David Cory

“ The next morning bright and early, just as the sun was waking up in the East, the gaily feathered Rooster began to blow his silver horn to wake the people before the morn, and some got cross when they heard his song, but others hurried their dressing along, and pretty soon Puss was dressed and the little Yellow Hen combed her feathers and came down to breakfast. ”

“ The moon is an unexplored country."
"Well, I'll take your word for it," said the navigator of the balloon express. "I don't know much about these sky roads, but if you'll kindly consent to tell me where to steer my air craft, perhaps we'll reach the moon without a mishap."
"Trust to me," said Puss, Junior, "for I have traveled far and if I don't know the way to the moon, my name is not Puss in Boots, Junior."
So the owner of the balloon steered the big air craft straight up to the sky. Oh, dear me! But strange things will happen! ”

“ If you don't you'll get drowned."
"He speaks the truth, I'm thinking," answered Tom Thumb, peeping out of Puss, Junior's, pocket. "It looks to me as if the rain were never going to stop."
"My good sir," said Puss, turning to the man, "it seems to me your advice is good. We'll stay in Arkville for a few days. But where shall we stop? Is there a hotel near?"
"Over yonder is the Hotel Ark," said the man. "I'm the proprietor, and my name is Noah. Go in and make yourselves at home. My sons and I will follow you shortly. We have a few more nails to drive before we quit for the day." ”

“ When the wind is in the West,
Then 'tis at the very best."
"Well, as the wind is in the South, why don't you fish?" cried Captain Puss, Junior. So Tom Thumb started in, and presently he felt a tremendous tug on the line.
"I've got a fish! I've got a fish!" he cried, and then he began pulling in his line as fast as he could. But, oh dear me! It wasn't a fish after all, but a great big whale!
"Don't you pull on that line any more," cried the whale, "if you do I'll smash your boat." ”

“ Duck.
"But it's not going to rain," cried one little duck, peering out from between her feathers. "I know it's not going to rain, for there isn't a cloud in the sky."
Then all the little ducklings poked their heads out and cried, "It's not going to rain, it's not going to rain!"
"If it should, and there's no telling lately, for the weather has been so unsettled, I could take you up to the barnyard and introduce you to Molly Head," said Mrs. Duck, turning to Puss, Junior. "She has charge of all the poultry and is a very kind woman, very kind indeed." ”

“ By the visit of Mister Fox."
"Do you hear what they say about me?" asked the Fox in a whisper.
"They say you give them bad dreams," replied Puss; "that you keep them awake and ruin their nerves."
"Ha, ha!" laughed Mr. Fox, "what do they expect? Do they imagine I come here to sing them to sleep? To stand under the coop window and sing a lullaby? Ha, ha! I'm very fond of duck and very fond of goose, but not in that way. ”

“ They eat up all my cheese and flour."
"I'll help you," said Puss. "Let me stay here to-night, and I'll catch every rat and mouse that bothers you inside the house."
"You can make up poetry as well as I can," said the old man, with a laugh. "Why, that's the first laugh I've had in many a long year. I like you, Sir Cat. You are an obliging sort of person. You shall have the best that my small home affords. I only hope you will rid the place of rats and mice." ”

“ Well, just then, all of a sudden, a swarm of golden bees came humming into the little [2] farmyard, and before long they had made a home in the empty beehive that stood close by.
"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 [3] 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. ”

“ THE Ark was an exceedingly good sea craft. It rode the waves and breasted the gale without a mishap. Some of the animals became sea sick. But this, of course, was to be expected. Even Captain Noah himself felt rather queer at times, and as for little Tom Thumb, he kept to his bed for almost a week. Puss, Junior, proved to be a very fine sailor. Not once did he feel the least bit ill, and was able to help Mrs. Noah attend to the sick passengers.
Of all the animals, however, the elephant was the most sea sick. ”

