BRITISH TALES
Country: England
Language: english
Country: England
Language: english
Category
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FunTranscript
00:30Whittington and His Cat
00:32In the reign of the famous King Edward III, there was a little boy called Dick Whittington,
00:37whose father and mother died when he was very young.
00:40As poor Dick was not old enough to work, he was very badly off, he got but little for
00:44his dinner, and sometimes nothing at all for his breakfast, for the people who lived in
00:49the village were very poor indeed, and could not spare him much more than the pairings
00:52of potatoes, and now, and then a hard crust of bread, now Dick had heard a great many
00:57very strange things about the great city called London, for the country people at that
01:01time thought that folks in London were all fine gentlemen and ladies, and that there
01:06was singing and music there all day long, and that the streets were all paved with gold
01:10point one day a large wagon and eight horses, all with bells at their heads, drove through
01:14the village while Dick was standing by the signpost.
01:18He thought that this wagon must be going to the fine town of London, so he took courage,
01:22and asked the wagoner to let him walk with him by the side of the wagon.
01:26As soon as the wagoner heard that poor Dick had no father or mother, and saw by his ragged
01:31clothes that he could not be worse off than he was, he told him he might go if he would,
01:35so off they set together.so Dick got safe to London, and was in such a hurry to see
01:39the fine streets paved all over with gold, that he did not even stay to thank the kind
01:43wagoner, but ran off as fast as his legs would carry him, through many of the streets, thinking
01:48every moment to come to those that were paved with gold, for Dick had seen a guinea three
01:53times in his own little village, and remembered what a deal of money it brought in change,
01:58so he thought he had nothing to do but to take up some little bits of the pavement,
02:02and should then have as much money as he could wish for poor Dick ran till he was tired,
02:06and had quite forgot his friend the wagoner, but at last, finding it grow dark, and that
02:10every way he turned he saw nothing but dirt instead of gold, he sat down in a dark corner
02:15and cried.
02:17Himself to sleep little Dick was all night in the streets, and next morning, being very
02:21hungry, he got up and walked about, and asked everybody he met to give him a ha'penny to
02:26keep him from starving, but nobody stayed to answer him, and only two or three gave
02:30him a ha'penny, so that the poor boy was soon quite weak and faint for the want of
02:34vittles.
02:35In this distress he asked charity of several people, and one of them said crossly, Go to
02:40work, for an idle rogue.
02:43That I will, says Dick, I will to go work for you, if you will let me.
02:47But the man only cursed at him and went on dotter tea last a good-natured looking gentleman
02:51saw how hungry he looked.
02:54Why don't you go to work my lad, said he to Dick.
02:57That I would, but I do not know how to get any, answered Dick.
03:01If you are willing, come along with me, said the gentleman, and took him to a hay field,
03:06where Dick worked briskly, and lived merrily till the hay was made, after this he found
03:10himself as badly off as before, and being almost starved again, he laid himself down
03:14at the door of Mr. Fitz-Warren, a rich merchant.
03:18Here he was soon seen by the cook-maid, who was an ill-tempered creature, and happened
03:22just then to be very busy dressing dinner for her master and mistress, so she called
03:26out to poor Dick, What business have you there, you lazy rogue?
03:30There is nothing else but beggars, if you do not take yourself away, we will see how
03:34you will like a sousing of some dishwater, I have some here hot enough to make you jump.
03:40Just at that time Mr. Fitz-Warren himself came home to dinner, and when he saw a dirty
03:44ragged boy lying at the door, he said to him, Why do you lie there, my boy?
03:49You seem old enough to work, I am afraid you are inclined to be lazy.
03:53No, indeed, sir, said Dick to him, that is not the case, for I would work with all my
03:59heart, but I do not know anybody, and I believe I am very sick for the want of food.
04:04Poor fellow, get up, let me see what ails you.
04:08Dick now tried to rise, but was obliged to lie down again, being too weak to stand, for
04:12he had not eaten any food for three days, and was no longer able to run about and beg
04:17a ha'penny of people in the street.
04:20So the kind merchant ordered him to be taken into the house, and have a good dinner given
04:23him, and be kept to do what work he was able to do for the cook little Dick would have
04:27lived very happy in this good family if it had not been for the ill-natured cook.
04:32She used to say, You are under me, so look sharp, clean the spit and the dripping pan,
04:36make the fires, wind up the jack, and do all the scullery work nimbly, or, and she would
04:41shake the ladle at him.
04:43Besides, she was so fond of basting, that when she had no meat to baste, she would baste
04:48poor Dick's head and shoulders with a broom, or anything else that happened to fall in
04:52her way.
04:53At last her ill usage of him was told to Alice, Mr. Fitzwarren's daughter, who told the cook
04:58she should be turned away if she did not treat him kinder.
05:02The behavior of the cook was now a little better, but besides this Dick had another
05:05hardship to get over.
05:07His bed stood in a garret, where there were so many holes in the floor and the walls that
05:11every night he was tormented with rats and mice.
05:15A gentleman having given Dick a penny for cleaning his shoes, he thought he would buy
05:18a cat with it.
05:20The next day, he saw a girl with a cat, and asked her, Will you let me have that cat for
05:24a penny?
