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Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse

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<hr style="width: 65%;" />[112] <h2>ALPHABET TOWN</h2> <div class='cap'>NOW let me see. Where did I leave off in the last story? Oh yes, I remember now. Little Puss, Junior, had fallen asleep in the house where little Boy Blue lived. Yes, Puss had fallen asleep in front of the fireplace over which hung the silver horn that called the cows from the fields of corn. Well, the next morning the horn began blowing all by itself, and this, of course, woke up everybody in the house; so Puss washed his face and hands and curled his whiskers and after that he pulled on his red-topped boots and was ready for breakfast. Then Mrs. Boy Blue came downstairs with little Boy Blue. He was only three years old, but he could blow a horn, though I don't think the cows paid much attention to him, for they knew he was only doing it in fun, you see.</div> Well, after breakfast, Puss, Junior, bade them all good-by and mounted his Good Gray Horse, and by and by, after he had ridden many a mile, he came to a very queer place—it was called Alphabet Town. But the strangest thing of all was that the alphabet was alive. Yes, from A to Z it was alive, and Puss was so interested that he drew rein at the gates of Alphabet Town because, he said to himself, "If I expect to get[113] through Mother Goose Land I must learn the alphabet, and the sooner I learn it the sooner I shall see my dear father." So he went up to the schoolhouse and this is what he learned: <div class='poem'> A was an Ant who worked all the day. B was a Butterfly, flitting away. C was a Cherry that hung on a tree. D was a Daisy that grew on the lea. E was an Elm that stood by the school. F was a Frog that lived in a pool G was a Goat with a beard on his face. H was a Horse that won a fine race. I was an Insect that fed on a peach. J was a Jay Bird whose song was a screech. K was a Kitten that played with a string. L was a Lambkin that browsed in the spring. M was a Magpie that stole a gold spoon. N was the Nest where she slept 'neath the moon. O was the Oak Tree that held safe the nest. P was a Pigeon with soft purple vest. Q was a Quail that was shot with a gun. R was a Rooster that woke up the sun. S was a Snail that was awfully slow. T was a Turtle, no faster, you know. U was a Unicorn; of him you have heard. V was a Vulture, a rapacious bird. W was a Wren that made a sweet noise. X was a Xmas Tree, covered with toys. Y was a Yule Log, dragged through the snow. Z was a Zero when winter winds blow. </div> And I think when I tell you that Puss learned this alphabet in less than half an hour you will agree with me he was a very bright cat. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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