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Once upon
a time...
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.
The Cats Elopement
from the Pink Fairy Book
Story Edited
by Andrew Lang |