“ It's bad enough to hunt a fox with a broom!"
"Look here, Mr. Slipper-Slopper," he cried, "you have no boots—you've nothing but slippers. You have no gun—you've nothing but an old broom. And what's more, you have no sense. You deserve to lose your gray goose and your black duck. Good-by." And Puss ran off in disgust.
"I've no use for a man who can't protect [107] his own," he muttered to himself. "I won't help catch that fox. Let him have a feast. He must eat as well as Mr. Slipper-Slopper. Probably Mr. Slipper-Slopper would have killed the gray goose for dinner in a few days, anyhow." ”

“ Pretty soon Noah himself came splashing through the water toward the hotel.
"There is no time to lose," he cried, "the Ark will soon be afloat. Mother, make haste. Tell the girls to come along. We've no time to lose." Mrs. Noah appeared almost immediately, followed by the wives of her three sons. Lifting up their skirts, they waded after Noah. Puss, Junior, picked up Tom Thumb and placed him on his shoulder. From far and near, from the forest and the plain, from everywhere, the animals came hurrying up. ”

“ When I go out Friday usually stays in. And when I ring the bell he lets down the ladder to me. And when he's out he rings the bell, just as he did this morning, and I let the ladder down to him."
"What do you do when both of you go out?" asked Puss. "Does Snoozer attend to the ladder?"
"No, no," replied Mr. Crusoe. "We hide the ladder in the woods nearby. Then when we come back we get it out and stand it up against the wall and climb up." [130]
"Supposing someone should come across the ladder and make a call while you're out?" asked Tom Thumb. ”

“ Each animal is so blamed different," and Captain Noah heaved a great sigh as he lifted the steaming cup of coffee to his lips.
Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb had risen with the sun—that is, I should say, at an early hour, for of course there was no sun. No, indeed, there was nothing but rain and a wide expanse of water. Water, water, everywhere, but not a speck of dirt. The whole world seemed nothing but water. The only thing that wasn't water was the Ark and its passengers. ”

“ From the chimney a thin gray feather of smoke slowly made its way up through the tall tree tops, and around the front door climbed a wild vine. Puss went up boldly and knocked and when the door opened he saw a fox. At first he was somewhat frightened, but the fox said, "Come in, Sir Cat," so our little traveler entered and sat down.
Then the fox asked him where he was [13] going. "To see my dear father, the famous Puss in Boots," replied little Puss, Junior. "It's not very far from here," answered the fox, "but the way is dangerous. Many robbers lie in wait for the unwary traveler." ”

“ In the hammock on the front porch sat a pretty yellow hen, swinging back and forth, and every now and then singing to herself:
"It's after ten! It's after ten!
Time for bed for Yellow Hen."
"Good evening!" said Puss, taking off his plumed hat and bowing politely. "May I ask for a night's lodging. I'm tired and footsore, and have traveled many miles in New Mother Goose Country."
The little Yellow Hen flapped her wings and fluttered down to the piazza. "Come," she said, stretching out her right wing. "Travelers are always welcome. We hear [7] little down at the end of this narrow street. ”

“ However, this did not keep Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb from eating a hearty breakfast. They were good travelers, whether by land or sea, and to Puss, who had passed through many a dangerous adventure, the present situation seemed one of great interest.
Mother Goose was also in high spirits. Turning to Captain Noah, she said:
"My dear Captain, if it weren't for you, I hardly know what in the world I should have done. To fly on gander-back through the rain for forty days and nights would be impossible, so I have you to thank for my deliverance." ”

“ We'll hear some news, never fear." And then the Captain went over to tell the man at the tiller where to go. The "man" at the wheel was a little white mouse, but he knew how to steer the ship as well as any pilot, let me tell you.
"I don't have to rock the cradle," said the baby's mother, with a smile, looking up at Puss, as he tip-toed over to where she sat.
"No, he's fast asleep," replied Puss, "and the big blue ocean is rocking him better than the willow tree." ”

“ Noah only smiled.
"He does very little complaining," replied Mrs. Noah, "that is one thing to be thankful for. Now, take the little black ant. She [37] does nothing but complain all the time. I'd rather attend to the elephant ten times over."
"Well, mother, you always had something to be thankful for at the Ark Hotel. I'm glad that on board the Ark you still keep your cheerful disposition!" answered Captain Noah.
But, oh, dear me! Pretty soon Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb wondered if the forty days and forty nights would ever end and if the rain would ever stop. ”

