Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse Part 12

"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."

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"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. n.o.body 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."

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"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 c.h.i.n.k 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.