PETER HUMBUG AND THE WHITE CAT
fortably in a chair. Supposing that no one but the cat could have responded to his knock, he turned to her, inquiring if he could secure a resting-place in the house. The cat told him that he was welcome. "But," she added, "since you come so late, you are no doubt hungry." Peter Humbug replied that there was some truth in that, and the cat now proceeded to tell him where to find what he needed to eat, whereupon Peter did justice to the viands. When the meal was finished, the cat pointed to a bed, telling him that he might go to sleep whenever he desired. Tired as he was, he soon slept soundly.
Next morning the cat expressed her wish to know who he was and where he was going. Peter told all, adding that he had, beforehand, given up the hope of securing such a long chain; in fact, he knew not where to find or how to procure it. "If you will serve me," said the cat, "you shall have nothing to do but wash and comb me three times every day. Of course you will receive no wages, and the meals will be exactly like the one which you had last night." "That might be well enough, after all," answered Peter; "time will pass, then, until the year comes around." He stayed with the white cat, washed and combed her three times a day, and passed the rest of his time in the woods. When the year had passed, the cat said: "Now you must return home, Peter; both of your brothers will do the same." But Peter did not care to do so,
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