“ Puss, purring at his feet; and dinner being served up, except a blush or two of grateful diffidence and modest sensibility, proved by his whole behaviour, he was at length got into his real, right place.
The next thing to this establishment of his happiness, his great concern was to reward every person that had been indulgent or serviceable to him; not forgetting the waggoner who brought him to London; or even the Cook herself, whoso very unkindness to him, he said, had wrought out his good fortune: for, had she not lodged him in the loft, he had never bought his cat. ”

“ Fitzwarren. “Do not, dearest Sir," resumed Whittington, “do not plunge me into despair do not drive me from your beloved presence, in the very moment you wish to see me happy. Allow me to be humble, your grateful friend, if such is your generous desire; but take the wealth, for your friendship is all the riches, all the honour, and all the happiness, I would obtain!" ”

“ Fitzwarren on tho instant recollected many instances of tender attachment that, with all his caution, had escaped him; and, being convinced that no young woman, whose affections were not engaged, could dislike either his person or his behaviour; whilst every worthy woman must be charmed with his goodness of heart, he caught him by the hand, and said, "Be it so:—let the name of father be added to the name of friend, and therefore make me completely happy. She is yours, my Whittington, if with her own consent." ”

“ Puss, as well as her master, improving much on acquaintance, Miss Fitzwarren (though drawing was taught but to few in those days) drew Whittington and his cat to perfection; and was so kind as to let the picture become an ornament of his loft, and proud enough ho was of possessing such a gift. These happy moments were, however, short-lived, for the poor boy was the slave of a barbarous woman's temper, who not only made him turnspit, but spurned him and beat him at will. ”

“ Fitzwarren, seizing his dirty hand, "be of good cheer: patient sufferers seldom pass unrewarded. Instead, therefore, of the scullery and the kitchen, to which you never more return, you are—yes, my late forlorn child—you are now become any equal; and as with me, virtue, much rather than money, makes the man, you shall, henceforth, in honour of your virtue, be my beloved friend, my favourite companion." Whittington's astonishment rendered him for some time speechless ”

“ How agreeable, therefore, must the news be, that the captain could furnish them with a whole family, sufficient, in process of time, to stock the kingdom!
⁠The queen had a tender mind, and having heard the captain (at her own request,) many times repeat poor Whittington's history, his orphan infancy, his friendless state, and his distress at parting from his cat, though for the greatest hoped-for advantage, she told the king, and his majesty was perfectly of the same opinion, that having made them so happy, it was their duty to render him happy also ”

“ Miss Fitzwarren and Whittington were nearly of the same age; her person was not beautiful, but the very first-rate of agreeable, and her disposition truly amiable, No wonder, therefore, that to a poor lad, smarting under all the evils of a contrary disposition, she should appear nothing less than an angel; whilst the modesty of Whittington's demeanour, his uncommonly good language for his condition, his grateful and respectful conduct, made her his friend ”

“ Thus we see Whittington, from a poor deserted and forlorn boy, conducting the concerns of the first and most renowned republic in any kingdom of the world; for so must the City of London be considered, governing itself independently by its own laws.
Thus he grew in riches and fame the most considerable of the citizens, greatly beloved by all, especially the poor, several hundreds of whom he publicly or secretly assisted or supplied.
About this time it was that he married his master's daughter, Miss Fitzwarren ”

“ Fitzwarren being a silk mercer, and a great merchant, imported large quantities of silk from India, just in the state it was spun by the little worms, thence called silk worms. Of course this gentleman sent out such articles as were best received abroad in exchange; and it being his benevolent custom, when a ship, freighted at his own expense, was ready to sail, to call his family around him, that every one might provide a little venture, according to their wishes or abilities, to be improved to the best advantage by the kind care of the captain, who was a man after his own heart. ”

“ Whittington being now, as he called it, master of himself, withdrew from his friends to collect his thoughts, and begin to be calmly happy. He recalled to his memory every moral and excellent lesson his worthy deceased friend had given him. "Blessed spirit!" cried he, "the person to whom I owe my birth are wholly unknown to me; but your tender compassion for my orphan state, which flowed solely from the benevolence of your heart; that guarded mo in my helpless infancy; watched over my growth; and, above all, the manifold acts of kindness bestowed upon me ”

“ The pleasure our little hero took in hearing him made him very much desire to learn to read too; so the next time the good-natured footman gave him a half-penny, he bought a horn-book with it; and with a little of his help, Dick soon learned his letters, and afterwards to read. About this time, Miss Alice was going out one morning for a walk: and the footman happening to be out of the way, little Dick, who had received from Mr. Fitzwarren a neat suit of clothes, to go to church on Sundays, was ordered to put them on and walk behind her. ”

“ That in feeling the past, she could not forbear being alarmed for the future; as there could be little doubt, if the cat died, the offensive animals would renew their old practices, which could not fail exciting tenfold distress and disgust by their having been for some time free from their violence. ”

“ At length, however, quite terrified at his own feelings, without having the relief of breathing them to any one, he resolved to run away; for in his opinion, to die of grief that ought to be conquered, or by human means, was alike offensive to his Maker. ”

“ When, no longer able to suppress her desire to know how Puss had borne the voyage, Miss Fitzwarren telling the captain as much, he immediately opened on their knowledge the wonderful events that animal had produced; adding, that he much feared it would be dangerous to let the poor lad know all his good fortune at once! or, even to be made master of the wealth he had brought him. "Let him be called," cried Mr. Fitzwarren—"instantly called," said the worthy man, with heartfelt joy at the news: "Tho gifts of Providence must be held sacred ”

“ Whittington assured his master he had every due sense of his kindness, but had not an article he could call his own. His young lady entreated she might buy something for him; but her father told her that would not do, for it must be his own, to be a fortunato venture. "You have, Dick, a cat," said Miss. The poor lad burst into tears; but his master's ear having caught the word, he ordered puss to be brought, and made Whittington deliver her up, with his own hands to the captain ”

“ Fitzwarren's opinion, had elapsed, to render them all tranquil, and as he called it, rational creatures, he was first surprised, and next quite angry, at Whittington's persisting to refuse the possession of his fortune, even at length to the degree of telling him he did not deserve it. Whittington defended his conduct with much address; "For, Sir," said he, “I wish to bo independent; that is, to make myself happy in my own way. What wealth Providence has so miraculously given me, I know not how to dispose of, or enjoy ”

“ Whittington a second time hid himself, to conceal his grief from all eyes; but strange to tell, the whole scene operated so maliciously on the cook's mind, from thinking the boy was too kindly treated, and such like ideas, that she made it her daily practice to tease and torment him; either about having parted with his poor cat, that he pretended to have so much love for, she would say; or his vanity and folly in setting so high a value on her. "A fine cargo, no doubt," cried she, “she will bring you in return! Perhaps herself ”

“ Fitzwarren: "and be your happiness whatever you choose to make it."
Whittington rose, and was preparing to retire to improve his dress. "Hold! hold!" said the captain: "these trunks are not all the king and queen have sent you. Holla, there!" cried he, to a sailor in the hall, “bring in that article." When, lo! what should present itself to the delighted eyes of Whittington, but the well-known wicker basket, out of which leaped Mrs. Puss, and paid her due compliments to the company; for the creature knew them all, rubbed her head against her master's face, twirled herself round Mr. ”