The Cat's Elopement
[From the Japanische
Marchen und Sagen, von David Brauns (Leipzig: Wilhelm Friedrich).]
Once upon a time
there lived a cat of marvellous beauty, with a skin as soft and shining as
silk, and wise green eyes, that could see even in the dark. His name was Gon,
and he belonged to a music teacher, who was so fond and proud of him that he
would not have parted with him for anything in the world.
Now not far from the
music master's house there dwelt a lady who possessed a most lovely little
pussy cat called Koma. She was such a little dear altogether, and blinked her
eyes so daintily, and ate her supper so tidily, and when she had finished she
licked her pink nose so delicately with her little tongue, that her mistress
was never tired of saying, 'Koma, Koma, what should I do without you?'
Well, it happened
one day that these two, when out for an evening stroll, met under a cherry
tree, and in one moment fell madly in love with each other. Gon had long felt
that it was time for him to find a wife, for all the ladies in the
neighbourhood paid him so much attention that it made him quite shy; but he was
not easy to please, and did not care about any of them. Now, before he had time
to think, Cupid had entangled him in his net, and he was filled with love
towards Koma. She fully returned his passion, but, like a woman, she saw the
difficulties in the way, and consulted sadly with Gon as to the means of
overcoming them. Gon entreated his master to set matters right by buying Koma,
but her mistress would not part from her. Then the music master was asked to
sell Gon to the lady, but he declined to listen to any such suggestion, so
everything remained as before.
At length the love
of the couple grew to such a pitch that they determined to please themselves,
and to seek their fortunes together. So one moonlight night they stole away,
and ventured out into an unknown world. All day long they marched bravely on
through the sunshine, till they had left their homes far behind them, and
towards evening they found themselves in a large park. The wanderers by this
time were very hot and tired, and the grass looked very soft and inviting, and
the trees cast cool deep shadows, when suddenly an ogre appeared in this
Paradise, in the shape of a big, big dog! He came springing towards them
showing all his teeth, and Koma shrieked, and rushed up a cherry tree. Gon,
however, stood his ground boldly, and prepared to give battle, for he felt that
Koma's eyes were upon him, and that he must not run away. But, alas! his
courage would have availed him nothing had his enemy once touched him, for he
was large and powerful, and very fierce. From her perch in the tree Koma saw it
all, and screamed with all her might, hoping that some one would hear, and come
to help. Luckily a servant of the princess to whom the park belonged was
walking by, and he drove off the dog, and picking up the trembling Gon in his
arms, carried him to his mistress.
So poor little Koma
was left alone, while Gon was borne away full of trouble, not in the least
knowing what to do. Even the attention paid him by the princess, who was
delighted with his beauty and pretty ways, did not console him, but there was
no use in fighting against fate, and he could only wait and see what would turn
up.
The princess, Gon's
new mistress, was so good and kind that everybody loved her, and she would have
led a happy life, had it not been for a serpent who had fallen in love with
her, and was constantly annoying her by his presence. Her servants had orders
to drive him away as often as he appeared; but as they were careless, and the
serpent very sly, it sometimes happened that he was able to slip past them, and
to frighten the princess by appearing before her. One day she was seated in her
room, playing on her favourite musical instrument, when she felt something
gliding up her sash, and saw her enemy making his way to kiss her cheek. She
shrieked and threw herself backwards, and Gon, who had been curled up on a
stool at her feet, understood her terror, and with one bound seized the snake
by his neck. He gave him one bite and one shake, and flung him on the ground,
where he lay, never to worry the princess any more. Then she took Gon in her
arms, and praised and caressed him, and saw that he had the nicest bits to eat,
and the softest mats to lie on; and he would have had nothing in the world to
wish for if only he could have seen Koma again.
Time passed on, and
one morning Gon lay before the house door, basking in the sun. He looked lazily
at the world stretched out before him, and saw in the distance a big ruffian of
a cat teasing and ill-treating quite a little one. He jumped up, full of rage,
and chased away the big cat, and then he turned to comfort the little one, when
his heart nearly burst with joy to find that it was Koma. At first Koma did not
know him again, he had grown so large and stately; but when it dawned upon her
who it was, her happiness knew no bounds. And they rubbed their heads and their
noses again and again, while their purring might have been heard a mile off.
Paw in paw they
appeared before the princess, and told her the story of their life and its
sorrows. The princess wept for sympathy, and promised that they should never
more be parted, but should live with her to the end of their days. By-and-bye
the princess herself got married, and brought a prince to dwell in the palace
in the park. And she told him all about her two cats, and how brave Gon had
been, and how he had delivered her from her enemy the serpent.
And when the prince
heard, he swore they should never leave them, but should go with the princess
wherever she went. So it all fell out as the princess wished; and Gon and Koma
had many children, and so had the princess, and they all played together, and were
friends to the end of their lives.
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