 | Puss in boots, and the Marquis of Carabas |  |
18
PLATE II.
The weary old miller lay dead in his grave;
And he left his three sons all the wealth he could save—
The mill and the ass, and the great gray cat;
John and Jacob took these, and poor Will took that.
And he left his three sons all the wealth he could save—
The mill and the ass, and the great gray cat;
John and Jacob took these, and poor Will took that.
On the ass, by the gateway, sat Jacob one morn,
While his brother, the eldest, was grinding his corn;
And within was young William, as sad as could be;
“For what can I do with a pussy?” said he.
While his brother, the eldest, was grinding his corn;
And within was young William, as sad as could be;
“For what can I do with a pussy?” said he.
Pussy set up his back to his master's surprise,
Looking full in his face, with his knowing, green eyes;
And thus, in an accent uncommonly shrill,
He warmly replied to our wondering Will:
Looking full in his face, with his knowing, green eyes;
And thus, in an accent uncommonly shrill,
He warmly replied to our wondering Will:
19
“Good breeding forbids, that I walk through the street,
Among all the élite, without boots to my feet;
Just order a pair, and I'll soon let you see,
If Johnny and Jacob are richer than we.”
Among all the élite, without boots to my feet;
Just order a pair, and I'll soon let you see,
If Johnny and Jacob are richer than we.”
There was that in his look, which astounded the youth,
A mixture of cunning, of wisdom, and truth;
But ere Will, in amaze, could an answer begin,
A shoe-maker passed, so he bade him come in.
A mixture of cunning, of wisdom, and truth;
But ere Will, in amaze, could an answer begin,
A shoe-maker passed, so he bade him come in.
| Puss in boots, and the Marquis of Carabas | |