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

<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE RUNAWAY</h2> <div class='poem2'><div class='cap'> "MERRY are the bells, and merry would they ring;<br/> Merry was myself, and merry could I sing;<br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">And a merry sing-song, happy let us be.</span><br/> <br/> "Merry have we met, and merry have we been,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Merry let us part, and merry meet again;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be."</span><br/></div> </div> <p>"Whoa!" cried Puss, Junior, pulling in his Good Gray Horse.</p> <p>"You've given me a lovely ride," said the pretty girl. "It is more than a mile from the mill. I live just over there," pointing to a cottage on the hillside.</p> <p>"Shall I take you up to the gate?" asked Puss. "No, I'll get off here, thank you," she replied, "and I shall never forget how nice you've been. I was quite unhappy before you spoke to me at the old mill pond."</p> <div class='poem'> "Merry have we met, and merry have we been,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Merry let us part, and merry meet again,"</span><br/></div> <div class='unindent'>said Puss, stretching out his paw.</div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</SPAN></span></p> <p>"How well you remember my song!" said the pretty girl, waving her hand to Puss as he rode away.</p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/gs08.png" width-obs="328" height-obs="400" alt="Horse and wagon" title="" /></div> <p>He had gone but a short distance when he heard the clatter of hoofs. Looking back, he was startled to see a horse and wagon come tearing down the road.</p> <p>"A runaway!" he exclaimed, quickly drawing to one side. In a few minutes the frightened horse rushed by. In the wagon was a little old<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</SPAN></span> man, clinging tightly to the reins and with great difficulty keeping his horse in the middle of the road. In an instant Puss set off in pursuit. Pretty soon his Good Gray Horse drew close to the wagon. "Don't give up!" cried Puss. "Hold on tight!" The little old man did his best, but by this time his horse had become unmanageable and, turning suddenly to the right, dashed up a steep bank. With a snap, the harness broke and away went the frightened animal.</p> <p>"Let the pesky brute go," exclaimed the old man. "He'll get tired of running and come home by and by."</p> <p>"You may have my horse," cried Puss. And in a few minutes the harness was mended and Puss and the little old man drove off down the road.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />