He had already strolled through many streets, but nowhere a door opened to him, nowhere people called out to him as he had imagined: 'Little Muck, come in, eat and drink, and rest your tiny legs.' He was again looking up very longingly before a large and beautiful house, when a window opened, an old woman looked out of it, and exclaimed in a singing voice: 'Come on, come on, The broth is done; Laid is the cloth, Enjoy the broth; Neighbours come, The broth is done.' The door of the house opened, and Muck saw many dogs and cats go into the house. He remained for some moments in a state of uncertainty, as to whether he should respond to the invitation; at length, however, he summoned up sufficient courage and entered the house. Before him trotted a pair of young cats. He determined to follow them, because they might know the way to the kitchen better than he. When Muck had reached the top of the stairs, he met the old woman who had looked out of the window. She looked at him sulkily, and demanded of him what he wanted. 'I have heard you inviting everybody to your feast,' answered little Muck, 'and as I am terribly hungry I have come as well.' The old woman laughed and said: 'Where do you come from, you strange creature? The whole town knows that I cook for nobody except my dear cats, and now and again I invite company from the neighbourhood for them, as you see.' Little Muck related to the old woman how badly he had fared after his father's death, and entreated her to allow him to feast this day with her cats. The woman, who seemed pleased at the unaffected story of the little man, allowed him to be her guest, and gave him plenty to eat and drink. After having regaled himself, the woman looked at him for a long time and then said: 'Little Muck, remain in my service, you will have little to do and plenty to eat.' Little Muck, who seemed to have enjoyed the cats' broth, agreed, and thus became Madam Ahavzi's servant. His work was light but strange. Lady Ahavzi owned two cats and four kittens. Little Muck had to brush their fur and anoint them with precious ointment every morning; if their mistress was absent, he had to take care of them; at their meals he had to wait upon them, and at night put them upon silk cushions and wrap them up in velvet coverlets.