192 The Book of Cats. 



" When the net had been procured, they set it in 

 the chimney, and presently caught the old lady, 

 and after much trouble they starved her into com- 

 pliance. Then, by magical art, she put on an ap- 

 pearance of youth and beauty, and the wizard 

 married her in an ecstacy of delight ; but was he 

 not in a fury when, evening approaching, she re- 

 sumed her pristine ugliness. And was he not dis- 

 gusted at his bride, in spite of the treasure she had 

 brought him. As for Tom, like many bad people, 

 he lived happy ever afterwards." 



Here is an abridgement of the famous tale of 

 Puss in Boots : — 



" A miller died, leaving his youngest son nothing 

 but a Cat : the poor young fellow complained bit- 

 terly of his fate ; the Cat bade him be of good cheer, 

 and procure a pair of boots and a bag : the youth 

 contrived to do so. The first attempt Puss made 

 was to go into a warren, in which there was a great 

 number of rabbits. He put some bran and parsley 

 into his bag ; and then, stretching himself out at 

 full length, as if he were dead, he waited for some 

 young rabbits, who as yet knew nothing of the 

 cunning tricks of the world, to come and get into 

 the bag. Scarcely had he laid down, before he 

 succeeded as well as could be wished. A giddy 



