Puss in Boots

A look inside

The opening of Puss in Boots, free to read.

1. 

   There was a miller who left no more riches to the three sons he had than his mill, his ass, and his cat. The sharing was soon done. Neither clerk nor lawyer was sent for. They would soon have eaten up all the little that was left. The eldest had the mill, the second the ass, and the youngest nothing but the cat. The poor young fellow was quite comfortless at having so poor a share.

2. 

   “My brothers,” said he, “may get their living well enough by joining their shares together; but for my part, when I have eaten up my cat, and made me a hand-warmer of his skin, I must die of hunger.” The Cat, who heard all this, but acted as if he did not, said to him with a grave and serious look:

3. 

   “Do not be so sad, my good master. You have nothing else to do but to give me a bag and get a pair of boots made for me that I may scamper through the dirt and the brambles, and you shall see that you have not so bad a share in me as you imagine.”