PUSS JUNIOR
AND ROBINSON CRUSOE

BY

DAVID CORY

CONTENTS

PUSS JUNIOR AND ROBINSON CRUSOE

JACK SPRAT

"Oh, ho," thought Puss, and he turned into the yard and walked around to the little red barn. There stood Jack Sprat himself, leaning against the sty, watching his pig eat his dinner.

Well, just then, all of a sudden, a swarm of golden bees came humming into the little farmyard, and before long they had made a home in the empty beehive that stood close by.

"You have brought me luck," said little Jack Sprat, turning to Puss. "Now I shall have honey, and with bees and a pig I shall grow rich and supply all Mother Goose Country with good things to eat." And would you believe it, the pig began to grow fat, and the bees to buzz out of the hive and wing their way over to the roses for sweets with which to make their honey.

Then Jack Sprat asked Puss to come into his little house, and when he went to the cupboard to look for bread and butter, he found all kinds of good things to eat.

"What luck you have brought me," said little Jack Sprat, but Puss was as much surprised as he. But pretty soon when they had sat down to the table, they heard a strange little voice from the hearth, and looking down they saw a tiny black cricket, who began to sing:

"It is the little cricket that brings you luck," said truthful little Puss, Junior. And then Jack Sprat began to laugh happily, for up to this time the pig was the only thing he owned, and that wasn't very much, let me tell you. Oh, dear, no. Not in these hard times when eggs are worth their weight in gold and a gallon of milk costs a ton of silver.

Well, by and by, Puss, Junior, once more went on his way, and perhaps pretty soon he'll find his father, the famous Puss in Boots, unless,

THE YELLOW HEN

"My good man, I'm a stranger and have just arrived. I have seen no string of pearls nor little curls on any pretty little girls," answered Puss wearily, for he was too anxious to find a night's lodging to notice pearls and curls.

"Dear me!" sighed the man, and he took off his opera hat and flattened it and then snapped it out again, which made a little newsboy open his eyes and say, "Do it again, Mister; it sounds like a pistol." But the man wouldn't, so the little newsboy ran off and Puss turned away, for he had no time to be talking to operagoers at that time of evening. By and by he came to a narrow street at the end of which shone a little light. So he turned down and presently found himself in front of a little house. In the hammock on the front porch sat a pretty yellow hen, swinging back and forth, and every now and then singing to herself:

"Good evening!" said Puss, taking off his plumed hat and bowing politely. "May I ask for a night's lodging. I'm tired and footsore, and have traveled many miles in New Mother Goose Country."

The little Yellow Hen flapped her wings and fluttered down to the piazza. "Come," she said, stretching out her right wing. "Travelers are always welcome. We hear little down at the end of this narrow street. Tell me some news, my good Sir Cat."

"Are you sure you are not too sleepy?" asked Puss. "It was only a few minutes ago you were singing 'It's after ten, it's after ten; time for bed for Yellow Hen!'" But the little hen only laughed and said, "I must wait up for Mr. Rooster."

Just then a gaily feathered rooster walked up the steps, but what he said I shall have to tell you in the next story, for it's so late now that I must say good-night.

DICKORY DARE PIG

"Gracious me! Oh me, Oh my!" screamed the little Yellow Hen. "That awful pig will just spoil my stair carpet." This made the rooster all the more angry at the Dickory Dare Pig, as he called him, and he strutted across the piazza. "I'll spur him when he comes down," he said, and he waited at the front door. But Mr. Pig took no chances. He staid upstairs until the little Yellow Hen began to cry. "I want to go to bed." Puss, by this time, was also very sleepy, and the gaily feathered rooster—well, I think he was half asleep, as he stood by the front door, with his head tucked under his wing.

"It's time for me to do something," exclaimed Puss, Junior, whipping out his sword and running upstairs two at a time. But, would you believe it if I told you, he couldn't find the Dickory Dare Pig anywhere? Puss looked in every room and in every closet. He even lifted the cover of the big clothes hamper that stood in the bathroom, but Mr. Pig was not to be found.

