Adventures of Puss in Boots, Jr.

<h2><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</SPAN></span> <SPAN name="cake" id="cake"></SPAN>A TERRIBLE FIGHT STOPPED BY USING PLUM-CAKE</h2> <p class="cap2">AS the circus entered a town one bright, sunny morning, the lion and the unicorn escaped from their cages. Great was the excitement! All the circus people started after them with long ropes, hoping to be able to lasso them.</p> <p>At first the townsfolk were greatly frightened, but gradually, as they found out that the lion and the unicorn paid little attention to them, their fear gave way to interest. It seems that the lion was an enemy of the unicorn, and as soon as they were free they began to fight.</p> <div class="block32"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Some gave them plum-cake and sent them out of town.<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>If it had not been for the plum-cake I verily believe they would have been fighting still. But as soon as the unicorn saw the plum-cake he said to the lion:</p> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</SPAN></span>"What's the use of fighting, Leon? Let's have a truce. In fact, I'm hungry."</p> <p>"So am I," replied the lion. "I haven't had a sweet thing since I joined the circus. And you know how hard it is to see all the little boys and girls eating candy and popcorn and not be able to get even one little piece."</p> <p>"That's quite true," replied the unicorn. "People seem to think all I require is hay. And as for you, they think raw meat is enough."</p> <p>With these friendly words they stopped fighting and began to eat the plum-cake. All the townsfolk stood by watching them. When the circus-men arrived on the scene they were too surprised for the moment to do a thing. They just stood still and watched the two animals eat the cake, even waiting until the lion had picked up the last crumb and the unicorn the last raisin. Then they came forward very quietly and threw a rope first over the lion's head and then over the unicorn's, and led them back to their cages. Puss, Jr., who had by this time arrived on the scene, turned to the people and said:</p> <p>"Ladies and gentlemen, it was very kind of you to give plum-cake to our animals. It only goes to show what kindness will do. I hope you will appreciate how much we thank you for what you have done, and also that you will come to our show to-night. I can assure you we will give<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</SPAN></span> you a double bill to show you how much we appreciate what you have done for us."</p> <p>"Hurrah!" cried the crowd. "Three cheers for Sir Cat!"</p> <p>That night there was a tremendous attendance. The tent was crowded. Everybody was in a jolly frame of mind. All the circus people did their best. Puss, Jr., jumped through three hoops without touching the back of the big white horse, and the clown was funnier than he had ever been in all his life. The circus-lady never looked so pretty, nor did she ever ride so well before. And it took the ticket-seller all night to count the money.</p> <hr /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />