Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1
work he was able for the cook. The cook was always scolding him from
morning till night, and was very cruel to him. Poor Dick had another
hardship. His bed was places in a garret where there were great
numbers of rats and mice, which ran over his face, and made a great
noise. Dick at last bought a cat which was famous for being an
excellent mouser.
Soon after this, the merchant, who had a ship ready to sail, asked
his servants if they would send any goods abroad. All the servants
mentioned something they were willing to venture but poor
Whittington, who said he had nothing but a cat which was his
companion.
"Fetch thy cat, boy," said Mr. Fitzwarren, "and let her go." Dick
hesitated for some time; at last he brought poor Puss, and delivered
her to the captain with tears in his eyes. The cook continued to be
so cruel to him that the unhappy fellow determined to leave his
place. He accordingly packed up his few things, and travelled as far
as Holloway, and there sat down on a stone. While he was there
musing, Bow-bells began to ring; and it seemed to him that their
sound said:
_"Turn again, Whittington,_
_Lord Mayor of London."_
So back went Dick, and got into the house before the cook came down
stairs.
The ship with Dick's cat on board happened to be driven by contrary
winds on a part of the coast of Barbary, inhabited by Moors, who
showed great eagerness to purchase the things with which the ship was
laden. The captain seeing this, took patterns of the choicest
articles he had to the King of the Moors. While he was showing them
to him, dinner was brought in, and at once lots of rats and mice came
in and ate up all the dainties. The captain was astonished when the
King told him that this often happened. The captain rushed off at
once to the ship, and brought Puss to the palace. The second dinner
had been brought in, and, as usual, in came the rats and mice; Pussy
at the sight of them sprang out of the captain's arms and killed lots
of them, and the rest ran off to their holes. The King was greatly
pleased with the wonderful Puss, and gave two sackfuls of gold for
the cat, and the captain at once sailed for London. When Mr.
Fitzwarren heard the news, he ordered Dick Whittington to be called,
and showed him all the riches which the captain had brought in
exchange for his cat. Dick was now a rich man, and soon after married
the merchant's daughter, at the very church whose bells seemed to
call him back to London. He grew richer and richer, became Sheriff,
and at length Lord Mayor of London.
[Page 156--More Pussy Land]
[Page 157--More Pussy Land]
The White Kitten
My little white kitten's
Asleep on my knee;
As white as snow
Or the lily is she;
She wakes up with a purr
When I stroke her soft fur;
Was there ever another
White kitten like her?
My little white kitten
Now wants to go out
And frolic, with no one
To watch her about:
"Little kitten," I say,
"Just an hour you may stay;
And be careful in choosing
Your places to play."
But night has come down,
And I hear a loud "mew";
I open the door, and my
Kitten comes through;
My white kitten! ah me!
Oh! can it be she--
This sad looking beggar-like
Cat that I see?
What ugly grey marks
On her side and her back!
Her nose, once as pink
As a rosebud, is black!
Oh! I very well know,
Though she does not say so,
She has been where white kittens
Ought never to go.
If little good children
Would wish to do right,
If little white kittens
Would keep themselves white,
It is needful that they
In their houses should stay,
Or be careful in choosing
Their places to play.
Kitty
Pretty little Kitty
Sat upon a stile,
Sang a little ditty
To herself for a while,
Watching how the sparrows--
Seeking grain to eat--
Dart about like arrows
In among the wheat.
Pretty little Kitty
Liked the birds to see!
Though it was a pity
They were wild and free.
So she stopped her singing--
Left the stile forlorn;
And went gaily springing
In among the corn.
Pretty little Kitty
Fond of country things,
Cares not for the city
Where no birdie sings.
[Page 158--More Pussy Land]
Naughty Pussy
"Oh, for shame,
Baby Cat,
Mother's pet
Her cupboard at.
"With a spoon
Eating Jam
Quite ashamed
Of you I am.
"If she comes
And catches you
You'll be punished
Rightly too.
"She will send you
Straight to bed,
With for supper
Plain dry bread."
Little Pussy
I love little Pussy,
Her coat is so warm;
And if I don't tease her,
She'll do me no harm.
I'll not pull her tail,
Nor drive her away,
But Pussy and I
Very gently will play.
She'll be gentle with me,
If I'm gentle with her,
And if I speak kindly,
I know she will purr.
She shall sit by my side,
And I'll give her some food
And Pussy will love me
Because I am good.
It's true, if I tease her,
Her claws she will show;
But Pussy knows well
That I never do so.
Puss and the Crab
"I wonder," says puss,
"If a thing like that
Would presume to bite
A respectable cat?
'Tis the queerest thing
That ever I saw;
I'll hit it a slap
With my strong forepaw.
