THE
HISTORY OF WHITTINGTON
Dick
Whittington was a very little boy when his father and mother died; so little,
indeed, that he never knew them, nor the place where he was born. He strolled
about the country as ragged as a colt, till he met with a wagoner who was going
to London, and who gave him leave to walk all the way by the side of his wagon
without paying anything for his passage. This pleased little Whittington very
much, as he wanted to see London sadly, for he had heard that the streets were
paved with gold, and he was willing to get a bushel of it; but how great was
his disappointment, poor boy! when he saw the streets covered with dirt instead
of gold, and found himself in a strange place, without a friend, without food,
and without money.
Though
the wagoner was so charitable as to let him walk up by the side of the wagon
for nothing, he took care not to know him when he came to town, and the poor
boy was, in a little time, so cold and hungry that he wished himself in a good
kitchen and by a warm fire in the country.
In
his distress he asked charity of several people, and one of them bid him
"Go to work for an idle rogue." "That I will," said
Whittington, "with all my heart; I will work for you if you will let
me."
The
man, who thought this savored of wit and impertinence (though the poor lad
intended only to show his readiness to work), gave him a blow with a stick
which broke his head so that the blood ran down. In this situation, and
fainting for want of food, he laid himself down at the door of one Mr.
Fitzwarren, a merchant, where the cook saw him, and, being an ill-natured
hussy, ordered him to go about his business or she would scald him. At this
time Mr. Fitzwarren came from the Exchange, and began also to scold at the poor
boy, bidding him to go to work.
Whittington
answered that he should be glad to work if anybody would employ him, and that
he should be able if he could get some victuals to eat, for he had had nothing
for three days, and he was a poor country boy, and knew nobody, and nobody
would employ him.
He
then endeavored to get up, but he was so very weak that he fell down again,
which excited so much compassion in the merchant that he ordered the servants
to take him in and give him some meat and drink, and let him help the cook to
do any dirty work that she had to set him about. People are too apt to reproach
those who beg with being idle, but give themselves no concern to put them in
the way of getting business to do, or considering whether they are able to do
it, which is not charity.
But
we return to Whittington, who could have lived happy in this worthy family had
he not been bumped about by the cross cook, who must be always roasting and
basting, or when the spit was idle employed her hands upon poor Whittington! At
last Miss Alice, his master's daughter, was informed of it, and then she took
compassion on the poor boy, and made the servants treat him kindly.
Besides
the crossness of the cook, Whittington had another difficulty to get over
before he could be happy. He had, by order of his master, a flock-bed placed
for him in a garret, where there was a number of rats and mice that often ran
over the poor boy's nose and disturbed him in his sleep. After some time,
however, a gentleman who came to his master's house gave Whittington a penny
for brushing his shoes. This he put into his pocket, being determined to lay it
out to the best advantage; and the next day, seeing a woman in the street with
a cat under her arm, he ran up to know the price of it. The woman (as the cat
was a good mouser) asked a deal of money for it, but on Whittington's telling
her he had but a penny in the world, and that he wanted a cat sadly, she let
him have it.
This
cat Whittington concealed in the garret, for fear she should be beat about by
his mortal enemy the cook, and here she soon killed or frightened away the rats
and mice, so that the poor boy could now sleep as sound as a top.
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 in his chamber, and even
in bed, so that he is obliged to be watched while he is sleeping, for fear of
them."
The
factor jumped for joy; he remembered poor Whittington and his cat, and told the
King he had a creature on board the ship that would despatch all these vermin
immediately. The King's heart heaved so high at the joy which this news gave
him that his turban dropped off his head. "Bring this creature to
me," said he; "vermin are dreadful in a court, and if she will
perform what you say I will load your ship with gold and jewels in exchange for
her." The factor, who knew his business, took this opportunity to set
forth the merits of Miss Puss. He told his Majesty that it would be
inconvenient to part with her, as, when she was gone, the rats and mice might
destroy the goods in the ship--but to oblige his Majesty he would fetch her.
"Run, run," said the Queen; "I am impatient to see the dear
creature."
Away
flew the factor, while another dinner was providing, and returned with the cat
just as the rats and mice were devouring that also. He immediately put down
Miss Puss, who killed a great number of them.
The
King rejoiced greatly to see his old enemies destroyed by so small a creature,
and the Queen was highly pleased, and desired the cat might be brought near
that she might look at her. Upon which the factor called "Pussy, pussy,
pussy!" and she came to him. He then presented her to the Queen, who
started back, and was afraid to touch a creature who had made such havoc among
the rats and mice; however, when the factor stroked the cat and called "Pussy,
pussy!" the Queen also touched her and cried "Putty, putty!" for
she had not learned English.
He
then put her down on the Queen's lap, where she, purring, played with her
Majesty's hand, and then sang herself to sleep.
