"Let him go, mother," said the little old man. "He would have given me a ride on his horse on my way home had we met sooner." But how he knew that is more than I can tell. "Here, Sir Cat. Take this gold piece and tell neither man nor beast where you got it." And he pushed Puss up the little flight of stairs.
"TICK, TACK, TOO"
ONE day Puss, Junior's, Good Gray Horse lost a shoe.
"Gracious me! I must find a smithy," said Puss, Junior, anxiously. Luckily there was a small village near by, and pretty soon he drew rein in front of a blacksmith shop. But, oh, dear me! there was no one there except a small boy.
Jack Jingle went 'prentice
To make a horseshoe;
He wasted the iron
Till it would not do.
His master came in
And began for to rail.
Said Jack, "The shoe's spoiled,
But 'twill still make a nail."
He tried at the nail,
But, chancing to miss,
Said, "If it won't make a nail,
It shall yet make a hiss."
Then into the water
Threw the hot iron, smack,
"Hiss!" quoth the iron.
"I thought so," said Jack.
"You good for nothing!" cried the blacksmith, coming into the shop, "here's a customer at hand and you have no shoe for his horse."
"How long will it take to make one?" asked Puss, Junior.