<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</SPAN></span></p>
<h2>THROUGH THE FOREST</h2>
<div class='cap'>YOU remember when we left off in the
last story, Puss had just made the
Dickory Dare Pig get off the roof of the
Yellow Hen's front piazza, after which the
gaily feathered rooster and the Yellow Hen
and Puss, Junior, went to sleep, which they
couldn't do before on account of that dreadful
pig snoring. Well, he never came back,
for he was so afraid of Puss, Junior's, sword,
that he kept on running until he lost his
shadow, spent a year and a day hunting for
it, and after that he sat down and rested.</div>
<p>The next morning bright and early, just
as the sun was waking up in the East, the
gaily feathered Rooster began to blow his
silver horn to wake the people before the
morn, and some got cross when they heard his
song, but others hurried their dressing along,
and pretty soon Puss was dressed and the
little Yellow Hen combed her feathers and
came down to breakfast. And while they
were at the table, the Rooster came in and
said:<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class='poem'>
"There was an old woman, as I've heard tell,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Who went to market her eggs to sell.</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">As she went to market her eggs to sell</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">On the asphalt pavement she slipped and fell.</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Then came a policeman whose name was Stout,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">When he saw all the eggs lying strewn about,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">He said, 'What is this, a river of eggs</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Too bad, my old woman, you slipped on your legs!'</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Then he helped the little old woman to stand,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And placing a new dollar bill in her hand,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">He said, 'My old woman, don't scramble your eggs</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">On the pavement again by losing your legs.'"</span><br/></div>
<p>"I'll never let her take my eggs to market,"
said the Yellow Hen, and the Rooster flapped
his wings and crowed, he was so glad. And
after that Puss, Junior, said good-by and
went upon his journey, and by and by he
came to a forest. Now this forest was full
of bold robbers, but Puss didn't know that,
so he walked in and by and by he came to a
little hut. From the chimney a thin gray
feather of smoke slowly made its way up
through the tall tree tops, and around the
front door climbed a wild vine. Puss went
up boldly and knocked and when the door
opened he saw a fox. At first he was somewhat
frightened, but the fox said, "Come in,
Sir Cat," so our little traveler entered and
sat down.</p>
<p>Then the fox asked him where he was<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</SPAN></span>
going. "To see my dear father, the famous
Puss in Boots," replied little Puss, Junior.
"It's not very far from here," answered the
fox, "but the way is dangerous. Many robbers
lie in wait for the unwary traveler."</p>
<p>"I have my trusty sword," cried Puss, "I'm
not afraid."</p>
<p>"Well, since you are so brave, I will help
you," said the fox; "I know a way and will
show you how you may escape the robbers."</p>
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