Well, after a while, Puss looked out of the window. There on the roof of the porch was the Dickory Dare Pig. "What are you doing?" asked Puss, and he waved his sword threateningly. But the Pig only grunted.

"You people downstairs are making an awful fuss," and he closed his eyes again, he was so sleepy. And, anyway, he had a very nice soft place, for he had spread a big woolen comforter on the roof for a bed.

"Well, you get out of here," said Puss. "You have no right to take the Yellow Hen's nice comforter, nor have you any right to sleep on the roof, and if you don't go I'll stick my sword in you." Well, after that, the Pig ran downstairs and out of the front door, and maybe he's running yet, if a butcher hasn't caught him and made him into little sausages.

THROUGH THE FOREST

The next morning bright and early, just as the sun was waking up in the East, the gaily feathered Rooster began to blow his silver horn to wake the people before the morn, and some got cross when they heard his song, but others hurried their dressing along, and pretty soon Puss was dressed and the little Yellow Hen combed her feathers and came down to breakfast. And while they were at the table, the Rooster came in and said:

"I'll never let her take my eggs to market," said the Yellow Hen, and the Rooster flapped his wings and crowed, he was so glad. And after that Puss, Junior, said good-by and went upon his journey, and by and by he came to a forest. Now this forest was full of bold robbers, but Puss didn't know that, so he walked in and by and by he came to a little hut. From the chimney a thin gray feather of smoke slowly made its way up through the tall tree tops, and around the front door climbed a wild vine. Puss went up boldly and knocked and when the door opened he saw a fox. At first he was somewhat frightened, but the fox said, "Come in, Sir Cat," so our little traveler entered and sat down.

Then the fox asked him where he was going. "To see my dear father, the famous Puss in Boots," replied little Puss, Junior. "It's not very far from here," answered the fox, "but the way is dangerous. Many robbers lie in wait for the unwary traveler."

"I have my trusty sword," cried Puss, "I'm not afraid."

"Well, since you are so brave, I will help you," said the fox; "I know a way and will show you how you may escape the robbers."

A TURTLE AND A FISH

As Puss got in, the Fox gave him some parting directions. "Follow the stream until you come to a lake. Then leave your boat and follow the right bank until you come to a bridge. After that you will find the highway which will take you to the castle of my Lord of Carabas, where your famous father, Puss in Boots, lives."

"Thank you, my good friend," cried our little hero, pushing off from the shore, and in a few minutes he was gliding down the stream.

"Heigh-ho!" he sighed. "This is a new way to travel, but I have had many experiences, so why not a rowboat instead of a gander or an automobile," and he bent to his rowing and by and by he came to a bend in the river, and as it was late in the afternoon, he decided to land and camp for the night. But no sooner had he landed on the bank than a large turtle came up to him and said:

"This is Turtle Island. No one is allowed to land unless he has a permit." Of course, little Puss, Junior, didn't have one, but after a moment's reflection, he said:

"I am about to visit my father, the famous Puss in Boots, and if I cannot remain here for the night, I may have an accident on the river. Please let me stay."

"Very well," said the Turtle, scratching his head, "you may remain on my island," and then he crawled away to his own house on the hill, which Puss could see in the distance. I think the Turtle was a disagreeable sort of person not to have asked our little traveler to spend the night with him, but then, you know, there are some disagreeable people even in New Mother Goose Country, and the Turtle was one of them.

The next morning, bright and early, Puss, Junior, got up and cooked his breakfast, and then he jumped into his rowboat and started off and by and by, as he was gliding along, a big fish came up to the surface and said, "Helloa, there!" At first Puss was startled, for he didn't see the fish, but as soon as he did, he replied:

"Don't get in my way! I might push my oar in your eye." This made the fish laugh so hard that he cried, and after that he laughed some more, only he didn't cry that time. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"To the castle of my Lord of Carabas," replied Puss.

