10
WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT.
This, and several other marks of kindness shown him by Miss Alice, made the ill-tempered cook so jealous of the favours the poor boy received, that she began to use him more cruelly than ever, and constantly made game of him for sending his cat to sea; asking him, if he thought it would sell for as mnch money as would buy a halter. At last, the unhappy little fellow, being unable to bear this treatment any longer, determined to run away from his place: he accordingly packed up the few things that belonged to him, and set out very early in the morning on Allhallow Day, which is the first of November. He travelled as far as Holloway, and there sat down on a stone, which to this day is called Whittington's Stone, and began to consider what course he should take
While he was thus thinking what he could do, Bow-bells, of which there were then only six, began to ring; and it seemed to him that their sounds addressed him in this manner:
Turn again, Whittington,
Lord Mayor of London."
“Lord Mayor of London!" says he to himself. “Why, to be sure, I would bear any thing to be Lord Mayor of London, and ride in a fine coach! Well, I will go back, and think nothing of all the cuffing and scolding of old Cicely, if I am at last to be Lord Mayor of London."
