Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-05

ean be with YOU only few more hours Al
the wealth possess is the old mill, don
kew and a cat. These are yours to do wifi
Is you think best"
Soon after the miller died and was laid t.
rest. Then the eldest son divided the prop
eIty. He kept the mill for himself, gav'
he donkey to the second son, and there wa
nothing left for the youngest son, Edwin
Except the large gray cat The boy wa
very much dissatisfied with his share, ant
said: ''What can l do with a cat? If |
were made of gold it would be of SOM
value; but | cannot even sell its FUR. Int
best thing for me to do is to drown It.
The cat heard these words, and creeping
from his place behind the stove he stole W
his master, and looking piteously into
his face said: do not despise me, klnc
master, nor allow Inc TO be killed; for L ear
bring great fortune to you. Only give me
bag; then buy ME a hat and pair of boots,
and Won will see that your share OF your
fathers wealth is the best.
Edwin laughed heartily at this speech,
but replied: You are sly animal, ana
who knows but that You might bring me
some luck"
The hat and boots were purchased, and
dressed in these the cat took his bag and
began his travels He first went into the
field and thought: "Now. L will try to
catch a rabbit. for | am told that the King
Is verv fond OF stewed rabbit.
He then stretched himself out as if dead,
and directly several rabbits hoped near,
gazing curiouslv at the strange sight of a
cat dressed in hat and boots. 1t was not
long before the eat had the unsuspecting
animals in his bag, and was making his wav
To the Kings palace. When he reached the
gate the servants laughed loud and long at
The cat dressed in such costume, and they
willingly led him to the King. When he
had come into the royal presence, the cat
took of his hat, made a low bow, and said:
Your Majesty, my master, Co1nt Have
nothing, has sent me to you with this prss-
ent, which he begs you to accept.
The King took the rabbits, and sent many
thanks to the kind Count. A day or two
LATER the eat came again with squirrels,
which he said were a present TO the King
from Count Havenothing. This time the
King sent not only thanks, but purse of
gold, which the delighted cat carried TO
Edwin, who greatly praised him for his
shrcwdneSs For several months the cat
carried gifts 10 the King and always re-
ceived in return some rich present for his
master
One morning, the cat said to Edwin: ''To-
day l shall make your fortune for you;
hut you must do exactly as | say. The
King is going to ride with his daughter past
the mill, and when his carriage comes in
sight, you must jump into the millpond." +"
Edwin had now such confidence in his
faithful servant that without asking why,
promised 20 do as be was told. The miller's
son watched all day for the Kings carriage.
Late in the afternoon he saw it approach,
and as it drew near, Edwin jumped into the
stream. The cat stood on the bank, and
i Ill. IL. ~,
ing has fallen into the millpond and is
drowning
The King recognized the cats voice, and
remembering the many gifts ne had re-
ceived from the Count. he sent his servants
TO rescue the man, whom he thought to be
drowning When the servants had pulled
Edwin out of the water, and had returned
10 the carriage, the King said: go to Count
lIayenothing, and tell him that the King
sends him an invitation TO ride in the royal
carriage" "
But the cat said: eYour Majesty, nv
master has lust been taken from the pond,
and, although nothing would give him
greater pleasure than to ride with you, he
could not appear before you and the Princess
in his dripping clothes.
The King then dispatched a servant to
the castle for a princely suit with which TO
adorn the young Count. When Edwin,
dressed in his courtly dress and attended by
his faithful servant, appeared, the Princess
thought him the most handsome youth she
had ever seen, and the King repeated his
invitation for him to ride with him.
While Edwin, the poor miller's son, was
riding in company with the ruler of the
land the cat sped like the wind over the
road until he came to a large castle made
wholly of gold and precious stones. In the
gardens sparkled crystal fountains, and the
rich perfume of choice flowers filled the air
Here lived an old magician who was skilled
in all magic arts, and who was a cause of
terror TO all the people of the surrounding
country. His wealth was much greater
even than the Kings, and his palace was
the grandest in the world. The cat entered
the magnificent building, and went directly
into the presence of the owner, who was a
little, old man. bent almost double from
bending over books so much. His thin,
gray hair hung down over his shoulders, his
small, black eyes were set deep in his head,
and his face was yellow and wrinkled He
looked up as the cat came in, and said
angrily: How dare you come here to dis
Iurb me2"
The cat took off his hat, made his best
bow, and said: 81 do not come to disturb
you; but have heard what great man you
arc and i simple wished to see vou.''
The old man was yerv much fiattered by
these words, and replied: Eyes, am a
great man: but l did not know that cats had
heard OF me. -
There is no creature who has not heard
OF YOU, " returned the cat, land thought
perhaps if came here dressed in nv new
hat and boots, you would perform some of
your magic arts for me. !"
81 shall do SO with pleasure, answered
The old man. ''What shall do first
II ha EE,l,o
can change yourself into any animal YOU
wish; but l do not believe il"
of course, caD," cried the magician,
.'and if you dare to say that cannot shall
kill YOU at once"
Instantly the old man vanished and in his
place stood a large lion shaking his main |
and roaring furiously. The cat was so |
frightened that he sprang out of the win |
dow and ran as fast as he could toward the |
gate. But the old man laughed heartily |
and cried: Come back. Now will you |
believe that YOU have heard about me?''
The cat came back and said: 81 have |
seen you become raging lion; but can you /
become SO small an animal as a mouse?"
The magician made no reply; but a mo-
uent later tiny mouse was running over
c he floor. Quick as fash the cat seized |
and killed the little creature. Then he |
went about among the servants and told 4
Them that their old master, the magician,
Uas dead and their new master, Count
would soon arrive. The faith
Iul cat then stationed himself at the gate,
and watched for the Kings carriage. When
the royal party came near he said: 'Mas-
ter, everything is in readiness for your
quests"
Edwin felt that he could trust his servant,
and he said to the King: ''This is nv palace.
viii not you and the Princess stop here to
reSt9''