PUSS SINGS A SONG AND HELPS A BEGGAR
AFTER he had said good-by to Yankee Doodle Dandy, Puss, Jr., had a good time playing all the morning with some little boys whom he met. One of the little boys got out his hobby-horse and he and Puss, Jr., took turns galloping up and down the sidewalk.
"I had a little hobby-horse,
And it was dapple gray;
Its head was made of pea straw,
Its tail was made of hay,"
sang his mother from the front porch. "My little boy has had a fine time," she said, "but he must come in now and rest, for it is almost luncheon-time."
"And I must be going," said Puss, Jr., "for I have many miles yet to travel ere I find my father, Puss in Boots."
"You have been so kind," said the little boy's mother as she shook hands with Puss.
"Good-by!" cried the little boy, quite sorrowfully, waving his hat as Puss disappeared down the street.
"Heigh-ho!" said Puss to himself, "once more on my journey. I'm a wandering minstrel, as it were," and to suit his words he began to sing:
"A wandering little cat am I,
Seeking father cat,
In my paw my trusty staff,
On my head my hat
With the magic plume the owl
Gave to me one day.
When the journey ends I'll have
Lots of time to play!"