Soon after this the merchant , who had a ship ready to sail , called for his servants , as his custom was , in order that each of them might venture something to try their luck ; and whatever they sent was to pay neither freight nor custom , for he thought justly that God Almighty would bless him the more for his readiness to let the poor partake of his fortune . All the servants appeared but poor Whittington , who , having neither money nor goods , could not think of sending anything to try his luck ; but his good friend Miss Alice , thinking his poverty kept him away , ordered him to be called . She then offered to lay down something for him , but the merchant told his daughter that would not do , it must be something of his own . Upon which poor Whittington said he had nothing but a cat which he bought for a penny that was given him . `` Fetch thy cat , boy , '' said the merchant , `` and send her . '' Whittington brought poor puss and delivered her to the captain , with tears in his eyes , for he said he should now be disturbed by the rats and mice as much as ever . All the company laughed at the adventure but Miss Alice , who pitied the poor boy , and gave him something to buy another cat . While puss was beating the billows at sea , poor Whittington was severely beaten at home by his tyrannical mistress the cook , who used him so cruelly , and made such game of him for sending his cat to sea , that at last the poor boy determined to run away from his place , and having packed up the few things he had , he set out very early in the morning on All-Hallows day . He traveled as far as Holloway , and there sat down on a stone to consider what course he should take ; but while he was thus ruminating , Bow bells , of which there were only six , began to ring ; and he thought their sounds addressed him in this manner : `` Turn again , Whittington , Thrice Lord Mayor of London . '' `` Lord Mayor of London ! '' said he to himself , `` what would not one endure to be Lord Mayor of London , and ride in such a fine coach ? Well , I 'll go back again , and bear all the pummelling and ill-usage of Cicely rather than miss the opportunity of being Lord Mayor ! '' So home he went , and happily got into the house and about his business before Mrs. Cicely made her appearance . We must now follow Miss Puss to the coast of Africa . How perilous are voyages at sea , how uncertain the winds and the waves , and how many accidents attend a naval life ! The ship that had the cat on board was long beaten at sea , and at last , by contrary winds , driven on a part of the coast of Barbary which was inhabited by Moors unknown to the English . These people received our countrymen with civility , and therefore the captain , in order to trade with them , showed them the patterns of the goods he had on board , and sent some of them to the King of the country , who was so well pleased that he sent for the captain and the factor to come to his palace , which was about a mile from the sea . Here they were placed , according to the custom of the country , on rich carpets , flowered with gold and silver ; and the King and Queen being seated at the upper end of the room , dinner was brought in , which consisted of many dishes ; but no sooner were the dishes put down but an amazing number of rats and mice came from all quarters and devoured all the meat in an instant . The factor , in surprise , turned round to the nobles and asked if these vermin were not offensive . `` Oh !
yes , '' said they , `` very offensive ; and the King would give half his treasure to be freed of them , for they not only destroy his dinner , as you see , but they assault him XXXXX his chamber , and even in bed , so that he is obliged to be watched while he is sleeping , for fear of them . ''
Upon about as by from if in of on to