WHITTmGTON AND HIS CAT. 



By Erxest J. Miller. 



[Read before the Albany Institute, Dec. 7, 1880.] 



So much attention has been given of late years to the history of 

 our proverbs, nursery rhymes and nursery tales, that I offer no apology 

 for the subject I am to present to you this evening. By the forma- 

 tion of folk-lore societies, both in this country and in England, this 

 particular kind of investigation has been fostered and increased ; and 

 all the facts that are ascertained, all the old customs that are ex- 

 plained, all the familiar stories that are traced to their origin, are 

 esteemed as so many contributions to the history of the times to 

 to which they refer. And they no doubt give us a correct view of how 

 our ancestors lived; what they ate and drank ; how they spoke the 

 language we speak, and how they thought, and oftentimes w^hat they 

 thought about ; and in this way we learn the history of the people as 

 individuals, which is fully as interesting as their history as a state or 

 nation. The person to whom I shall call your attention this evening 

 was a high-minded, noble, honorable, benevolent man, fully justify- 

 ing the title that has been given him, the model merchant of the 

 fourteenth century," and I only regret that I have not been able, with 

 the resources at my command, to give a more extended and complete 

 account of his life and good deeds. His biography has been partially 

 written ; but even if I could have found a copy of it — which I could 

 not — I deem it better that I should gather what facts I could find, 

 and present them to you, rather than avail myself of another's labor 

 in this respect. In order, then, that we may understand this subject 

 as I desire to present it, I must ask you to bear with me, while I relate, 

 substantially, the nursery tale of Whittington and his cat, as I find it 

 in the chap-book of the present day ; and perhaps while you are 

 hearing it, you will renew your youth, and the early days will come 

 back again. 



Little Dick Whittington was born in the northern part of England, 

 in the reign of Edward III. His parents died when he was very 

 young; and the little fellow was left to shift for himself, earning a 

 living by holding horses and doing such errands as he could get 

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