Page:The American Boy's Handy Book edition 1.djvu/369

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336
Winter.
Puss: A rat? Bah! what's that?
   Sir Whittington's cat
   Would have grown very fat
Had she lived upon such prey
All the time, day after day,
Till she made a Lord Mayor of her master!
But mine shall gain a name
Through much sweeter game,
And not only climb higher but faster!

[Exit.

[Shift the scene by removing the light and, while the stage is dark, removing the mill and in its place setting up some trees.]

Act I. Scene II.

Scene: Woods. Enter Puss-in-Boots, carrying Bag.

Puss: Mey-o-w! m-e-y-o-w !
Were it not for these boots I should sure have pegged out;
But if I'm not mistaken, there's game hereabout,
     For I scent in the air
     A squirrel or hare.
I wonder now whether he's lean, lank, or stout?
     But I know a habit
     Of the shy little rabbit:
He'll enter this bag, and then, my! won't I grab it?

[Arranges Bag and hides; Rabbit comes out, and after running away several times, enters the Bag, when Puss pounces upon it.]

Puss: To the King in a moment I'll take you, my dear,
For he's e'en over-fond of fat rabbits, I hear.
     An' I once gain his ear
     I see my way clear;
For I'll tell him a story both wondrous and queer.
And then my poor master'll have nothing to fear―
If he acts as I bid him, good fortune is near!

[Curtain.]