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THE HISTORY OF WHITTINGTON
DICK WHITTINGTON was a very little boy when his
father and mother died； so little； indeed； that he never
knew them； nor the place where he was born。 He
strolled about the country as ragged as a colt； till he met
with a wagoner who was going to London； and who gave
him leave to walk all the way by the side of his wagon
without paying anything for his passage。 This pleased
little Whittington very much； as he wanted to see London
sadly； for he had heard that the streets were paved with
gold； and he was willing to get a bushel of it； but how
great was his disappointment； poor boy！ when he saw
the streets covered with dirt instead of gold； and found
himself in a strange place； without a friend； without food；
and without money。
Though the wagoner was so charitable as to let him
walk up by the side of the wagon for nothing； he took
care not to know him when he came to town； and the
poor boy was； in a little time； so cold and hungry that
he wished himself in a good kitchen and by a warm fire
in the country。
In his distress he asked charity of several people； and
one of them bid him 〃Go to work for an idle rogue。〃
〃That I will；〃 said Whittington； 〃with all my heart； I
will work for you if you will let me。〃
The man； who thought this savored of wit and impertinence
（though the poor lad intended only to show his
readiness to work）； gave him a blow with a stick which
broke his head so that the blood ran down。 In this situation；
and fainting for want of food； he laid himself down
at the door of one Mr。 Fitzwarren； a merchant； where the
cook saw him； and； being an ill…natured hussy； ordered
him to go about his business or she would scald him。
At this time Mr。 Fitzwarren came from the Exchange；
and began also to scold at the poor boy； bidding him to
go to work。
Whittington answered that he should be glad to work
if anybody would employ him； and that he should be
able if he could get some victuals to eat； for he had had
nothing for three days； and he was a poor country boy；
and knew nobody； and nobody would employ him。
He then endeavored to get up； but he was so very weak
that he fell down again； which excited so much compassion
in the merchant that he ordered the servants to
take him in and give him some meat and drink； and let
him help the cook to do any dirty work that she had to
set him about。 People are too apt to reproach those who
beg with being idle； but give themselves no concern to
put them in the way of getting business to do； or con…
sidering whether they are able to do it； which is not
charity。
But we return to Whittington； who could have lived
happy in this worthy family had he not been bumped
about by the cross cook； who must be always roasting
and basting； or when the spit was idle employed her
hands upon poor Whittington！ At last Miss Alice； his
master's daughter； was informed of it； and then she took
compassion on the poor boy； and made the servants treat
him kindly。
Besides the crossness of the cook； Whittington had
another difficulty to get over before he could be happy。
He had； by order of his master； a flock…bed placed for
him in a garret； where there was a number of rats and
mice that often ran over the poor boy's nose and
disturbed him in his sleep。 After some time； however；
a gentleman who came to his master's house gave
Whittington a penny for brushing his shoes。 This he put
into his pocket； being determined to lay it out to the
best advantage； and the next day； seeing a woman in
the street with a cat under her arm； he ran up to know
the price of it。 The woman （as the cat was a good
mouser） asked a deal of money for it； but on Whittington's
telling her he had but a penny in the world； and
that he wanted a cat sadly； she let him have it。
This cat Whittington concealed in the garret； for fear
she should be beat about by his mortal enemy the cook；
and here she soon killed or frightened away the rats and
mice； so that the poor boy could now sleep as sound as a
top。
Soon after this the merchant； who had a ship ready
to sail； called for his servants； as his custom was； in
order that each of them might venture something to try
their luck； and whatever they sent was to pay neither
freight nor custom； for he thought justly that God
Almighty would bless him the more for his readiness to let
the poor partake of his fortune。
All the servants appeared but poor Whittington； who；
having neither money nor goods； could not think of sending
anything to try his luck； but his good friend Miss
Alice； thinking his poverty kept him away； ordered him
to be called。
She then offered to lay down something for him； but
the merchant told his daughter that would not do； it
must be something of his own。 Upon which poor Whittington
said he had nothing but a cat which he bought
for a penny that was given him。 〃Fetch thy cat； boy；〃
said the merchant； 〃and send her。〃 Whittington brought
poor puss and delivered her to the captain； with tears in
his eyes； for he said he should now be disturbed by the
rats and mice as much as ever。 All the company laughed
at the adventure but Miss Alice； who pitied the poor
boy； and gave him something to buy another cat。
While puss was beating the billows at sea； poor
Whittington was severely beaten at home by his tyrannical
mistress the cook； who used him so cruelly； and made
such game of him for sending his cat to sea； that at last
the poor boy determined to run away from his place； and
having packed up the few things he had； he set out very
early in the morning on All…Hallows day。 He traveled
as far as Holloway； and there sat down on a stone to
consider what course he should take； but while he was thus
ruminating； Bow bells； of which there were only six；
began to ring； and he thought their sounds addressed
him in this manner：
〃Turn again； Whittington；
Thrice Lord Mayor of London。〃
〃Lord Mayor of London！〃 said he to himself； 〃what
would not one endure to be Lord Mayor of London； and
ride in such a fine coach？ Well； I'll go back again； and
bear all the pummelling and ill…usage of Cicely rather
than miss the opportunity of being Lord Mayor！〃 So
home he went； and happily got into the house and about
his business before Mrs。 Cicely made her appearance。
We must now follow Miss Puss to the coast of Africa。
How perilous are voyages at sea； how uncertain the winds
and the waves； and how many accidents attend a naval
life！
The ship that had the cat on board was long beaten at
sea； and at last； by contrary winds； driven on a part of
the coast of Barbary which was inhabited by Moors
unknown to the English。 These people received our
countrymen with civility； and therefore the captain；
in order to trade with them； showed them the patterns
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