PUSS HELPS A STRANGER CATCH A RUNAWAY PIG
Reading edition
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jiggety jig. To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, Home again, home again, jiggety jog. To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, Home again, home again, market is done."
A funny little man came dancing down the road. Before him he drove a fat pig, which squeaked and grunted loudly. To one of its hind legs was fastened a rope, the other end of which the funny little man held tightly in his hand.
"To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jiggety jig."
sang the little old man. "How do you like my piggety pig?" he asked, looking up at Puss, Jr., who had stopped his good gray horse to watch the funny sight.
"He looks like a fine pig," replied Puss.
"TO MARKET, TO MARKET, TO BUY A FAT PIG"
"Whoa, there, piggety pig!" cried the old man as the pig began to struggle to get away.
"Look out!" cried Puss. But the warning came too late. The pig had wriggled his foot out of the noose and went racing down the road.
"Take me up behind you!" cried the little old man. "Then let us follow and catch him."
"Jump up! Quick about it!" cried Puss, Jr.
In a moment the little old man was on the good gray horse, who immediately set off at a gallop to overtake the piggety pig. It was a long race, for he had a good head start and terror lent wings to his feet.
"Git up!" cried Puss, digging his heels into the sides of the good gray horse. "Git up! Don't you see the pig is getting away from us?"
"Neigh, neigh!" cried the good gray horse as he gave a spring forward.
"Then go faster!" screamed the little old man.
"Gid ap!" yelled Puss, Jr. At this the horse with leaps and bounds came closer and closer to the fleeing pig.
"I've got the rope!" cried the little old man.
"Make a big noose at one end," said Puss, "and as we draw near throw it over his head."
"That I will," answered the little old man. "When I was young I was a cowboy. I hope I've not forgotten how to swing a lariat."
As good luck would have it, he had not. All at once the little old man swung the rope in the air and the noose fell over the pig's head.
"I've got him! I've got him!" cried the old man, and Puss, Jr., pulled in his horse. The race was over and the old man, jumping down to the ground, thanked Puss again and again for his assistance.