oad.
So he stopped at the front gate to listen to a sweet voice singing:

"When Jacky's a very good boy
He shall have cakes and a custard;
But when he does nothing but cry
He shall have nothing but mustard."

Puss opened the gate and peeped through the window. In the centre of the
room stood a small boy, wiping his eyes with a little pink handkerchief.

"Nothing but mustard," repeated his mother, "if you don't stop crying."

"Meow!" cried Puss at the window. "Won't you give me some custard?" And
then, my goodness! didn't that little boy stop crying!

"Look at the cat with boots on!" he cried, running up to the window.

"You both shall have some custard," said Jack's mother, "and then you
may go out to the swing and have a good time."

Well, it didn't take long to eat the custard, and then Jacky and Puss
went out under the big tree.

"Swing high, swing low.
Away we go,
Up to the skies,
Down to the ground;
This is the finest
Sport I've found,"

sang Puss, Junior.

"After supper, Jacky, I'll tell you how I was a sailor boy for almost a
week on the ocean blue!"

ROWLEY FROG

NOW let me think what happened after Puss finished telling how he had
been a sailor for a week on the ocean blue.

Oh yes, of course. He had scarcely said good-by to the little boy when
whom should he meet but Mr. Rowley Frog and a big rat.

[Illustration]

"So you're going to make a call on Mrs. Mousey," said Puss, as he and
Mr. Rowley Frog and the rat reached the dusty highway.

"Yes, sir-ee," replied Mr. Rowley Frog. "She lives just over there." And
when Puss looked across the meadow he saw a cute little house.

"Looks like a pretty nice little place," said the rat; "let's hurry
along." So all three started off on a run.

When they came to the door of Mousey's hall,
Heigh-ho, says Rowley.
They gave a loud knock, and they gave a loud call.
Pray, Mrs. Mouse, are you within?
Heigh-ho, says Rowley!
Oh, yes, kind sirs, I'm sitting to spin.

"I guess she's too busy," said Puss. "We'd better not interrupt her."

"Nonsense," replied Mr. Rowley Frog, bowing to Mrs. Mousey, who happened
just then to look out of her little window. Then Mr. Rat took off his
cap and said:

"Pray, Mrs. Mouse, will you give us some beer?"
Heigh-ho