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

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<hr style="width: 65%;" />[95] <h2>THE COBBLER</h2> <div class='cap'>"CAN you make me a pair of boots?" asked Puss, Junior, reining in his Good Gray Horse.</div> The cobbler, who was sitting close to the open window of his little shop, looked up from his bench. "Will you need two pair?" he asked. "One pair, my good man," replied Puss, Junior, haughtily. "Do you imagine I wear boots on my front paws?" "Well, my good Sir Cat," answered the cobbler, "I did not know for certain. I can make two pair as well as one." "And charge for two pair, I warrant, also," cried Puss, with a grin. "I can give you fine work," said the cobbler. "Are you sure?" asked Puss. "My last pair, which was unfortunately burned up in a fire, was made by a royal cobbler." "I have not made boots for royalty," replied the cobbler, "but I made the shoe in which an old woman lives with so many children that it would take you an hour to count them all. That was some job, let me tell you. One doesn't often live in a shoe, although one may walk in one."[96] "You don't mean to tell me you made that wonderful shoe?" cried Puss. "Most certainly, my good Sir Cat." <div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/gs22.png" width-obs="313" height-obs="400" alt="The Cobbler" title="" /></div> "Then you shall make me a pair of boots. And, mind you, my good man, they must have red tops." "That they shall," said the cobbler. "Dismount,[97] and come into my humble shop. I would measure your feet." "Perhaps you have a pair on hand that will fit me," said Puss, gazing about the tiny shop. "I will see," replied the cobbler. "I am in haste," said Puss, as the cobbler looked over his stock. "I am in haste, for I have yet a long journey before me, and cannot delay. I am in search of my illustrious father, Puss in Boots." "What!" cried the cobbler. "I once made a pair of boots for a cat. Could it have been the noble Puss in Boots?" "Tell me where he lives," cried Puss, much excited. "Ah," replied the cobbler, "that I do not know, for it is many years ago since I made the boots. But here is a pair I think will fit you." "I would rather that you had told me where my father lives," said little Puss, Junior, "than to have found a pair of boots." "They are certainly a fine fit," said the cobbler, gazing with admiration at Puss, Junior's, feet. "Yes," answered Puss, "and here is the money. Good-by," and off rode our little hero, still in search of his father, the famous Puss in Boots. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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