Charles Perrault- First published in 1697.
Reading Level: 5+ Number of Pages: 2 Genre: Classic Fairy-tale
Summary: There once was a son of a certain miller, who when he died willed to his three sons his whole worldly fortune. To the eldest went the farm, to the second went the donkey, and to the youngest went the family cat. The youngest son was very much put out, for with his father dead and the farm gone, he feared to make a living. "Once my money is out I may be forced to eat this cat and die," he said. "Do not fear," replied the cat. "I may well be of some use to you before long." So saying he donned a pair of boots to look presentable and set out to gain favor with the king of the region. He stopped in a field and caught two large pheasants in a bag and brought them to the king's palace, where he announced: "A gift sire, from the Marquis of Carabas," for that was the name he had invented for his master. The king was pleased at the gift, and the cat returned often to bring the king pheasants or rabbits and the like.
There came a day when the cat learned that the king was to take his beautiful daughter on a riverside excursion, and the cat saw his opportunity to benefit his master. So he instructed his master to bathe in the river. When the king and his carriage came by, the cat exclaimed, "Help! the Marquis of Carabas is drowning!" With that the carriage stopped short, and the servants of the king raised up the cat's master and clothed him, for the cat had told them that his master had been robbed. The king was familiar with the man only by his reputation as the Marquis of Carabas, for the cat had spoke of him often, therefore he made a place for him in the carriage. Dressed as he was, in the finery of royalty, the princess was smitten with him, and they talked together as they went on their journey. "Go forth," said the cat, "while I go ahead to prepare the castle for your arrival," and with that the cat scampered ahead to the palace of an ogre.
The ogre had the magical ability to turn himself into any form, and the cat approached him with a challenge, that he couldn't change into a lion. The ogre rose up and changed into a ferocious lion. Then the cat bet him that he couldn't change into a mouse. When the ogre changed into a mouse, the cat sprang upon him and ate him. Then he prepared the abundant stores of the ogre and made ready for his master and king to reach the castle.
When the king reached the castle, he was amazed at the wealth and power of the Marquis, for the ogre's castle was large and spacious. At that he insisted that the Marquis marry his daughter the princess, and they lived happily ever after.
There came a day when the cat learned that the king was to take his beautiful daughter on a riverside excursion, and the cat saw his opportunity to benefit his master. So he instructed his master to bathe in the river. When the king and his carriage came by, the cat exclaimed, "Help! the Marquis of Carabas is drowning!" With that the carriage stopped short, and the servants of the king raised up the cat's master and clothed him, for the cat had told them that his master had been robbed. The king was familiar with the man only by his reputation as the Marquis of Carabas, for the cat had spoke of him often, therefore he made a place for him in the carriage. Dressed as he was, in the finery of royalty, the princess was smitten with him, and they talked together as they went on their journey. "Go forth," said the cat, "while I go ahead to prepare the castle for your arrival," and with that the cat scampered ahead to the palace of an ogre.
The ogre had the magical ability to turn himself into any form, and the cat approached him with a challenge, that he couldn't change into a lion. The ogre rose up and changed into a ferocious lion. Then the cat bet him that he couldn't change into a mouse. When the ogre changed into a mouse, the cat sprang upon him and ate him. Then he prepared the abundant stores of the ogre and made ready for his master and king to reach the castle.
When the king reached the castle, he was amazed at the wealth and power of the Marquis, for the ogre's castle was large and spacious. At that he insisted that the Marquis marry his daughter the princess, and they lived happily ever after.
My Impressions: This is a very interesting fairy-tale, and I enjoyed it even though it was my first experience with this tale. It is interesting that the cat brings the man fortune, and is loyal to his master.
Parent's Guide: The cat kills the ogre.
Recommendations:Stories like this one are very interesting to read in their original form, and I would recommend that parents familiarize their children with various versions of the same tale.
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