05:26The girl said, Yes, that I will, master, though she is an excellent mouser.
05:31Dick hid his cat in the garret, and always took care to carry a part of his dinner to
05:35her, and in a short time he had no more trouble with the rats and mice, but slept quite sound
05:40every night soon after this, his master had a ship ready to sail, and as it was the custom
05:44that all his servants should have some chance for good fortune as well as himself, he called
05:48them all into the parlour and asked them what they would send out.
05:52They all had something that they were willing to venture except poor.
05:56Dick who had neither money nor goods, and therefore could send nothing.
06:00For this reason he did not come into the parlour with the rest, but Miss Alice guessed what
06:04was the matter, and ordered him to be called in.
06:07She then said, I will lay down some money for him, from my own purse, but her father
06:12told her, This will not do, for it must be something of his own.
06:16When poor Dick heard this, he said, I have nothing but a cat, which I bought for a penny
06:20some time since of a little girl.
06:23Fetch your cat then, my lad, said Mr. Fitz-Warren, and let her go.
06:28Dick went upstairs and brought down poor Poose, with tears in his eyes, and gave her to the
06:32captain, for, he said, I shall now be kept awake all night by the rats and mice.
06:38All the company laughed at Dick's adventure, and Miss Alice, who felt pity for him, gave
06:42him some money to buy another cat this, and many other marks of kindness shown him by
06:46Miss Alice, made the ill-tempered cook jealous of poor Dick, and she began to use him more
06:51cruelly than ever, and always made game of him for sending his cat to sea, she asked
06:55him, Do you think your cat will sell for as much money as would buy a stick to beat you?
07:00At last poor Dick could not bear this usage any longer, and he thought he would run away
07:04from his place, so he packed up his few things, and started very early in the morning, on
07:09All Hallows' Day, the first of November.
07:12He walked as far as Holloway, and there sat down on a stone, which to this day is called
07:17Whittington Stone, and began to think to himself which road he should take while he was thinking
07:21what he should do, the bells of Bow Church, which at that time were only six, began to
07:26ring, and their sound seemed to say to him Turn again, Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor
07:30of London.
07:32Lord Mayor of London, said he to himself.
07:34Why, to be sure, I would put up with almost anything now, to be Lord Mayor of London,
07:40and ride in a fine coach, when I grow to be a man.
07:44Well I will go back, and think nothing of the cuffing and scolding of the old cook,
07:48if I am to be Lord Mayor of London at last.
07:51Dick went back, and was lucky enough to get into the house, and set about his work, before
07:55the old cook came downstairs.
07:57We must now follow Miss Puss to the coast of Africa.
08:00The ship with the cat on board, was a long time at sea, and was at last driven by the
08:04winds on a part of the coast of Barbary, where the only people were the Moors, unknown to
08:09the English.
08:11The people came in great numbers to see the sailors, because they were of different colour
08:14to themselves, and treated them civilly, and, when they became better acquainted, were very
08:19eager to buy the fine things that the ship was loaded with, when the captain saw this,
08:23he sent patents of the best things he had to the king of the country, who was so much
08:27pleased with them, that he sent for the captain to the palace.
08:30Here they were placed, as it is the custom of the country, on rich carpets flowered with
08:34gold and silver.
08:36The king and queen were seated at the upper end of the room, and a number of dishes were
08:40brought in for dinner.
08:42They had not sat long, when a vast number of rats and mice rushed in, and devoured all
08:46the meat in an instant.
08:48The captain wondered at this, and asked if these vermin were not unpleasant, oh yes,
08:52he said they, very offensive, and the king would give half his treasure to be freed of
08:56them, for they not only destroy his dinner, as you see, but they assault him in his chamber,
09:01and even in bed, and so that he is obliged to be watched while he is sleeping, for fear
09:05of them.
09:06The captain jumped for joy, he remembered poor Whittington and his cat, and told the
09:10king he had a creature on board the ship that would despatch all these vermin immediately.
09:15The king jumped so high at the joy which the news gave him, that his turban dropped off
09:19his head.
09:21Bring this creature to me, says he, the vermin are dreadful in a court, and if she will perform
09:25what you say, I will load your ship with gold and jewels in exchange for her.
09:30The captain, who knew his business, took this opportunity to set forth the merits of Miss
09:34Puss.
09:36He told his majesty it is not very convenient to part with her, as, when she is gone, the
09:41rats and mice may destroy the goods in the ship, but to oblige your majesty, I will fetch
09:46her.
09:47Run, run, said the queen, I am impatient to see the dear creature.
09:52Away went the captain to the ship, while another dinner was got ready.
09:56He put Puss under his arm, and arrived at the place just in time to see the table full
10:00of rats.
10:02When the cat saw them, she did not wait for bidding, but jumped out of the captain's arms,
10:06and in a few minutes laid almost all the rats and mice dead at her feet.
10:10The rest of them in their fright scampered away to their holes, the king was quite charmed
10:14to get rid so easily of such plagues, and the queen desired that the creature who had
10:18done them so great a kindness might be brought to her, that she might look at her.
