Adventures of Puss in Boots, Jr.

<h2><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</SPAN></span> <SPAN name="wedding1" id="wedding1"></SPAN>PUSS OVERHEARS A PROPOSAL AND IS INVITED TO A WEDDING</h2> <div class="block24"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <p class="cap nmb">It was a merry time,</p> <span class="i2 nmt">When Jenny Wren was young,<br/></span> <span class="i0">So neatly as she danced,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And so sweetly as she sung&mdash;<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Robin Redbreast lost his heart;<br/></span> <span class="i2">He was a gallant bird;<br/></span> <span class="i0">He doffed his hat to Jenny,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And thus to her he said:<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">"My dearest Jenny Wren,<br/></span> <span class="i2">If you will but be mine,<br/></span> <span class="i0">You shall dine on cherry pie,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And drink nice currant wine."<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">"I'll dress you like a goldfinch,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Or like a peacock gay;<br/></span> <span class="i0">So if you'll have me, Jenny,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Let us appoint the day."<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>While on his journey Puss, Jr., paused to listen to this sweet song. On a branch above him sat Robin Redbreast. With his hat held in one claw he bowed most beautifully to a little wren<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</SPAN></span> that sat on a limb just below him. "I'll dress you like a goldfinch," repeated Robin, swinging his beautiful green hat with its long black feather up and down in the breeze.</p> <div class="block24"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Jenny blushed behind her fan,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And thus declared her mind:<br/></span> <span class="i0">"Then let it be to-morrow, Bob;<br/></span> <span class="i2">I'll take your offer kind.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">"Cherry pie is very good,<br/></span> <span class="i2">So is currant wine;<br/></span> <span class="i0">But I'll wear my russet gown,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And never dress too fine."<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>"I'd like to buy her a beautiful gold dress," said Robin Redbreast, turning to look at Puss, Jr., who stood very quietly at the foot of the tree.</p> <p>"I think her little russet gown is much nicer," replied Puss. "To tell you the truth, she wouldn't look very much like a wren if you dressed her like a goldfinch."</p> <p>"Of course I wouldn't," chirruped little Jenny Wren; "and, besides, I wouldn't feel at all like myself. I might think Robin had married a goldfinch instead of me; and I don't want to think that."</p> <p>"Of course you don't," said Puss, kindly.</p> <p>"You are both right," said Robin Redbreast. "I only thought for the moment that she would<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</SPAN></span> like a different gown, but she shall have her way. There is only one little bird in the world for me, and that is Jenny Wren."</p> <p>Jenny hid her face behind her fan, for she was I blushing very hard. Indeed, her cheeks were I almost as red as Robin's breast.</p> <p>"To-morrow, then, shall be our wedding-day," said Robin, "and you are invited, my dear Puss, Junior."</p> <hr /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />