At last the coach stopped at the Ogre's castle, and Puss came out, and bowing very low, said, "Your majesty and the princess are welcome to the castle of my Lord Marquis of Carrabas."

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE KING AND PRINCESS VISIT THE MARQUIS.]

The king was delighted, for it was indeed a very nice castle, full of riches. They sat down to a great feast, which Puss ordered to be served, and the king was so pleased with the miller's son and thought him such a good match for the princess, that he invited him to court, and in a little while gave him his daughter for his wife, and made him a prince.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MARRIAGE OF THE MARQUIS AND PRINCESS.]

You may be quite sure that the miller's son was very grateful to Puss for his good fortune, and she never had to catch mice for her dinner any more, for dainty meat and the best cream were every day given to Puss in Boots.

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD.

Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard To get her poor Dog a bone; But when she came there The cupboard was bare, And so the poor Dog had none.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OLD MOTHER HUBBARD AND HER DOG.]

She went to the baker's To buy him some bread, But when she came back The poor Dog looked dead.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG LOOKING DEAD.]

She went to the hatter's To buy him a hat, But when she came back He was feeding the cat.

She went to the barber's To buy him a wig, But when she came back He was dancing a jig.

She went to the joiner's To buy him a coffin, But when she came back The poor Dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish To get him some tripe, But when she came back He was smoking a pipe.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG SMOKING A PIPE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG STANDING ON HIS HEAD.]

She went to the ale-house To get him some beer, But when she came back The Dog sat in a chair.

She went to the tavern For white wine and red, But when she came back The Dog stood on his head.

She went to the fruiterer's To buy him some fruit, But when she came back He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor's, To buy him a coat, But when she came back He was riding a goat.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG PLAYING THE FLUTE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG SPINNING.]

She went to the sempstress To buy him some linen, But when she came back The Dog was a-spinning.

She went to the hosier's To buy him some hose, But when she came back He was dressed in his clothes.

She went to the cobbler's To buy him some shoes, But when she came back He was reading the news.

The Dame made a curtsey, The Dog made a bow; The Dame said, "Your servant;"

The Dog said, "Bow-wow!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG READING THE NEWS.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOG MADE A BOW.]

This wonderful Dog Was Dame Hubbard's delight; He could sing, he could dance, He could read, he could write.

So she gave him rich dainties Whenever he fed, And erected a monument When he was dead.

c.o.c.k ROBIN.

Who killed c.o.c.k Robin?

I, said the Sparrow, With my bow and arrow.

I killed c.o.c.k Robin.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SPARROW, c.o.c.k ROBIN, AND THE FISH.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LINNET, THE DOVE, AND c.o.c.k ROBIN.]

Who saw him die?

I, said the Fly, With my little eye.

I saw him die.

Who caught his blood?

I, said the Fish, With my little dish.

I caught his blood.

Who'll carry him to the grave?

I, said the Kite, If it's not in the night.

I'll carry him to the grave.

Who'll carry the link?

I, said the Linnet, I'll fetch it in a minute.

I'll carry the link.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE KITE AND c.o.c.k ROBIN.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE OWL, THE BEETLE, AND c.o.c.k ROBIN.]