No! No! On the whole
I had better not;
But what curious claws
The creature has got!
I'll just step up
And quietly ask it
How it got out
Of that market-basket.
I'll play with the animal,
Just to see
If it wants to do
Any harm to me.
No! I thank I had better
Get out of its way,
And I surely am safer
Not even to play.
For I'll get into trouble,
And horribly wail,
If that thing with the claws
Takes a grip on my tail."
Rev. A. Taylor
Little Pussies
Three little pussies,
All in a row,
Ranged on the table,
Two down below.
Five little pussies
Dressed all in silk,
Waiting for sugar,
Waiting for milk.
Dear little pussies,
If you would thrive,
Breakfast at nine o'clock,
Take tea at five.
[Page 159--More Pussy Land]
Puss in the Corner
You are a naughty pussy-cat;
I think it right to mention that
For all who see your picture here--
'Twas you who broke my bunny dear.
An hour ago, as you can tell,
I left him here, alive and well;
And now he's dead, and, what is more
You've broke his leg, I'm pretty sure.
For you, my puss, I'll never care,
No--never, never, never--there!
And you are in disgrace, you know,
And in the corner you must go.
What, crying? Then I must cry too,
And I can't bear to punish you;
Perhaps you've only stunned his head.
And though I'm sure you broke his leg,
It may be mended with a peg;
And though he's very, very funny,
My bunny's not a real bunny;
And I'll forgive and tell you that
You are my precious pussy-cat.
Robert Mack
Tabby
Tabby was a kitten,
Tabby was a thief.
Tabby tried to steal the cream,
And so she came to grief.
Jumping on the table
(Nobody was nigh),
On the pretty cream-jug
Tabby cast her eye:
Wondered what was in it;
Thought she'd like to see;
Crept a little nearer,
Slyly as could be.
Cream was very low down;
Jug was very high;
"Must have some," said Tabby.
"Even if I die!"
Then into the cream-jug
Popped her naughty nose;
Just what happened after,
Only Tabby knows.
This is how we found her,
Naughty little cat!
Did she get a whipping,
Think you, after that?
Tabby was a kitten,
Tabby was a thief,
Tabby tried to steal the cream,
And so she came to grief.
Old Puss
Don't hurt the poor old cat,
There can be no fun in that;
And it would be cruel too--
She never tried to injure you.
She, for years, has kept the house
Free from thievish rat and mouse;
Puss has always faithful been,
And has kept herself so clean.
True, she now is getting old,
Though she once was strong and bold;
At her prey she cannot leap,
And, if caught, can scarcely keep.
Poor old puss! 'Twould be a shame
Thee for uselessness to blame;
When though canst not active be--
Useless through infirmity.
In the Park
I'm a rich little kitten:
I live at my ease,
I keep my own carriage,
I go where I please;
My turn-out is stylish,
I nothing neglect,
And often I notice
That all recollect
That a rich little kitten
Deserves much respect.
[Page 160--More Pussy Land]
The Dead Kitten
Don't talk to me of parties, Nan;
I really cannot go;
When folks are in affliction
They don't go out, you know.
I have a new brown sash, too;
It seems a pity--eh?
That such a dreadful trial
Should have come just yesterday!
The play-house blinds are all pulled down
As dark as it can be;
It looks so very solemn
And so proper, don't you see?
And I have a piece of crape
Pinned on my dolly's hat,
Tom says it is ridiculous
For only just a cat.
But boys are all so horrid!
They always, every one,
Delight in teasing little girls
And kitties, "just for fun."
The way he used to pull her tail--
It makes me angry now--
And scat her up the cherry tree,
To make the darling "meow!"
I've had her all the summer.
One day, away last spring,
I heard a frightful barking,
And I saw the little thing
In the corner of a fence;
'T would have made you laugh outright
To see how every hair stood out,
And how she tried to fight.
I shooed the dog away,
And she jumped upon my arm;
The pretty creature knew
I wouldn't do her any harm;
I hugged her close, and carried her
To mamma, and she said
She should be my own wee kitty,
If I'd see that she was fed.
A cunning little dot she was,
With silky, soft, grey fur;
She'd lie for hours on my lap,
And I could hear her purr;
And then she'd frolic after
When I pulled a string about,
Or try to catch her tail,
Or roll a marble in and out.
Such comfort she has been to me
I'm sure no one could tell,
Unless some other little girl
Who loves her pussy well.
I've heard about a Maltese cross;
But my dear little kit
Was always sweet and amiable,
And never cross a bit!
But oh, last week I missed her!
I hunted all around;
My darling little pussy-cat
Was nowhere to be found.
I knelt and whispered softly,