“ So you tell Taffy that I shall tell everybody in town that it wasn't he who stole my beef, but some thief who wore a red beard: and then, I'll show them what I found in my shop, and that will prove what I say. Everybody will be glad to know that Taffy isn't to blame."
As soon as the butcher had gone, she flew upstairs to tell Taffy the good news. And it almost made Taffy cry. If he hadn't been a man, he would have. ”

“ Crusoe himself.
"What's the matter now?" said Puss.
Mr. Crusoe gave a deep sigh. "If you owed the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker as much as I do you wouldn't be overjoyed at seeing them, either." [133]
"But I'd rather see them than cannibals," cried Tom Thumb. "I'd rather they'd take my money than my life!"
"That's very true," said Mr. Crusoe, "but you don't quite get me. The laws on this island are very strict. They will allow you to shoot a cannibal at sight but not your grocery man."
"Then you are powerless against these three men in a tub?" said Puss, Junior. ”

“ How the wicked Wolf stole the Magic Button and how the wolves plotted to eat up Little Red Riding Hood and all her family, and how the Flyaways and King Cole sent the wolves flying, makes a story no children will want to miss. ”

“ By this time the three men had landed on the beach, and pretty soon the doorbell rang.
"S-s-sh!" whispered Mr. Crusoe, "don't make a sound. They can pull the handle off, for all I care."
They didn't do this, but they kept the bell going until every one in Crusoe Castle was nearly crazy. First the butcher took a hand, then the baker, and then the candlestick maker. Then they began all over again. ”

“ You'll get the counterpane all dirty with your red-topped boots!" No, he didn't. He just stroked Puss, Junior, with his big, kind hand, and the little Welshwoman picked up Tom Thumb and cuddled him in her bosom, saying in a low voice, "Dearie me, but it's nice to have friends come to see you when everybody in town is calling my Taffy a thief." ”

“ Honey Bunch is a dainty, thoughtful little girl, and to know her is to take her to your heart at once.
Little girls everywhere will want to discover what interesting experiences she is having wherever she goes. ”

“ MR. SLIPPER-SLOPPER
WHEN Mr. Fox laughed he showed all his long, sharp teeth, and Puss was mighty glad he had his trusty staff with him in case Mr. Fox became ugly. But nothing unpleasant happened, and by and by they came to the hen-house. ”

“ Just then a little muskrat jumped out of the water and from behind a tree ran a pretty gray squirrel and a striped chipmunk.
"Did you call us?" they asked Puss all at once.
"No, my little friends," he replied, "but come along," and when they reached Beaver Dam, they looked around to see what had become of the old bullfrog. There he was in the water about halfway down the stream, swimming away for all he was worth.
"Ker-chunk, ker-chunk!" he cried, as he came up to them, "Why don't you wait for [82] a fellow? ”

“ There sat a pretty little woman with a baby in her arms. And when she saw Puss she lifted her finger very gently to let him know that her baby was in the Land of Nod, and after that she placed him gently in the cradle.
"Come in," she whispered to our little pussy cat traveler and when they were in the [18] nice bright kitchen, for the fire in the stove made bright streaks of light over the clean floor, she said:
"Sir Cat, you are a traveler, I see. ”

“ No one is allowed to land unless he has a permit." Of course, little Puss, Junior, didn't have one, but after a moment's reflection, he said:
"I am about to visit my father, the famous Puss in Boots, and if I cannot remain here for the night, I may have an accident on the river. ”

“ You shall get a fishy when the boat comes home."
Pretty soon after that the little mother carried the baby into the house.
Puss followed her into a cozy room, where, on the mantlepiece, stood a tick-tocky clock, just striking six. The tablecloth was spread and everything was ready for supper. Over in the corner hung a cage, in which sat a big green parrot.
"Polly want a cracker?" asked Puss.
"No, I don't want a cracker," replied the parrot; "I want a little mouse."
"What!" cried Puss, "you don't mean to say you don't like crackers?" [49]
"I'm tired of them," said the parrot. ”