d. "I'll take
the mare home. That's the best way, I guess."

CANDY TOWN

PUSS, JUNIOR, helped the farmer's pretty daughter into the saddle, and
then away went the Good Gray Horse to Candy Town. Well, after maybe a
mile and a laugh and smile, Puss said, "I feel just like a Knight of the
Round Table, for I have rescued a maiden in distress." And this made the
farmer's pretty daughter laugh till her cheeks grew red as two apples.

"Well, then, I shall call you Sir Cat," she said, and this so pleased
Puss that he began to purr at a great rate. It was great fun, he
thought. And the farmer's daughter thought it great sport, too, I
imagine, for she began to sing a little song, and this is the way it
went:

"Heigh-ho, over we go,
Pussy and I to town,
What does he wish? A nice little fish,
And I a silken gown.
But where is the money to buy all that,
Unless I may borrow from Sir Pussy Cat?"

"Of course you may," cried Puss. "Just wait till we get to town."

And then the farmer's pretty daughter blushed very red. "I was only in
fun," she said.

[Illustration]

"But I wasn't," replied Puss.

"Why, have you enough money?" she asked, giving him a hug.

"Don't squeeze so tight," cried Puss. "We may have an accident, and one
is enough for to-day. I hope your father will get the old gray mare
home safely."

"Never fear," she replied, "father will attend to that, all right."

"Here we are," said Puss, looking up at a sign-post on which was
written, "Candy Town." "Now, where's the shop with the silken gowns?"

"Over there. Don't you see it right next to the baker's shop."

"Oh yes," laughed Puss, "I see it now," and he drew rein in front of the
quaint little shop and helped the farmer's daughter to alight.

"Come in with me," she said, "for I'd like to buy what you like." And
this so pleased Puss that he made up his mind to buy any gown she
fancied, even if it were trimmed with diamonds.

"Do you want that pretty blue one?" he asked, with a smile.

"How did you guess?" she answered. "You are a wonderful cat."

"And now," said Puss, when the gown was wrapped up, "let's have a cream
puff in the baker's next door, for I'm sure you're hungry."

"You're a wonderful guesser, Sir Puss," she cried, "indeed you are, as
well as a most generous little cat."

THE BRAMBLE BUSH MAN

THERE was a man in our town,
And he wa