh, dear me! again, before Puss knew what was going to happen they stretched tiny ropes about his Good Gray Horse and bound his legs fast, and after that they tied Puss to the saddle.
"Ha, ha!" laughed the little fairy. "Now, my good Sir Cat, will you believe that fairies have power?"
"Gid-ap!" cried Puss, but his good gray steed could move neither head nor foot. "Gid-ap!" he cried again; but his Good Gray Horse could move neither ears nor tail.
"Gracious me!" exclaimed Puss. "I'm in a pretty mess!" And then the fairies began to sing:
"Pride must ever have a fall.
Ne'er despise the weak and small.
Shall pass safely through this wood."
"I don't see how that applies to me," cried Puss, stoutly. "I may have been a trifle rude, but I maintain I'm brave and good."
Well, just then, all of a sudden, a big kind-hearted owl flew down from his nest in a tree and cut all the fairy ropes with a big pair of scissors. And then he gave a great hoot, which so frightened the fairies that they flew away, helter skelter, into the depths of the forest.
"You have been very kind to me," said Puss. "How shall I repay you?"
"Forget it," said the owl, taking off his gold-rimmed spectacles and wiping his left eye with a yellow silk handkerchief. "If you would get safely out of this forest,
"Follow the path, the moon is still bright.
Take the first turn—the one to the right.
The Willow Tree Inn you'll find in due course,
Where you'll find shelter for you and your horse."
"Thank you," said Puss. "If your directions are as good as your rhyme I shall have no trouble in finding the place."
* * *
WILLOW TREE INN
THE moonlight shone brightly on the sign of the Willow Tree Inn as Puss reached up for the big brass knocker. But he wasn't tall enough, so he stood on an empty flower pot and rapped twice on the door.
"Who's there?" asked the innkeeper, poking his head out of the window.
"Puss in Boots, Junior."
"Very well, Master Boots," said the innkeeper. "Rest on the porch till I put on my boots." And pretty soon the door opened and the sleepy innkeeper appeared with a lighted candle in his hand. "Ah, you have a horse," he said. "Come, I will show you the way to the stable."
"Bad luck," cried the innkeeper, as a gust of wind blew out the candle. "The moon is behind a cloud. 'Tis dark. Can you make your way?"
"Never fear," replied Puss. "A cat can see in the dark."
But, goodness me! just as they reached the barn a bat knocked off Puss, Junior's, hat.
"Bat, bat, come under my hat
And I'll give you a slice of bacon,
And when I bake I'll give you a cake,
If I am not mistaken,"
cried the innkeeper.
"That sounds mighty good to me," said Puss, Junior. "I've had no supper yet, and it's nearly morning."
"So it is," answered the innkeeper. "Well, we'll give your Good Gray Horse a mess of oats and some hay. After that we'll go back to the inn and cook a slice of bacon."
"And when you bake please give me a cake, or I'll be much disappointed," cried Puss.
"I'd rather give it to you than to that old bat," said the innkeeper, closing the stable door and pushing in the bolt. "Of course, he catches lots of mice, but at the same time I don't like him."
"So you like me better?" said Puss.
"Well, we'll wait and see," said the innkeeper. "In the meantime, come in." And he opened the door and led Puss into the kitchen.
* * *
THE ROBBER FAIRIES
"COCKS crow in the morn
To tell us to rise,
And he who lies late
Will never be wise;
"For early to bed
And early to rise
Is the way to be healthy
And wealthy and wise."
"Well, I haven't been to bed at all," said Puss. "I was held up in the forest."
"What!" exclaimed the innkeeper. "I had no idea there were robbers about."
"There were no robbers, my good host," said Puss. "You would hardly believe me if I were to relate what actually happened."
"Tell me," said the innkeeper, "while I fry the bacon."
So Puss explained how the fairies had made him captive, although he feared that the good man would doubt the truth of the story. But, instead, the innkeeper said:
"'Tis not the first time, my good Sir Cat, that I have heard of travelers being held up in yonder woods by the fairies. Indeed, they take a mischievous pleasure in waylaying us mortals after sundown."
"Indeed!" said Puss. "Hereafter I shall take great pains to avoid the forest after dark. I had a narrow escape."
Well, pretty soon the innkeeper placed the food upon the table and he and Puss sat down to eat. But, oh, dear me! they had hardly commenced when they heard a great commotion in the barnyard. Puss rushed to the door just in time to see his Good Gray Horse gallop out of the stable yard with more than a hundred fairies on his back, who drove sharp little thorns into his sides and blew tiny horns in his ears.
"Whoa!" screamed Puss, rushing out-of-doors. The Good Gray Horse, terrified by the cries of the fairies as well as excited by the stings and blows, paid no attention to the voice of his small master, but dashed out upon the highway, and in a few minutes disappeared down the hill.
"What shall I do?" cried Puss, in dismay.
* * *
BICYCLE PUSS
"IF I had a horse in the stable I'd lend him to you," said the kind-hearted innkeeper.
"Have you an automobile?" asked Puss.
"Not yet," replied the innkeeper. "But I have a bicycle which I will lend you."
It took Puss but a moment to mount, and then off he went to catch his Good Gray Horse, who, you remember in the last story, had been stolen by the fairies.
But, oh, dear me! although it was early morning it seemed as if everybody was up and out for a walk. First, an old rooster stood right in the middle of the road and crowed:
"Cock-a-doodle do,
Your horse has lost a shoe."
"Where is it?" asked Puss, stopping as quickly as he could, while the good-natured rooster hopped into the long grass and picked it up.
"Thank you," said Puss, hanging the shoe over his handlebar and setting off once more.
But, oh, dear me! again, he had gone but a short distance when a curly-tailed pig got right in his way, and of course Puss had to slow up.
"If you're looking for a runaway horse, you'd better take the lane to your right," said the pig, with a grunt and a twist of his curly tail.
So Puss set off again. But, oh, dear me! for the third time, just in front of him was a big, fat cow who had to walk very carefully not to touch the fence rails on either side of her. Puss rang his bell, but she paid no attention to him whatever. She kept right on, swinging her tail from side to side to brush off the flies. And maybe Puss never would have passed her if she hadn't all of a sudden, with a loud moo, trotted into a meadow spread over with butter-cups.
Well, after a little way, Puss almost ran into a big load of hay, and if the farmer had kept on going down the road instead of turning into a gate, I guess Puss would have never caught up with his Good Gray Horse.
"Gracious me!" said Puss, when the road was clear, "I must make up for lost time." But just then a big black crow, who was sitting on a fence post, called out:
"Where are you going so fast, Sir Cat?
Look out, or the wind will blow off your hat."
And he flew off the fence and settled on the handlebar.
"Oh, don't worry! You'll get him, all right," said the crow when Puss told him what a hard time he was having to overtake his Good Gray Horse. "I saw him go by a few minutes ago. He looked pretty tired." And then the old black bird flew away to tell Mrs. Crow that he had seen a pussy cat in boots riding a bicycle.
* * *
PUSS RECOVERS HIS STEED
THE girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain,
Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble!"
The man on the hill, that couldn't stand still,
Went hobble, hobble, hobble!
"Goodness me!" exclaimed Puss, Junior, as he mounted the bicycle which the kind owner of the Willow Tree Inn had lent him, "I can't understand a word the girl says. I asked her if she had seen my Good Gray Horse and she answers, 'Gobble, gobble, gobble!'" And then little Puss gave a great sigh, for it's pretty hard luck to have your horse stolen while asleep in a strange inn, although it's mighty lucky to have the innkeeper lend you his bicycle.
