Whittington and His Cat, 



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in his eyes he brought puss down and. gave her to the captain, who 

 immediately thereafter set sail. His life was more lonely than ever, 

 now that his only friend was gone ; and his enemy, the cook, added to 

 her cruel treatment by making fun of him because he had sent his 

 cat to sea. At last he could stand it no longer and determined to run 

 away ; so on the morning of AU-Hallow day, which is November 1st, 

 he left his home and traveled as far as Halloway, and sat there on a 

 stone to rest. While he was resting, the six Bow bells began to ring ; 

 and they seemed to say to him : 



" Turn aguin, \Miittington, 

 Thrice Lord Mayor of London town !" 



It was to him like the revelation of his future life ; and he went 

 back at once to his pots and pans, and brasses and bastings. 



In the mean time the ship with the cat on board was driven on the 

 coast of Barbary, which was inhabited by Moors. The captain sent 

 samples of his goods to the king of the country; and in return the king 

 invited him and the mate to the palace, where they were royally enter- 

 tained. A sumptuous repast was prepared; but no sooner were the 

 dishes set on the table, than the rats and mice ran from all sides, and 

 devoured what was on them. The captain asked the king if they were 

 not offensive to him, and the king answered that he would give half of 

 his wealth to be rid of them. The captain, recollecting poor Dick's cat, 

 said he would help him, and going back to the ship, he brought puss 

 up under his arm. The tables were once more covered : the rats and 

 the mice made the usual onslaught, when the cat jumped out of the 

 captain's arms and slew the intruders in great numbers, to the delight 

 and amazement of all present. The king out of gratitude purchased 

 the whole ship's cargo, and in addition gave a prodigious quantity of 

 gold for the cat, and the captain then set sail for England. Arriving 

 there, those who had sent anything by the ship were again sum- 

 moned by Mr. Fitzwarren to receive their share of the profits of the 

 voyage ; when, to the surprise of all, Whittington received by far the 

 largest portion, and his wealth was, by this single venture, greater than 

 that of the merchant who had given him the opportunity of making 

 the investment. He was now enabled to dress himself as a gentleman, 

 and when he was shaved, and his hair curled, and a brave new hat on 

 his head. Miss Alice, Mr. Fitzwarren's daughter, thought he was really 

 a fine looking young fellow : so the good merchant consented to their 

 marriage, as many a father has had to do before when he couldn't help 

 himself; and in due time Richard Whittington fulfilled the prophecy 