"A long journey, my brave little cat," said the fish, "but keep up a brave heart. You are already more than half way across New Mother Goose Country."

PUSS FINDS A SUPPER

Of course this made our little traveler laugh, for he didn't know there was a Tammany Hall in New Mother Goose Country and neither did I until Puss told me.

Well, he pulled his boat up on the bank and got out, and after that he listened again for the song, but there wasn't a sound, so he thought the baby must be asleep. Then he tiptoed over to a little cottage nearby and looked in the window. There sat a pretty little woman with a baby in her arms. And when she saw Puss she lifted her finger very gently to let him know that her baby was in the Land of Nod, and after that she placed him gently in the cradle.

"Come in," she whispered to our little pussy cat traveler and when they were in the nice bright kitchen, for the fire in the stove made bright streaks of light over the clean floor, she said:

"Sir Cat, you are a traveler, I see. Tell me one of your adventures while I get the supper. My good man will soon be home, hungry and tired from his day's work."

Now Puss, Junior, was tired, too, and he didn't feel a bit like sitting down and telling a story. But he was an obliging little pussy and he knew, like Little Tommy Tucker, he must pay for his supper.

"Once upon a time," he began, "there was a famous cat, and the reason he was so famous was because he had done a great favor for his master. You see, his master was the youngest of three sons, who, when his father died, got nothing but the cat, while the others got the farm and the money. But he never complained, which so pleased the cat that he made up his mind to help his young master. And what do you think he did? One day his master's clothes were stolen while in bathing, and the king, who was passing by at that moment in his coach, felt so sorry that he gave the young man a beautiful suit and asked him to drive with him. Of course the cat went, too, and as they passed along he waved his paw and said, 'All these lands belong to my master.' By and by they came to a castle where lived a giant. So the cat ran ahead, and said to the giant, who was sitting in his big room; 'I hear you can change yourself into anything. Let me see if you can turn into a mouse!' 'That's easy!' laughed the foolish giant. Whereupon this wise cat ate him up. And when the king arrived, he said, 'Here is my master's castle;' which so pleased the king that he gave his daughter to wed and the young man never forgot how his cat helped him to fame and fortune. And this cat is my father," concluded little Puss, Junior, with a bow.

ARKVILLE

"Now I must trust again to my red-topped boots," he sighed, and at once set off to find his dear father. By and by he saw a little man in the distance, who, on coming nearer, turned out to be Tom Thumb.

Puss picked him up and placing him on his shoulder, set off once more. But, goodness me! It soon began to rain, and Tom Thumb crept into a pocket to keep dry.

Towards the middle of the day they arrived on the outskirts of a small village. In the distance they could hear the strokes of a hammer, and then, now and again, the whirr of a saw cutting into hard wood.

"What's going on, I wonder?" said Tom Thumb; "sounds as if they were building a house."

"Don't know," answered Puss, "but let's hurry, for I am soaked to the skin."

On arriving in the village they saw what appeared to be an immense boat in the early stages of construction. It was being erected in the city square, the little park that stood in the midst of the stores and houses.

Drawing nearer they heard a voice singing:

When Puss and Tom halted at the side of the Ark a kind-looking man stopped his hammering and said:

"It's going to rain for forty days and forty nights. There's going to be an awful deluge. You'd better stay in Arkville and get aboard the Ark as soon as it's finished. If you don't you'll get drowned."

"He speaks the truth, I'm thinking," answered Tom Thumb, peeping out of Puss, Junior's, pocket. "It looks to me as if the rain were never going to stop."

"My good sir," said Puss, turning to the man, "it seems to me your advice is good. We'll stay in Arkville for a few days. But where shall we stop? Is there a hotel near?"

"Over yonder is the Hotel Ark," said the man. "I'm the proprietor, and my name is Noah. Go in and make yourselves at home. My sons and I will follow you shortly. We have a few more nails to drive before we quit for the day."

