to their holes.

The king and queen were quite charmed to get so easily rid of such
plagues and desired that the creature who had done them so great a
kindness might be brought to them for inspection. The captain called,
"Pussy, pussy, pussy!" and she came to him. He then presented her to the
queen, who started back and was afraid to touch a creature who had made
such a havoc among the rats and mice. However, when the captain stroked
the cat and called, "Pussy, pussy," the queen also touched her and
cried, "Putty, putty," for she had not learned English. He then put her
down on the queen's lap; where she, purring, played with her majesty's
hand and then sang herself to sleep.

The king, having seen the exploits of Mrs. Puss and being informed that
she was with young and would stock the whole country, bargained with the
captain for the whole ship's cargo and then gave him ten times as much
for the cat as all the rest amounted to.

The captain then took leave of the royal party and set sail with a fair
wind for England, and after a happy voyage arrived safe in London.

One morning when Mr. Fitzwarren had just come to his counting-house and
seated himself at the desk, somebody came tap, tap, at the door. "Who's
there?" says Mr. Fitzwarren.

"A friend," answered the other; "I come to bring you good news of your
ship _Unicorn_." The merchant, bustling up instantly, opened the door,
and who should be seen waiting but the captain with a cabinet of jewels
and a bill of lading, for which the merchant lifted up his eyes and
thanked heaven for sending him such a prosperous voyage.

They then told the story of the cat and showed the rich present that the
king and queen had sent for her to poor Dick. As soon as the merchant
heard this, he called out to his servants:

"Go fetch him--we will tell him of the same;
Pray call him Mr. Whittington by name."

Mr. Fitzwarren now showed himself to be a good man; for when some of his
servants said so great a treasure was too much for him, he answered,
"God forbid I should deprive him of the value of a single penny."

He then sent for Dick, who at that time was scouring pots for the cook
and was quite dirty.

Mr. Fitzwarren ordered a chair to be set for him, and so he began to
think they were making game of him, at the same time begging them not to
play tricks with a poor simple boy, but to let him go down again, if
they pleased, to his work.

"Indeed, Mr. Whitting