"Can you jump over a lighted candlestick?" he asked.
"I never tried," said Puss, "but I guess I can."
"Don't singe your tail!" cried Jack, as Puss prepared himself for the jump.
"Don't worry," replied Puss, Jr. "I think too much of my tail to spoil one single little hair."
Gathering himself together, Puss jumped nimbly over the candle.
"Good for you!" cried the little boy.
"Oh, that's nothing," replied Puss. "I once belonged to a circus."
"You did?" cried the little boy. "Tell me about it."
"Well," said Puss, "there isn't much to tell. I was walking along one day and came up to a big tent. A man asked me if I would not like to join, and I said yes."
"What did you do?" asked the little boy.