按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the goods he had on board； and sent some of them to
the King of the country； who was so well pleased that
he sent for the captain and the factor to come to his
palace； which was about a mile from the sea。 Here they
were placed； according to the custom of the country；
on rich carpets； flowered with gold and silver； and the
King and Queen being seated at the upper end of the
room； dinner was brought in； which consisted of many
dishes； but no sooner were the dishes put down but an
amazing number of rats and mice came from all quarters
and devoured all the meat in an instant。
The factor； in surprise； turned round to the nobles and
asked if these vermin were not offensive。 〃Oh！ yes；〃
said they； 〃very offensive； and the King would give half
his treasure to be freed of them； for they not only
destroy his dinner； as you see； but they assault him in his
chamber； and even in bed； so that he is obliged to be
watched while he is sleeping； for fear of them。〃
The factor jumped for joy； he remembered poor
Whittington and his cat； and told the King he had a creature
on board the ship that would despatch all these vermin
immediately。 The King's heart heaved so high at the
joy which this news gave him that his turban dropped off
his head。 〃Bring this creature to me；〃 said he； 〃vermin
are dreadful in a court； and if she will perform what you
say I will load your ship with gold and jewels in exchange
for her。〃 The factor； who knew his business； took this
opportunity to set forth the merits of Miss Puss。 He
told his Majesty that it would be inconvenient to part
with her； as； when she was gone； the rats and mice might
destroy the goods in the shipbut to oblige his Majesty
he would fetch her。 〃Run； run；〃 said the Queen； 〃I am
impatient to see the dear creature。〃
Away flew the factor； while another dinner was
providing； and returned with the cat just as the rats and
mice were devouring that also。 He immediately put
down Miss Puss； who killed a great number of them。
The King rejoiced greatly to see his old enemies
destroyed by so small a creature； and the Queen was highly
pleased； and desired the cat might be brought near that
she might look at her。 Upon which the factor 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 havoc
among the rats and mice； however； when the factor
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 Miss Puss； and
being informed that her kittens would stock the whole
country； bargained with the captain and factor for the
whole ship's cargo； and then gave them ten times as
much for the cat as all the rest amounted to。 On which；
taking leave of their Majesties and other great personages
at court； they sailed with a fair wind for England；
whither we must now attend them。
The morn had scarcely dawned when Mr。 Fitzwarren
arose to count over the cash and settle the business for
that day。 He had just entered the counting…house； and
seated himself at the desk； when somebody came； tap；
tap； at the door。 〃Who's there？〃 said Mr。 Fitzwarren。
〃A friend；〃 answered the other。 〃What friend can come
at this unseasonable time？〃 〃A real friend is never
unseasonable；〃 answered the other。 〃I come to bring you
good news of your ship Unicorn。〃 The merchant
bustled up in such a hurry that he forgot his gout；
instantly opened the door； and who should be seen waiting
but the captain and factor； 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。 Then they told him the adventures of the cat；
and showed him the cabinet of jewels which they had
brought for Mr。 Whittington。 Upon which he cried out
with great earnestness； but not in the most poetical
manner：
〃Go； send him in； and tell him of his fame；
And call him Mr。 Whittington by name。〃
It is not our business to animadvert upon these lines；
we are not critics； but historians。 It is sufficient for us
that they are the words of Mr。 Fitzwarren； and though
it is beside our purpose； and perhaps not in our power to
prove him a good poet； we shall soon convince the reader
that he was a good man； which was a much better character；
for when some who were present told him that this
treasure was too much for such a poor boy as Whittington；
he said： 〃God forbid that I should deprive him of
a penny； it is his own； and he shall have it to a farthing。〃
He then ordered Mr。 Whittington in； who was at this
time cleaning the kitchen and would have excused himself
from going into the counting…house； saying the room
was swept and his shoes were dirty and full of hob…nails。
The merchant； however； made him come in； and ordered
a chair to be set for him。 Upon which； thinking they
intended to make sport of him； as had been too often the
case in the kitchen； he besought his master not to mock
a poor simple fellow； who intended them no harm； but
let him go about his business。 The merchant； taking
him by the hand； said： 〃Indeed； Mr。 Whittington； I am
in earnest with you； and sent for you to congratulate
you on your great success。 Your cat has procured you
more money than I am worth in the world； and may you
long enjoy it and be happy！〃
At length； being shown the treasure； and convinced
by them that all of it belonged to him； he fell upon his
knees and thanked the Almighty for his providential care
of such a poor and miserable creature。 He then laid all
the treasure at his master's feet； who refused to take any
part of it； but told him he heartily rejoiced at his
prosperity； and hoped the wealth he had acquired would be a
comfort to him； and would make him happy。 He then
applied to his mistress； and to his good friend Miss Alice；
who refused to take any part of the money； but told him
she heartily rejoiced at his good success； and wished him
all imaginable felicity。 He then gratified the captain；
factor； and the ship's crew for the care they had taken of
his cargo。 He likewise distributed presents to all the
servants in the house； not forgetting even his old enemy
the cook； though she little deserved it。
After this Mr。 Fitzwarren advised Mr。 Whittington to
send for the necessary people and dress himself like a
gentleman； and made him the offer of his house to live
in till he could provide himself with a better。
Now it came to pass when Mr。 Whittington's face was
washed； his hair curled； and he dressed in a rich suit of
clothes； that he turned out a genteel young fellow； and；
as wealth contributes much to give a man confidence； he
in a little time dropped th