The
King, having seen the exploits of Miss Puss, and being informed that her
kittens would stock the whole country, bargained with the captain and factor
for the whole ship's cargo, and then gave them ten times as much for the cat as
all the rest amounted to. On which, taking leave of their Majesties and other
great personages at court, they sailed with a fair wind for England, whither we
must now attend them.
The
morn had scarcely dawned when Mr. Fitzwarren arose to count over the cash and
settle the business for that day. He had just entered the counting-house, and
seated himself at the desk, when somebody came, tap, tap, at the door.
"Who's there?" said Mr. Fitzwarren. "A friend," answered
the other. "What friend can come at this unseasonable time?" "A
real friend is never unseasonable," answered the other. "I come to
bring you good news of your ship Unicorn." The merchant bustled up in such
a hurry that he forgot his gout; instantly opened the door, and who should be
seen waiting but the captain and factor, with a cabinet of jewels, and a bill
of lading, for which the merchant lifted up his eyes and thanked heaven for
sending him such a prosperous voyage. Then they told him the adventures of the
cat, and showed him the cabinet of jewels which they had brought for Mr.
Whittington. Upon which he cried out with great earnestness, but not in the
most poetical manner:
"Go,
send him in, and tell him of his fame,
And call him Mr. Whittington by name."
It
is not our business to animadvert upon these lines; we are not critics, but
historians. It is sufficient for us that they are the words of Mr. Fitzwarren;
and though it is beside our purpose, and perhaps not in our power to prove him
a good poet, we shall soon convince the reader that he was a good man, which
was a much better character; for when some who were present told him that this
treasure was too much for such a poor boy as Whittington, he said: "God
forbid that I should deprive him of a penny; it is his own, and he shall have
it to a farthing." He then ordered Mr. Whittington in, who was at this
time cleaning the kitchen and would have excused himself from going into the
counting-house, saying the room was swept and his shoes were dirty and full of
hob-nails. The merchant, however, made him come in, and ordered a chair to be
set for him. Upon which, thinking they intended to make sport of him, as had
been too often the case in the kitchen, he besought his master not to mock a
poor simple fellow, who intended them no harm, but let him go about his
business. The merchant, taking him by the hand, said: "Indeed, Mr.
Whittington, I am in earnest with you, and sent for you to congratulate you on
your great success. Your cat has procured you more money than I am worth in the
world, and may you long enjoy it and be happy!"
At
length, being shown the treasure, and convinced by them that all of it belonged
to him, he fell upon his knees and thanked the Almighty for his providential
care of such a poor and miserable creature. He then laid all the treasure at
his master's feet, who refused to take any part of it, but told him he heartily
rejoiced at his prosperity, and hoped the wealth he had acquired would be a
comfort to him, and would make him happy. He then applied to his mistress, and
to his good friend Miss Alice, who refused to take any part of the money, but
told him she heartily rejoiced at his good success, and wished him all
imaginable felicity. He then gratified the captain, factor, and the ship's crew
for the care they had taken of his cargo. He likewise distributed presents to
all the servants in the house, not forgetting even his old enemy the cook,
though she little deserved it.
After
this Mr. Fitzwarren advised Mr. Whittington to send for the necessary people
and dress himself like a gentleman, and made him the offer of his house to live
in till he could provide himself with a better.
Now
it came to pass when Mr. Whittington's face was washed, his hair curled, and he
dressed in a rich suit of clothes, that he turned out a genteel young fellow;
and, as wealth contributes much to give a man confidence, he in a little time
dropped that sheepish behavior which was principally occasioned by a depression
of spirits, and soon grew a sprightly and good companion, insomuch that Miss
Alice, who had formerly pitied him, now fell in love with him.
When
her father perceived they had this good liking for each other he proposed a
match between them, to which both parties cheerfully consented, and the Lord
Mayor, Court of Aldermen, Sheriffs, the Company of Stationers, the Royal Academy
of Arts, and a number of eminent merchants attended the ceremony, and were
elegantly treated at an entertainment made for that purpose.
History
further relates that they lived very happy, had several children, and died at a
good old age. Mr. Whittington served as Sheriff of London and was three times
Lord Mayor. In the last year of his mayoralty he entertained King Henry V and
his Queen, after his conquest of France, upon which occasion the King, in
consideration of Whittington's merit, said: "Never had prince such a
subject"; which being told to Whittington at the table, he replied:
"Never had subject such a king." His Majesty, out of respect to his
good character, conferred the honor of knighthood on him soon after.
Sir
Richard many years before his death constantly fed a great number of poor
citizens, built a church and a college to it, with a yearly allowance for poor
scholars, and near it erected a hospital.
He
also built Newgate for criminals, and gave liberally to St. Bartholomew's Hospital
and other public charities.
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