Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse Part 16

"And so you were the little cat who was with him, were you?" said little Boy Blue's mother.

But Puss didn't answer, for he had fallen fast asleep and was dreaming that he was once more with his dear father, the famous Puss in Boots.

ALPHABET TOWN

NOW let me see. Where did I leave off in the last story? Oh yes, I remember now. Little Puss, Junior, had fallen asleep in the house where little Boy Blue lived. Yes, Puss had fallen asleep in front of the fireplace over which hung the silver horn that called the cows from the fields of corn. Well, the next morning the horn began blowing all by itself, and this, of course, woke up everybody in the house; so Puss washed his face and hands and curled his whiskers and after that he pulled on his red-topped boots and was ready for breakfast. Then Mrs.

Boy Blue came downstairs with little Boy Blue. He was only three years old, but he could blow a horn, though I don't think the cows paid much attention to him, for they knew he was only doing it in fun, you see.

Well, after breakfast, Puss, Junior, bade them all good-by and mounted his Good Gray Horse, and by and by, after he had ridden many a mile, he came to a very queer place--it was called Alphabet Town. But the strangest thing of all was that the alphabet was alive. Yes, from A to Z it was alive, and Puss was so interested that he drew rein at the gates of Alphabet Town because, he said to himself, "If I expect to get through Mother Goose Land I must learn the alphabet, and the sooner I learn it the sooner I shall see my dear father." So he went up to the schoolhouse and this is what he learned:

A was an Ant who worked all the day.

B was a b.u.t.terfly, flitting away.

C was a Cherry that hung on a tree.

D was a Daisy that grew on the lea.

E was an Elm that stood by the school.

F was a Frog that lived in a pool G was a Goat with a beard on his face.

H was a Horse that won a fine race.

I was an Insect that fed on a peach.

J was a Jay Bird whose song was a screech.

K was a Kitten that played with a string.

L was a Lambkin that browsed in the spring.

M was a Magpie that stole a gold spoon.

N was the Nest where she slept 'neath the moon.

O was the Oak Tree that held safe the nest.

P was a Pigeon with soft purple vest.

Q was a Quail that was shot with a gun.

R was a Rooster that woke up the sun.

S was a Snail that was awfully slow.

T was a Turtle, no faster, you know.

U was a Unicorn; of him you have heard.

V was a Vulture, a rapacious bird.

W was a Wren that made a sweet noise.

X was a Xmas Tree, covered with toys.

Y was a Yule Log, dragged through the snow.

Z was a Zero when winter winds blow.

And I think when I tell you that Puss learned this alphabet in less than half an hour you will agree with me he was a very bright cat.

LUCY LOCKET

"GID-AP!" said Puss, Junior. "Gid-ap, my good steed, for we must hasten on. 'Tis yet a long ways we must journey ere I find my ill.u.s.trious father, Puss in Boots."

The Good Gray Horse quickened his pace, and soon many a mile was left behind.

At length Puss saw a little girl in the doorway of a cottage.

Lucy Locket Lost her pocket; Kitty Fisher Found it; Nothing in it, Nothing in it, But the binding Round it.

"Whoa!" cried Puss. "Can I help you, miss?"

"I'm so disappointed!" cried the little girl. "I thought there might be a bright penny inside."

"Are you sure there isn't?" asked Puss, sympathetically. "Do you want a penny very much?"

"Yes," replied the child.

"Well, here's one," replied Puss, thrusting his paw into his pocket and bringing out a bright penny. Leaning down from his horse, he handed it to the little maid.

"What are you going to buy with it?" he asked.

"Peppermint stick," she answered. "Peppermint stick with red rings all around it."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"That sounds pretty nice," said Puss. "Where's the candy shop?"

"Just over there," she replied, pointing to a small shop on the opposite side of the street.

"Let's go in," suggested Puss, dismounting and tying his Good Gray Horse to the hitching post.

The candy shop smelled very nice. Mola.s.ses candy in long yellow coils lay in the gla.s.s cases. Sticks of pink-and-white peppermint candy stood in big gla.s.s bowls with s.h.i.+ny gla.s.s stoppers. Chocolate drops were ranged in long gla.s.s dishes. There were gumdrops and marshmallows, and goodness knows what all. Puss thrust his paw deep into his pocket, for he knew that one little penny wouldn't go very far in this candy shop.

"What other kind do you like?" he asked.

"Why don't you call me Kitty?" laughed the little maid. "My name is Kitty Fisher."

Just then another little girl appeared.

"h.e.l.lo, Lucy Locket!" cried Kitty.

"I've just lost my pocket," said Lucy. "Did you happen to find it?"

"Yes," replied Kitty, "but there was nothing in it. Just a ribbon round it."

"That's 'cause I took out my penny," answered Lucy, "and I'm going to spend it right here before I lose it."

Soon both little girls had eaten their peppermint-candy sticks. And after Puss had given his Good Gray Horse a big lump of sugar he mounted and rode away.