SAILORS TWO
"THERE was an old woman of Glo'ster,
Whose parrot two guineas it cost her,
But his tongue never ceasing,
Was vastly displeasing
To the talkative woman of Glo'ster."
Now as soon as the old woman who lived next door saw Puss, Junior, climb the tree to catch the parrot who had flown out of the window, she cried, "Don't let the pussy cat get you, Polly."
But goodness me! As soon as the old woman's parrot heard that he was up in the tree with the other parrot, and then they both began to scream, "I won't come back! I won't come back!"
"I don't care what they do," said the old woman, "I'd much rather have a cat for a pet than a parrot, anyway. He has been a dreadful care ever since my son, who is a sailor, brought him home."
So Puss looked down from the tree and said, "Then would you rather I didn't catch your parrot?"
"Yes, let him go," said the old woman.
"But I must catch the other one," said Puss.
"Well, you'll have to get a pair of wings, my dear Sir Cat," cried the parrot. "You may be Puss in Boots, Junior, but you can't fly. So I bid you farewell," and away he flew, and then the old woman's parrot clapped his wings and followed him.
So there was nothing for Puss to do but come down from the tree. And then all of a sudden the old woman cried, "Why, here comes my son," and a sailor boy jumped over the fence and threw his arms around her.
"My ship just got in to-day, mother," he cried, giving her a big hug. And after that he looked at Puss, and said, "Shiver my timbers, but that's a fine cat you have, mother."
"He's not mine," answered the old woman, "but I wish he would stay with us, my parrot has just flown away."
"Thank you, madam," said Puss, "but I must be on my way to find my father, Puss in Boots."
"We sail to-morrow," said the sailor boy, "why don't you come aboard ship? You'll have a fine trip, and maybe you'll find your father at the first sea-port we reach."
"Good idea," cried Puss, "I'll go with you."
"All right, my hearty," cried the sailor boy, slapping Puss on the back, "you and I will be pals. A sailor's life is the life for me."
"Then I'll be a sailor, too," cried Puss, "and to-morrow we will sail the ocean blue."