Page:The American Boy's Handy Book edition 1.djvu/368
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Puss-in-Boots.
335
Our father, of course, left to me the old mill,
And the ass to Corsando, for so reads the will;
And he had nothing else but our big pussy-cat,
Which is all he could give you. A fool can see that!
Yet Dick Whittington once the Lord Mayor became,
And his start and yours are precisely the same.
But see! I am wasting my time from the mill,
For while I am talking the wheels are all still.
I have nothing to give you―be that understood.
So farewell, my brother! May your fortune be good.
And the ass to Corsando, for so reads the will;
And he had nothing else but our big pussy-cat,
Which is all he could give you. A fool can see that!
Yet Dick Whittington once the Lord Mayor became,
And his start and yours are precisely the same.
But see! I am wasting my time from the mill,
For while I am talking the wheels are all still.
I have nothing to give you―be that understood.
So farewell, my brother! May your fortune be good.
[Exit Miller into mill, when wheel begins to turn. Corsando approaches, and stopping the Donkey in front of Carabas, addresses him.]
Corsando: Now, dear brother Carabas, take my advice:
Go hire out your cat to catch other men's mice.
Go hire out your cat to catch other men's mice.
[Corsando turns to leave; Puss comes out and gives the Donkey a scratch, causing him to kick wildly as he goes off.]
Carabas: O Fortune, befriend me! what now shall I do?
Come, Pussy, stay by me―I depend upon you.
You are all that I have, but can do me no good,
Unless I should kill you and cook you for food.
Puss: Meow! Meow! Kill me not, my good master, I pray―
Have mercy upon me! Now list what I say:
I'm no common cat,
I assure you of that!
In the top of the mill, where the solemn owl hoots,
You will find, if you look, an old pair of top-boots.
Bring them to me,
With the bag you will see
Under the mill, by the roots of yon tree.
Carabas: Well, Puss, what you ask for I will not refuse,
Since I have all to gain and have nothing to lose.
Come, Pussy, stay by me―I depend upon you.
You are all that I have, but can do me no good,
Unless I should kill you and cook you for food.
Puss: Meow! Meow! Kill me not, my good master, I pray―
Have mercy upon me! Now list what I say:
I'm no common cat,
I assure you of that!
In the top of the mill, where the solemn owl hoots,
You will find, if you look, an old pair of top-boots.
Bring them to me,
With the bag you will see
Under the mill, by the roots of yon tree.
Carabas: Well, Puss, what you ask for I will not refuse,
Since I have all to gain and have nothing to lose.
[Exit into the mill.
[Puss stands a moment as if to think, then capers up and down the stage and speaks.]