Dick and His Cat and Other Tales Part 1

d.i.c.k and His Cat and Other Tales.

by Various.

PREFACE.

In the Section of the Code for 1894-5, dealing with Reading Books, occur the words "Pa.s.sages impressing on the children the duty of gentleness and consideration for others, and that of the humane treatment of animals may also be widely introduced."

It is in the hope of encouraging that humane treatment of animals, which in the hands of a sympathetic teacher may so easily and naturally be made the first step towards the "gentleness and consideration for others," that this series has been prepared. It is hoped now that the teaching of humanity has received official recognition, that those who have charge of the young will recognize its importance, and will realise that unless the cultivation of the heart runs _pari pa.s.su_ with that of the head, the spread of education may become a curse instead of a blessing.

The Editors are much indebted to the R.S.P.C.C. for permission to reprint "Trusty" and "Out in the Cold."

d.i.c.k AND HIS CAT.

1. UP TO LONDON.

1. In the reign of the famous king Edward the Third, there was a little boy named d.i.c.k Whitt-ing-ton, whose father and mother died when he was very young.

2. He knew nothing about them, and he was left, a poor little ragged, dirty fellow, to run about the streets of a small country village.

3. As poor d.i.c.k was not old enough to work, he was in a sad state; he got but little for his dinner, and often had nothing at all for his supper. For all the people in the village were very poor.

4. They could often spare him nothing more than an old crust of bread, or some sc.r.a.ps that even a dog would not have liked. One day a man who was driving a waggon came through the village.

5. He had eight fine large horses to pull it, and, as he walked by their side, he spoke kindly to them, and never whipped them. This made d.i.c.k think that he must be a good man.

6. "If he is kind to the horses," said d.i.c.k to himself, "perhaps he will be kind to a poor lad like me." So d.i.c.k went up to speak to the carter and asked him to let him walk along by the side of his waggon.

7. The two began to talk, and the man, hearing from poor d.i.c.k that he had no parents, and seeing how ragged his clothes were, took pity on him. He told d.i.c.k that he was going with the waggon to London town.

"And," added the man, "you may come with me if you like.

8. "I do not think that you can be much worse off there than you are here; and perhaps you may be better off in the great city. You may ride in the waggon if you please."

9. d.i.c.k was glad enough to do this, and the good driver took care to share his food with him on the way. He took as much care of the horses and of d.i.c.k as he did of himself. d.i.c.k got safe to London.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SETTING OFF.]

10. Now before he had seen the streets of London, d.i.c.k had thought that they were made of gold, for an old man in the village at home had told him so. But the old man had only been in joke. He meant that folks often became rich there.

11. So d.i.c.k ran away from the waggon in a great hurry, to find the golden pavements. But he saw nothing except mud and dirt, and a crowd of people all looking very busy, who took no heed of him.

12. Instead of being able to pick up little bits of gold from the streets when he wanted money, d.i.c.k now found that he could not find even a penny to buy a loaf for himself, and no one gave him one either.

13. He stayed all night in the streets, and, next morning, he got up and walked about, asking those whom he met to give him something to keep him from starving.

14. Hardly any man or boy whom he asked gave him a copper. But at last, a woman, seeing his pale face, drew out two pence and put them into d.i.c.k's thin hand.

15. Being almost too tired and weak to buy food, d.i.c.k laid himself down on the doorstep of a big house. He almost wished to die, for he felt so lonely and forlorn in that great town, where no one had time to think about a poor little ragged boy.

_Write:_ d.i.c.k went to London with a man. When he was there, he could get no food. A kind woman gave him two pence.

Questions: 1. In what king's reign did d.i.c.k Whittington live? 2. In what kind of place was he born? 3. Whom did he meet going through the village? 4. How did d.i.c.k know that the driver was a good man? 5. What did he do when he first reached London? 6. What did the kind woman give to d.i.c.k?

2. THE STRAY CAT.

1. As d.i.c.k was hiding his face in his hands and thinking these sad things, he felt something very soft rubbing gently against his neck, which was close to the hard cold stone step, and he heard a pleasant sound at his ear.

2. It was the purring of a poor little stray cat, which was trying to make friends with him. d.i.c.k sat up, and stroked puss. "Why, you are just like me!" said d.i.c.k. "I believe that you have no home and no friends either, you poor little thing."

3. When the cat heard d.i.c.k speak so kindly to her, she crept into his lap, looking into his face as if to say, "Are you going to let me come, or will you drive me away, as all the rest of the world does?"

4. Finding that d.i.c.k put one arm round her she curled herself up, purring loudly, and seemed to think that she had found a home with him on the doorstep.

5. "Poor p.u.s.s.y!" said d.i.c.k, "how thin you are, and how rough your coat is! Come, I will go and get something for us both to eat." d.i.c.k ran along the street with the cat in his arms.

6. She could not do enough to thank him for taking care of her. For she had been hunted through the streets for many days. The people with whom she had lived were gone away and left poor puss behind to starve in an empty house.

7. They went to a shop and bought milk and bread. It was a fine feast for them both, and I do not know which of them liked it best.

8. The rude boys in the street laughed at d.i.c.k for running along with a cat in his arms. But he was too brave a boy to care for that. He only hugged his cat the tighter, and laughed at them in return. So they soon left off.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BOTH IN NEED.]

9. That night, d.i.c.k had again no place to sleep in but the doorway of a big house. He made himself and his cat as snug as he could, and had just fallen asleep when he heard a cross voice say, "What are you doing here, you lazy scamp?"

10. This was a cook, who was just coming out. And at the same moment her master came out behind her. He, too, saw d.i.c.k, and said: "Why do you lie there, my lad? You seem big enough to work. I fear that you must be idle."

11. "No, indeed, sir," said d.i.c.k. "I would work with all my heart, but I know no one to give me work, and I think that I am ill from want of food and a dry, warm bed."

12. "Poor fellow!" said the rich merchant, who was master of the house.

"Come here to me. Let us see what is the matter with you."

_Write:_ A poor little stray cat came to d.i.c.k. He spoke kindly to her and went to buy bread and milk for both. They liked the food very much.

Questions: 1. What did d.i.c.k feel as he lay on the doorstep?

2. What did he say to the stray cat? 3. What did he buy for them both? 4. Who came out of the door as d.i.c.k was sleeping on the step? 5. Who came out after the maid? 6. What did the master of the house say to d.i.c.k?

3. THE CROSS COOK.