10:23Upon which the captain called, Pussy, Pussy, Pussy, and she came to him.
10:28He then presented her to the queen, who started back, and was afraid to touch a creature who
10:32had made such a havoc among the rats and mice.
10:35However, when the captain stroked the cat and called, Pussy, Pussy, the queen also touched
10:40her and cried, Putty, Putty, for she had not learned English.
10:45He then put her down on the queen's lap, where she purred and played with her majesty's hand,
10:49and then purred herself to sleep, the king, having seen the exploits of Mrs. Puss, and
10:54being informed that her kittens would stop the whole country, and keep it free from rats,
10:58bargained with the captain for the whole ship's cargo, and then gave him ten times as much
11:02for the cat as all the rest amounted to, the captain then took leave of the royal party,
11:07and set sail with a fair wind for England, and.
11:10After a happy voyage arrived safe in London Point one morning, early, Mr. Fitzwarren had
11:15just come to his counting-house, and seated himself at the desk, to count over the cash,
11:20and settle the business for the day, when somebody came tap, tap, at the door.
11:24Who's there? said Mr. Fitzwarren.
11:27A friend, answered the other, I come to bring you good news of your ship Unicorn.
11:32The merchant, bustling up in such a hurry that he forgot his gout, opened the door,
11:37and who should he see waiting, but the captain and factor, with a cabinet of jewels, and
11:41a bill of lading, when he looked at this the merchant lifted up his eyes, and thanked heaven
11:45for sending him such a prosperous voyage, they then told the story of the cat, and showed
11:49the rich present that the king and queen had sent for her to poor Dick.
11:54As soon as the merchant heard this, he called out to his servants, go send him in, and tell
11:58him of his fame, pray call him Mr. Whittington by name.
12:02Mr. Fitzwarren now showed himself to be a good man, for when some of his servants said
12:06so great a treasure was too much for him, he answered, God forbid I should deprive him
12:11of the value of a single penny, it is his own, and he shall have it to a farthing.
12:16He then sent for Dick, who at that time was scouring pots for the cook, and was quite
12:20dirty.
12:21He would have excused himself from coming into the counting-house, saying, The room
12:25is swept, and my shoes are dirty and full of hobnails.
12:29But the merchant ordered him to come in.Mr. Fitzwarren ordered a chair to be set for him,
12:35and so he began to think they were making game of him, at the same time said to them,
12:39Do not play tricks with a poor simple boy, but let me go down again, if you please, to
12:43my work.
12:45Indeed, Mr. Whittington, said the merchant, we are all quite in earnest with you, and
12:50I most heartily rejoice in the news that these gentlemen have brought you, for the captain
12:54has sold your cat to the king of Barbary, and brought you in return for her more riches
12:58than I possess in the whole world, and I wish you may long enjoy them.
13:02Mr. Fitzwarren then told the men to open the great treasure they had brought with them,
13:06and said, Mr. Whittington has nothing to do but to put it in some place of safety.
13:11Poor Dick hardly knew how to behave himself for joy.
13:15He begged his master to take what part of it he pleased, since he owed it all to his
13:19kindness.
13:20No, no, answered Mr. Fitzwarren, this is all your own, and I have no doubt but you will
13:26use it well.
13:28Dick next asked his mistress, and then Miss Alice, to accept a part of his good fortune,
13:32but they would not, and at the same time told him they felt great joy at his good success.
13:38But this poor fellow was too kind-hearted to keep it all to himself, so he made a present
13:42to the captain, the mate, and the rest of Mr. Fitzwarren's servants, and even to the
13:46ill-natured old cook.
13:48After this Mr. Fitzwarren advised him to send for a proper tailor and get himself dressed
13:53like a gentleman, and told him he was welcome to live in his house till he could provide
13:57himself with a better when Whittington's face was washed, his hair curled, his hat
14:01cocked, and he was dressed in a nice suit of clothes, he was as handsome and genteel
14:05as any young man who visited at Mr. Fitzwarren's, so that Miss Alice, who had once been so kind
14:10to him, and thought of him with pity, now looked upon him.
14:15As fit to be her sweetheart, and the more so, no doubt, because Whittington was now
14:19always thinking what he could do to oblige her, and making her the prettiest presence
14:23that could be e.m.r.
14:26Whittington soon saw their love for each other, and proposed to join them in marriage, and
14:29to this they both readily agreed.
14:32A day for the wedding was soon fixed, and they were attended to church by the Lord Mayor,
14:36the Court of Aldermen, the Sheriffs, and a great number of the richest merchants in London,
14:41whom they afterwards treated with a very rich feast, history tells us that Mr. Whittington
14:45and his Lady Liven in great splendour, and were very happy.
14:49They had several children.
14:51He was Sheriff of London, thrice Lord Mayor, and received the honour of knighthood by Henry
14:55V. He entertained this King and his Queen at dinner after his conquest of France so
15:00grandly that the King said never had Prince such a subject, when Sir Richard heard this,
15:05he said, never had subject such a Prince.
15:08The figure of Sir Richard Whittington with his cat in his arms, carved in stone, was
15:12to be seen till the year 1780 over the archway of the old prison of Newgate, which he built
15:17for criminals.