Dick Whittington and his Cat (3)

Dick Whittington and his Cat (3)

After a few days he was so hungry.

At last, one day, he collapsed in a ragged heap on the doorstep of a rich merchant’s house. 

Out of the house came a cook, who was an unkind, bad-tempered woman.  

“Be off, lazy boy, ” she shouted, “you dirty ragamuffin, if you stay here  one minute I'll throw boiling hot, dishwater over you,” and she tried to sweep him off the step with a broom.



At that moment, rich merchant named Fitzwarren came back at his house for dinner. 

When he saw what was happening, he asked Dick why he had been lying there.
" You're old enough to work, my boy," he said.
" I'm afraid you're just lazy. "

" But sir, that is not so, " Dick said.
He told Mr Fitzwarren about his attempts to find work and described how hungry he was.
Poor Dick was so weak that when he tried to stand, he fell down again.

When the Kind merchant saw this, he took pity on poor Dick. 

" Carry him into the house, he could stay here for a while, ” the merchant ordered his groom and given a good dinner.

When Dick was fed and rested, Dick was given a job working in the kitchen, helping the cook.

(3/9)