"Don't you want something to eat?" asked Mrs. Cat, coming over to Puss. "You have very pretty boots," she continued, lifting up one and looking at it with much admiration. "Yes, they are nice boots," said Puss, Junior. "They were made for my famous father, Puss in Boots. Mr. Solomon Grundy, who was born on a Monday, made them years ago for my father. And one day, it was only last week, when I stopped at his store, I saw a notice in his window that he had died on Saturday and was buried on Sunday, and that was the end of Solomon Grundy." "Too bad," said Mrs. Cat. "When I went into the store," continued Puss, "Mrs. Grundy took them down from a shelf and sold them to me. Then she went across the street to ask an old friend where my father lived, but she couldn't find out--her friend didn't know or couldn't remember--so here I am, still searching for my daddy." "Too bad," said Mrs. Cat again. "I'm really very sorry. But do not give up hope, for you will find him I am sure." KITTENS WASH MITTENS AFTER Mrs. Cat had powdered Puss, Junior's, toes so that they would slip easily into his boots she turned to see what the three little kittens were doing. They had just finished eating the pie. She had been so interested in hearing how Puss, Junior, had found his red-top boots that she hadn't heard them say: "Oh, mother dear, we greatly fear That we have soiled our mittens." "What!" exclaimed Mrs. Cat. "Soiled your mittens, you naughty kittens!" Then they began to sigh, "Mi-ow, mi-ow, mi-ow." Then they began to sigh, "Mi-ow, mi-ow, mi-ow." "Take them off at once," cried Mrs. Cat. "We will, mother," said the three little kittens. "I can't imagine why you kept them on," said Mrs. Cat. "We were so hungry we didn't have time to take them off," said the little black kitten. "My fingers were so cold I thought I'd leave them on," cried the tabby kitten. "I didn't think about anything," sobbed the little gray kitten. "I just looked at the pie, and then I forgot I had on mittens." [Illustration] Mrs. Cat stood with her front paws on her hips, looking first from one little kitten to another. "Did you ever see anything like children?" she sighed, turning to Puss, Junior. "My dear madam, forgive them this once. They were so excited over finding the pie that they lost their heads." "It's a good thing they are tied on," said Mrs. Cat, with a laugh; "they might not be found as easily as the mittens." The three little kittens looked very much ashamed. Then the little black kitten ran over to the washtubs and, jumping on a stool, turned the hot-water faucet. His mother handed him a big cake of soap, and in another minute the other two little kittens climbed up beside him. "What are you going to do?" asked Mrs. Cat, with a sly wink at Puss, Junior.