IN

DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT

N the reign of the famous King Edward III lived a little boy called Dick Whittington. His father and mother died when he was so young that he did not remember them at all. He had no home, and was a ragged little fellow, running about the streets of a country village. Not being old enough to work, he was very badly off. He usually got but little for his dinner, and sometimes nothing at all for his breakfast. The people of the village were very poor, and could spare nothing but crusts of bread, the parings of potatoes, and such food, and often there was not enough of even that to satisfy his hunger.

In spite of all this, Dick grew to be a very sharp boy. He was always listening to what was being talked about. On Sundays he was sure to get near the farmers as they sat talking in the churchyard, before the parson came. At times you might see Dick leaning against the sign post of the village alehouse, where people stopped as they came from the market town. When the barber's shop was open, Dick listened to all the news the customers told one another.

In this way Dick heard a great many strange things about the great city called London. At that

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time the foolish country people thought that the folks in London were all fine gentlemen and ladies, and that there was singing and music there all the day long, and that the streets were all paved with gold.

One day a large wagon with eight horses, all with bells on their heads, was driven through the village while Dick was standing by the sign post. He thought this wagon must be going to London, so he took courage and asked the driver to let him walk by the side of the wagon. When the man heard that Dick had no father or mother, and saw by his ragged clothes that he could not be worse off than he was, he told him he might go with him if he wished.

No one ever knew how Dick managed to get food on the road, or how he could walk so far, or what he did at night for a place to sleep in, for it was a very long way. Very likely some good-natured people in the towns he passed through, when they saw how ragged and poor he was, gave him something to eat, and it may be that the driver let him sleep in the wagon.

However, Dick reached London safely, and was in a great hurry to see the fine streets all paved with gold, that he had heard of. He ran from one street to another, hoping every moment to come to

those paved with gold. Dick had seen a guinea three times in his own little village, and remembered what a deal of money it brought in change, and thought he had nothing to do but take up some little bits of the pavement, and have all the money he could wish for.

Dick ran till he was tired, and quite forgot his friend the wagoner, but at last it began to grow dark, and everywhere he saw dirty, filthy streets. Nowhere were to be found the gold pavements. He sat down in a dark corner and cried himself to sleep. He was all night in the streets. In the morning he woke up very hungry, and walking on, asked every one he met to give him a half penny to keep him from starving. Nobody stopped to answer him, and only two or three gave him a half penny, and the poor boy grew quite weak and faint for the want of food.

At last a good-natured-looking gentleman, seeing how hungry he looked, said, "Why don't you go to work, my lad?" "I would be glad to do so, but I do not know where to look for any," said Dick.

66 If you are willing, come with me," said the gentleman. Dick went with him to a hayfield, where he worked busily, and lived merrily, till the haying was done.

After this, he soon found himself as badly off as

before, and one day laid himself down at the door of Mr. Fitzwarren, a rich merchant. He was almost starved; but this did not make the cook, who soon saw him, at all kind to him. She was an ill-tempered woman, and being busy getting dinner ready, called out, "What business have you there, you lazy rogue? There is nothing else but beggars. If you do not take yourself away, you shall have a sousing of dishwater. I have some here, hot enough to make you jump."

Just then, Mr. Fitzwarren came home to dinner; and when he saw a dirty, ragged boy at the door, he said, "Why do you lie there, my boy? You seem to be old enough to work; I am afraid you are inclined to be lazy."

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'No, indeed, sir," said Dick to him; "that is not the case. I would be glad to work; but I do not know anybody, and I am sick for want of food."

"Poor fellow! Get up, and let me see what ails you," said the merchant.

Dick tried to rise, but he had to lie down again, as he was too weak to stand. He had eaten no food for three days, and was no longer able even to walk. The kind merchant ordered him to be taken into the house. He was given a good dinner, and kept to help the cook by doing dirty work.

Dick would have lived very happily in this family,

had it not been for the ill-natured cook, who found fault with him and scolded him from morning till night. She would strike him with her broom, and ill use him in many ways. Some one told Alice, the daughter of Mr. Fitzwarren, of her conduct, and she told the cook that she would be dismissed if she did not treat Dick better.

From this time he was treated better; but he had another trouble. His bed was in the garret, and the floor was full of holes, and he was tormented every night with rats and mice. A gentleman having given Dick a penny for cleaning his shoes, he thought he would buy a cat with it. The next day he saw a girl with a cat, and he offered her the penny for it. She let him have it, and told him it was an excellent mouser. Dick kept the cat in his garret, and took her a part of his dinner each day. In a short time there were no rats or mice left to trouble him.

Soon after this, his master had a ship ready to sail on a trading voyage. He let all his servants who wished to do so take some part in the venture. He called them all together, and asked each one what he would send out. All had something to venture but Dick, who had neither money nor goods. He did not meet with the others.

Miss Alice, the merchant's daughter, suspected the