“Bring the creature to me,” said the king. “If she will do what you say, I shall load your ship with gold.”
Away went the captain down to the ship to get the cat, while the king and queen had another dinner made ready. The captain with the cat in his arms reached the palace just as the guests were about to be served. In rushed the rats and mice. As soon as the cat saw them she jumped from the captain’s arms, and in a few minutes killed many of them. The rest scampered away in fright and did not dare to come back again.
The king and queen were delighted, and wished to own the wonderful creature that had done them so great a service. The king at once made a bargain with the captain for all the goods on board the ship, and then gave for the cat ten times as much money as he had given for everything else on the ship.
The captain then bade the king and queen good-by, and set sail for England. The good ship was soon safe at home, and the honest captain hastened to see its owner. He quickly told the story of the cat, and showed all the gold that the king and queen had sent to poor Dick in payment for her. As soon as the merchant heard this, he called to one of his servants and said, “Send for Dick. And pray call him Mr. Whittington.”
The servant found Dick scouring pots and kettles in the kitchen. When the lad came in, the merchant told him how the captain had sold his cat and brought in return great riches. Then he opened the box and showed Dick his treasure. “All this is yours,” said the merchant. “Your riches are now far greater than mine, and I wish you may long enjoy them.”
Poor Dick was so happy that he did not know what to say or do. He begged his master to take part of his treasure, but the good man refused. Dick then offered some of the jewels to his mistress, and he also asked Alice to accept a portion of them. They told him how happy they were because of his good fortune, and that he must keep it all for his own. But the boy was too kind-hearted to keep everything for himself. He made a present to the captain and the sailors, and to each of his master’s servants, even to the cross old cook.
After a few years had passed there was a fine wedding at one of the finest churches in London, and Miss Alice became the wife of Mr. Richard Whittington. They lived in great splendor and were very happy. Far and near they were known and loved for their kind deeds.
So it was not long before Richard Whittington became one of the foremost men in London, and in good time he was thrice Lord Mayor of the great city.—Selected.