<h2><SPAN name="sire" id="sire"></SPAN>PUSS BUYS A PAIR OF BOOTS MADE FOR HIS FAMOUS SIRE</h2>
<div class="block">
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<p class="cap3 nmb">Solomon Grundy,</p>
<span class="i2">Born on a Monday,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Christened on Tuesday,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Married on Wednesday,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Took ill on Thursday,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Worse on Friday,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Died on Saturday,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Buried on Sunday.<br/></span>
<span class="i0">This is the end of<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Solomon Grundy.<br/></span></div>
</div></div>
<p>Puss, Jr., stood before a little shop. In the window was this sign. "Too
bad," said Puss to himself; "he had such a nice little store."</p>
<p>"He did that!" cried a voice. Puss looked up and saw a little old woman.
On her head was a queer green bonnet and over her shoulders hung a faded
red shawl. "Are you Mrs. Grundy?" asked Puss. For some reason he felt
sure it was, so he was not at all surprised when she answered yes.</p>
<p>"And do you still run the little shop?" he asked.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</SPAN></span>"Yes, my good Sir Cat," she replied, "and I have a very fine pair of
red-topped boots which I would like to sell you."</p>
<p>"I guess I need a new pair," said Puss, Jr., looking down at his own.
There was a big hole in the toe of one and the other was minus a heel.</p>
<p>"Walk in," said little old Mrs. Grundy, "and you may try them on." Puss
followed her into the store and sat down. Mrs. Grundy climbed up a
little step-ladder and took down a box from the top shelf. "This pair of
boots," she said, "was made once upon a time, very long ago, for a very
famous cat whose name was Puss in Boots."</p>
<p>At these words Puss, Jr., jumped off his seat and threw his paws around
Mrs. Grundy.</p>
<p>"Gracious me!" she cried, "what are you doing?"</p>
<p>"Oh, my dear madam," cried Puss, "the famous cat you mention is my
father—I am Puss in Boots, Junior."</p>
<p>"Is that possible?" exclaimed Mrs. Grundy, letting the box fall with a
bang to the floor. "Is that possible? I'm so glad that I saved these
boots all these years. And to think that his son will wear them," she
added, sitting down in her excitement.</p>
<p>"But I don't care much about the boots!" cried Puss, Jr. "I want so
badly to find my father. Can't you tell me where he lives?"</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</SPAN></span>Mrs. Grundy looked puzzled. "I did know, my little friend," she replied,
"but I have clean forgotten now. Indeed I have," she added, in a
sympathetic voice, seeing how disappointed poor little Puss looked.</p>
<p>"Just the same, I will pay you well for the boots," said Puss, Jr., "and
be on my way at once. One never can tell what each day may bring, and I
might find my father, although it grieves me to think you have forgotten
just where he lives."</p>
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