Puss in Boots

When the old miller died, his youngest son inherited nothing but a cat. "What good is a cat when I'm hungry?" the young man sighed. But the cat spoke up: "Don't worry, master. Just give me a pair of boots and a sack, and I'll bring you good fortune."

Off went the cat into the woods, caught a plump rabbit in his sack, and presented it to the king — as a gift, he said, from the "Marquis of Carabas," a fine and generous lord. He kept this up for weeks, bringing the king game and praising his master's kindness and generosity, though the young man was really just a poor miller's son.

One day the cat learned the king would be riding along the river with his daughter, the princess. He convinced his master to go for a swim at just that hour, then hid his clothes. As the royal carriage passed, the cat cried out, "Help! The Marquis of Carabas has been robbed while bathing!" The king, who had heard so much about the generous marquis, gave the young man fine clothes from his own carriage.

The cat ran on ahead and told every farmer he passed to say the fields belonged to the Marquis of Carabas — and the farmers, having heard only good things about him, happily agreed. The king was so impressed by the young man's wealth and manners that he gave him his daughter's hand in marriage.

And so the cat's loyalty and cleverness brought good fortune not only to his master, but to everyone he crossed paths with. Goodnight.