<h2><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</SPAN></span> <SPAN name="pig" id="pig"></SPAN>PUSS HELPS A STRANGER CATCH A RUNAWAY PIG</h2>
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<p class="cap nmb">To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,</p>
<span class="i3 nmt">Home again, home again, jiggety jig.<br/></span>
<span class="i0">To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Home again, home again, jiggety jog.<br/></span>
<span class="i0">To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Home again, home again, market is done."<br/></span></div>
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<p>A funny little man came dancing down the road. Before him he drove a fat
pig, which squeaked and grunted loudly. To one of its hind legs was
fastened a rope, the other end of which the funny little man held
tightly in his hand.</p>
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<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="io">"To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Home again, home again, jiggety jig."<br/></span></div>
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<p class="noi">sang the little old man. "How do you like my piggety pig?" he asked,
looking up at Puss, Jr., who had stopped his good gray horse to watch
the funny sight.</p>
<p>"He looks like a fine pig," replied Puss.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</SPAN></span> <SPAN name="fat_pig" id="fat_pig"></SPAN> <ANTIMG src="images/i011.png" width-obs="400" height-obs="506" alt="" title="" /> <span class="caption">"TO MARKET, TO MARKET, TO BUY A FAT PIG"</span>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</SPAN></span></div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</SPAN></span>
"Whoa, there, piggety pig!" cried the old man as the pig began to
struggle to get away.</p>
<p>"Look out!" cried Puss. But the warning came too late. The pig had
wriggled his foot out of the noose and went racing down the road.</p>
<p>"Take me up behind you!" cried the little old man. "Then let us follow
and catch him."</p>
<p>"Jump up! Quick about it!" cried Puss, Jr.</p>
<p>In a moment the little old man was on the good gray horse, who
immediately set off at a gallop to overtake the piggety pig. It was a
long race, for he had a good head start and terror lent wings to his
feet.</p>
<p>"Git up!" cried Puss, digging his heels into the sides of the good gray
horse. "Git up! Don't you see the pig is getting away from us?"</p>
<p>"Neigh, neigh!" cried the good gray horse as he gave a spring forward.</p>
<p>"Then go faster!" screamed the little old man.</p>
<p>"Gid ap!" yelled Puss, Jr. At this the horse with leaps and bounds came
closer and closer to the fleeing pig.</p>
<p>"I've got the rope!" cried the little old man.</p>
<p>"Make a big noose at one end," said Puss, "and as we draw near throw it
over his head."</p>
<p>"That I will," answered the little old man. "When I was young I was a
cowboy. I hope I've not forgotten how to swing a lariat."</p>
<p>As good luck would have it, he had not. All<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</SPAN></span> at once the little old man
swung the rope in the air and the noose fell over the pig's head.</p>
<p>"I've got him! I've got him!" cried the old man, and Puss, Jr., pulled
in his horse. The race was over and the old man, jumping down to the
ground, thanked Puss again and again for his assistance.</p>
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