Page 42 - The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Jr.

"Then you certainly don't want to take Gingerbread Road," replied the donkey, "so it is not hard to choose
which way to go."

"Thank you," said Puss, turning his horse's head down the road to the left. "I will take the left road because it
is the right road!"

"Ha, ha!" brayed the donkey, "that's a good joke for a cat. May you have a pleasant journey!"

"Lift your ears and blow your horn; the sheep's in the meadow, the cows' in the corn!" cried Puss, gaily.
"Although the morn is awake, I fear Boy Blue is still asleep."

And with these words our small hero cantered down the road and out of sight.

PUSS MEETS A HAPPY FARMER BUT MISSES A GOOD MEAL

Toward noon of a fine day Puss, Jr., halted his good gray horse near a meadow. Standing near the fence,
sharpening his scythe, stood a young farmer. His wide straw hat kept off the sun and his loose shirt and open
collar let in the breeze which was blowing across the green grass.

"Warm day," said Puss, as he drew rein.

"Well," replied the farmer, "it's not so bad. I don't feel it." And he commenced to sing:

"My maid Mary she minds the dairy, While I go a-hoeing and mowing each morn, Gaily run the reel and the
little spinning-wheel, Whilst I am singing and mowing my corn."

"Are farmers always so happy?" asked Puss when the man stopped singing.

The farmer smiled and said: "My good sir, when one is blessed with a fine wife and a good farm he can beat a
canary-bird at singing."

"You don't say so!" said Puss, Jr. "But suppose one has neither, what should such an unlucky one do?"

"Don't ask me," said the farmer, setting to work again. "I'm a simple man, and what is happiness for me might
not be for another."

As he swung his scythe back and forth the tall grass fell in graceful rows and the sweet scent of the
new-mown hay was everywhere. Suddenly Puss saw a field-mouse scampering over the ground. This was too
much for Puss. He had eaten nothing since breakfast, and he had not had a mouse to eat for so long that he had
almost forgotten how mice tasted. Jumping down from his good gray horse, he gave chase.

"Go it, Sir Cat!" cried the farmer. "Don't lose him."

Puss needed no words of encouragement. He longed for a good run, and his mouth fairly watered at the idea
of a nice fat little mouse for lunch. But the field-mouse saw him coming and wasted no time. Away he went,
hopping over the grass and looking wildly about for a place in which to hide. A trunk of a fallen tree at no
great distance attracted his attention, and with a final burst of speed he reached it and crawled into a hole
before Puss had the opportunity to seize him by the tail.

"Oh, pshaw!" cried Puss, sitting down on the log. "I surely thought I had him."