Dick and His Cat and Other Tales Part 3

11. p.u.s.s.y spent all her time by the warm fire, and she had all she wanted. No one was ever unkind to her, and though she was not able to catch mice any more, she was treated with great honour.

12. One day, as d.i.c.k, now a fine rich man in good clothes and in a grand house, was sitting in his arm-chair, his old puss dragged herself slowly up to his feet.

13. She begged to get on his lap once more. d.i.c.k, who knew well what she meant, though she could not speak, stooped and lifted her up.

14. p.u.s.s.y purred, as she lifted her dim eyes to his face, gave one sigh, and lay quite still. She was dead, and d.i.c.k buried her himself, under a laurel tree in his garden.

15. "If it had not been for her I might have died in the streets myself," said he. "It was puss who made my fortune, and I am certain of this one thing: those who show mercy and love, will have the same shown to them."

_Write:_ d.i.c.k sold his kittens for gold. But he let the mother-cat keep one. At last his cat died of old age. d.i.c.k was kind to her to the end of her life.

Questions: 1. What did the Queen want the kittens to do? 2.

What did d.i.c.k find out about money as he grew older? 3. To whom did he show the greatest care? 4. What about the cross cook? 5. What did the old cat do one day? 6. What did d.i.c.k say that he was quite certain of?

[Ill.u.s.tration]

TRUSTY.

1. HUNGRY.

1. "I think that we shall have a heavy fall of snow before long," said the landlord of the little wayside inn, at which I had called to get a morsel of bread and cheese.

2. "Very likely it will snow," said I, giving a glance at the dark heavy clouds, and stopping to listen for a moment to the moaning wind.

3. "And in that case the sooner I start the better, for I have a long distance to go, and the light will fail early, in such weather as this."

4. The landlord turned and looked at me, as I began putting on my great-coat. "Do you think that it is wise of you to venture across the moor, when it is likely to be so stormy?" said he.

5. "It is a rough road at the best of times, but on a bleak night with snow there is real danger. The trap will take you over in no time when it comes in, or as soon as it is light in the morning."

6. "My friend," said I, "do not think of such a thing. I would not be away from home to-morrow for all the world. It is the birthday of my only little girl, and she would think the day quite spoilt if her father were not there.

7. "I shall step out briskly, and be at home long before dark. It is not three o'clock yet," I added, pulling out my watch.

"Well, I wish you a safe journey, sir," said the landlord. "And also, many happy returns of to-morrow."

8. "Thank you, landlord," replied I, in the same hearty tone. I shook hands with him, for his face was a beaming and kindly one, and I had known him since I was a boy.

9. As I went towards the outer door, the landlord just behind me, his man darted forward from a dark corner, and began to bustle out in front of me.

10. "Get out, you brute!" he said, in an angry voice, as he made a savage kick at something which was crouching in the shadow of the doorstep.

[Ill.u.s.tration: POOR DOGGIE.]

11. An instant after, with a dismal yelp of despair, a forlorn dog slunk away from the door, and ran to hide under an empty waggon which stood in the middle of the road.

12. "Get out! Be off!" again shouted the man, and he made a pretence of stooping with great fury to pick up a stone. The wretched dog, wild with terror, left his hiding-place.

13. With his drooping tail between his legs, he crept to the gate of the yard, where he again lay down and blinked his great sad eyes at us, licking his hungry mouth as if to beg for food.

14. I was deeply touched at the sight of this poor creature's distress, and I could not help thinking how warm and well fed I was myself, as well as the other two men, while this wretched dog, for no fault of his own, was starving.

15. "Poor thing!" I said, and turning to the landlord, added, "Do pray let some one bring him a few sc.r.a.ps and bones from the kitchen. I will gladly pay for one good meal for him."

16. "Oh no, oh dear no!" cried the landlord and the man, both in a voice of horror. "If we gave him food in this yard we should never get rid of him.

17. "We should have a bother with starving dogs here, all the year round, sir. Pray do not give him food here, I beg."

_Write:_ A man saw a hungry dog at an inn. He wished to feed him, but the landlord said that he should never get rid of the dog if he had food there.

Questions: 1. What sort of weather was it when the man was at the inn? 2. What did the landlord advise him to do? 3.

What did the man answer? 4. What did the traveller see outside the inn door? 5. What did he wish to do for the starving dog? 6. What did the landlord and his man say?

2. A KIND MAN.

1. I now felt that this landlord was not a truly good and kind man, or he would have taken pity on the outcast dog. As I pa.s.sed through the gate, the poor creature huddled close against the wall.

2. He had been taught to expect a kick or a blow from each person who pa.s.sed. I stopped for a moment to look at him, and said, "Poor fellow!"

in a gentle tone.

3. In an instant all the love and grief in his doggish heart welled over, and with a sharp cry of pain, which was like a prayer to me, he drew himself along the ground to my feet, yelping and wagging his tail at the same time.

4. He began to lick and fondle my feet, and made the s.h.i.+ning polish on them quite dim with his muddy paws.

"Poor old fellow!" I said again. "Come, you shall have one good meal if money can buy it."

5. I walked out into the street, and called him to follow. He thought it was too good news to be true, and only came for a few steps, then stopped to look with a timid gaze into my face as if to question me.

6. "Come along, doggie," I replied, "do not be afraid. I shall not hurt you. I mean to be good to you, though you can hardly believe it. Come and get some dinner."

7. Made bold by my tone and manner, the dog stuck close to me, and we went along the High Street. All the shops were gay and smart, but at first I could not see one which the dog would have thought a good shop.

8. At last I found one where food of all kinds was sold, and I walked in, my humble friend at my heels giving a joyful sniff at the pleasant smells.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TRUSTY'S MEAL.]

9. Whole crowds of men and women were eating at the little tables of which the shop was full. I pushed my way up to a counter, and said to the master of the shop,

10. "Just look at this poor dog. I want him to have a good meal of meat. Give him plenty of sc.r.a.ps, and I will pay you for them."