The Pink Fairy Book | Page 2

Master and Pupil The Golden Lion The Sprig of Rosemary
The White Dove The Troll's Daughter Esben and the Witch Princess
Minon-Minette Maiden Bright-eye The Merry Wives King Lindorm
The Jackal, the Dove, and the Panther The Little Hare The Sparrow
with the Slit Tongue The Story of Ciccu Don Giovanni de la Fortuna .

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.