Puss in Boots

This story is called Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault, adapted and Recorded by LibraryCall A mill worker died, leaving three sons to divide his fortune among them. The eldest took the mill and the land around it; the second took the animals, and then there was nothing left for the third son, Jack, but three bits of silver money, and a little cat that lived in the mill. “This is all very well,” said Jack, “and the cat is a fine little cat and can feed on the mice it catches, but I do no t see how I am to live on three pieces of money.” “Oh,” answered his brothers, “you will have to start out in the world and do the best you can for yourself.” Jack took the little cat and started out. “Do not worry, sir,” said the little cat. “You have three silver pieces. Take them and buy me a little pair of boots and a bag, and I will make your fortune for you.” Jack did not want to spend his money on a pair of boots for a cat, but he knew he was a wise little animal, so he did as he said. Puss, in his little boots, traveled to the King’s palace. When he arrived, he asked to see the King. A cat in boots was such a strange sight that he was at once brought before his majesty. Puss brought the King two rabbits for his dinner. The King was very grateful and gave Puss some money for the generous gift. Puss kept bringing the King animals for dinner. The King paid Puss for the gifts he brought. The King inquired where the delicious gifts came from. Puss told him they were from the Duke of Carrabas, who Jack posed as. One day the King went out for a ride with his daughter, and many of his court rode with him. Puss came in haste to his owner, Jack. “Come quick!” he cried. “We have done well enough so far, but the time has now come when I will make your fortune.” The cat then led Jack to a river. He knew the King would pass by before long. He told Jack to take off his clothes and hide them under a rock, and then stand in the river up to his neck. Jack did this, though the water was so cold it made him shiver, and he did not know how Puss was to make his fortune in this way. Puss waited until he saw Jack well in the river, and then he ran to the road to meet the King. “Help! help!” he cried. “Oh, help! My owner—the noble Duke of Carrabas! He will surely drown.” “What’s the matter?” asked the King, stopping his coach. “Oh, your Majesty!” cried the cat. “My noble owner! He was attacked by robbers. They robbed him of everything and threw him in the river, and unless he receives help he will surely drown.” The King was very concerned. At once, he sent his advisors to rescue Jack from the river and dress him in robes of velvet, satin, and gold lace. Jack had never dressed so magnificently before. The King was so pleased with Jack’s looks that he made him get into the coach and sit beside him. Meanwhile, the little cat had hurried on far ahead of the coaches. Presently, Puss came to a field where people were harvesting grain. Puss marched up to them, scowling fiercely and bristling out his whiskers until he looked twice as big as he really was. The harvesters were frightened. “Listen!” shouted Puss. “The King will soon come by with my owner, the Duke of Carrabas. If he should ask you who this grain belongs to, answer that it belongs to the Duke of Carrabas.” They promised to do exactly as the cat told them. So it went on; it seemed as though everything was to be claimed by the Duke of Carrabas. Now, all these things really belonged to an ogre who was very rich, strong, and terrible. After a while, Puss came to the castle where the ogre lived. The little cat was not afraid of ogres. When the ogre saw the cat in his fine shiny, creaking boots he was so amused that he laughed out loud. He had never seen such a sight before. “And where did you come from, my fine little cat?” he asked. “Oh, from over the hills and far away.” “And what do you want here?” “I only wanted to see you because everyone says you are the strongest and most wonderful ogre in all the world.” “Well, and now that you’ve seen me, what do you think of me?” he asked. “Is it true that you have magical powers?” Puss asked. “Why yes I do,” answered the Ogre. “Can you change yourself into animals if you choose? A lion or an elephant for instance?” asked Puss. “Oh, yes, that is easy enough.” “I would like to see you do that,” said the cat. The Ogre agreed and transformed into a fierce lion, causing Puss to hiss in fright and flee from the room. Then the ogre turned himself back into his own shape and laughed and laughed. “Come back, Puss,” he called, “I will not hurt you; but now you see, everything they told you was true.” Puss came scrambling back into the room, and he looked very meek and timid. “Yes, I see it was all true,” he said. “Could you turn yourself into a mouse?” “Yes, of course,” said the Ogre. As soon as the ogre became a mouse, clever Puss quickly caught him and swallowed him up before he could even squeak. That was the end of the ogre. Meanwhile, the King, the Princess, and Jack were rolling along together in the fine coach, having a pleasant chat. The King was so pleased with Jack’s conversation that he told the coachman to drive slowly, so they could have more time together. Eventually, they came to the field of grain where the harvesters were at work. “That is a fine field of grain,” said the King; and he leaned from the coach and called to the farmers, asking who owned the field. The farmers informed the King that it belonged to the Duke of Carrabas. This went on and the King learned that everything along the road belonged to Jack, who of course, was pretending to be the Duke of Carrabas. The King was very impressed. Jack asked the King and Princess to join him for a feast. The King and the Princess took their places at the table, and Jack sat between them. They ate and drank and feasted to their hearts’ content. They ate food served on gold platters, and the King had never tasted more delicious food. At the end of the feast the King turned to Jack and said, “My dear Duke, you must be a very rich man.” “I am so rich,” answered Jack, “that I really do not know how much I have.” The Princess’ and Jack’s eyes met, and they had a beautiful conversation, falling in love right away. Jack asked for the Princess’ hand in marriage, and she delightfully said yes. Jack returned with the King and the Princess to the royal palace, and the Princess and Jack were married and lived happily ever after. The clever little cat who had brought Jack so many riches lived in the palace with them, sleeping on the softest cushion in the warmest corner by the fire. As for Jack’s brothers, when they heard of the good fortune that had come to Jack, and how he had fallen in love with the Princess, they wished they had kept Puss, the best part of their father’s fortune.