HOTEL ARK

"Come right in," she said as Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb, both wet to the skin, rapped on the door.

"You'd best dry yourselves in the kitchen," she said, leading them down a narrow hall. "It's so warm in there you'll be dry in no time."

This was good news to our two small travelers, for their teeth were chattering like twenty-four small white horses on a red hill.

"Here's a chair for you and here's a chair for Tom Thumb," said Mrs. Noah. "I'm not sure about your name, but I can't mistake that of your little friend." Puss, Junior, turned and bowed. Although he was wet, he did not forget his manners. "My name is Puss in Boots, Junior."

"To be sure, to be sure," cried Mrs. Noah, "I might have known it."

The kitchen fire was burning merrily, bright flames shot up the chimney and sparks from the wood flew out like stars upon the polished floor. Puss pulled off his dripping hat and laid it down on the chair. The feather was much bedraggled and had lost its wave. Tom Thumb undid his coat and hung it up, and then took off his shoes and placed them close to the hearth.

"I think my boots are half full of water," said Puss, Junior; "they are as heavy as lead, and when I walk they make a funny noise." They certainly were full of water, for when Puss finally got them off and turned them over, a stream of water ran down the floor, nearly washing Tom Thumb across the room.

By the time their clothes were dry, Noah and his three sons arrived for supper.

"Still raining!" said the good man, as he closed the door. "I must finish the Ark to-morrow. We may find a lake around the hotel by the morning. Who can tell? But I shall be ready to take in all the animals and my family by noon at the latest."

ALL ABOARD

Puss, Junior, stepped out upon the veranda and looked over the village square. Through the rain he could make out the outlines of the Ark. Just then a voice began to sing:

Pretty soon Noah himself came splashing through the water toward the hotel.

"There is no time to lose," he cried, "the Ark will soon be afloat. Mother, make haste. Tell the girls to come along. We've no time to lose." Mrs. Noah appeared almost immediately, followed by the wives of her three sons. Lifting up their skirts, they waded after Noah. Puss, Junior, picked up Tom Thumb and placed him on his shoulder. From far and near, from the forest and the plain, from everywhere, the animals came hurrying up.

"This reminds me of the circus," laughed Puss, Junior. "I once was with a circus; three days or so; whenever I see an elephant I think of my circus days."

"Let down the gang-plank," commanded Noah, and soon a long procession of animals began to enter the Ark. The rain kept up its heavy downpour and by noon the water was waist deep. All the smaller animals had come aboard and Captain Noah (as he was now called) felt certain by evening he would be able to start on his voyage.

PRECIOUS MOTHER GOOSE

If there was anyone more delighted than Puss, Junior, he could not be found aboard the Ark. To once more see Mother Goose who had so kindly carried him on her Gander many miles filled him with delight. He ran forward to greet her as she alighted from her faithful Gander.

"Mother Goose! Mother Goose!" cried Puss, "I'm so glad to see you again."

"Let us go in. It's getting dreadfully wet outside," she replied giving him a big hug.

Inside the cabin all was dry and cheerful. Mrs. Noah had the stove burning brightly and her three daughter-in-laws were busy; getting supper.

"Let me take your bonnet," said Mrs. Noah and before that dear old lady could remove her headgear, Mrs. Noah had taken out the big pin and undone the strings.

"There, make yourself comfortable," she cried, pushing forward a rocking-chair. "And have you found your father?" asked the Gander, for he and Puss were having a fine time talking over old times.

"No, not yet," answered Puss sadly, "But I hear he is Seneschal at the castle of my Lord of Carabas."

"You must be patient," answered the Gander. "And go in search of more adventures."

"Yes," answered Puss, "and I have with me my good comrade, Tom Thumb."

"All ashore that's going ashore," shouted the hoarse voice of Captain Noah. Then came the tinkle-jingle of the bell and the Ark quivered from bow to stern, and in another moment was off on the dark waters.

CAPTAIN NOAH