• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
• Dick Whittington
• The Pedlar of Swaffham

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once three bears lived together in a house of their own in a wood. One of them was a wee bear; and one was a middle-sized bear, and the other was a great bear. They each had a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the wee bear, and a middle-sized pot for the middle bear, and a great pot for the great bear. And they each had a chair to sit in; a little chair for the wee bear; and a middle-sized chair for the middle bear; and a great chair for the great bear. And they each had a bed to sleep in; a little bed for the wee bear; and a middle-sized bed for the middle bear; and a great bed for the great bear.

One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast and poured it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by beginning to eat it too soon.

While they were walking, a little girl called Goldilocks strayed to the house. First she looked in at the window and then she peeped in at the keyhole; and seeing nobody in the house, she lifted the latch. The door was not fastened because the bears were good bears who did nobody any harm and never suspected that anybody would harm them. So the Goldilocks opened the door and went in; and she was well pleased when she saw the porridge on the table.

If she had been a good little girl, she would have waited till the bears came home and then they would perhaps have asked her to breakfast; for they were good bears, and very good-natured and hospitable. But Goldilocks set about helping herself.

First she tasted the porridge of the great bear, and that was too hot for her. Then she tasted the porridge of the middle bear, and that was too cold for her. And then she went to the porridge of the wee bear, and tasted that; and that was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right. She liked it so well that she ate it all up.

Then Goldilocks sat down in the chair of the great bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the middle bear, and that was too soft for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the wee bear, and that was neither too hard, nor too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it and there she sat till the bottom of the chair came out and she came down on the ground.

Then Goldilocks went upstairs into the bed-chamber where the three bears slept. And first she lay down on the bed of the great bear; but that was too high at the head for her. And next she lay down on the bed of the middle bear, and that was too high at the foot for her. And then she lay down on the bed of the wee bear, and that was neither too high at the head nor at the foot, but just right. So she covered herself up comfortably and lay there till she fell fast asleep.

By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool enough, so they came home to breakfast.

"Somebody has been eating from my porridge!' said the great bear in his booming voice..

"Somebody has been eating from my porridge!" said the middle bear in his average voice.

"Somebody has eaten up all my porridge!" said the wee bear, in his wee voice.

On this the three bears, seeing that someone had entered their house and eaten up the wee bear's breakfast, began to look about them. Now the little girl had not put the hard cushion straight when she rose from the chair of the great bear.

"Somebody has been sitting in my chair!" said the great bear, in a booming voice.

"Somebody has been sitting in my chair!" said the middle bear in his average voice.

"Somebody has been sitting in my chair and has sat the bottom out of it!" said the wee bear, in his delicate voice.

Then the three bears thought they had to seek further; so they went upstairs into their bed-chamber. Now Goldilocks had pulled the pillow of the great bear out of its place.

"Somebody has been lying in my bed!" said the great bear, in his booming voice.

"Somebody has been lying in my bed!" said the middle bear in his average voice.

"Somebody is lying in my bed — here she is!" said the wee bear, in his delicate voice.

Goldilocks had heard in her sleep the booming voice of the great bear; but she was so fast asleep that it was no more to her than the roaring of wind or the rumbling of thunder. And she had heard the middle voice of the middle bear as if someone was speaking in a dream. But when she heard the delicate voice of the wee bear, it was so delightful that iit woke her up at once. Then she saw the three bears on one side of the bed, and tumbled herself out at the other side and ran to the open window. For the good, tidy bears always opened their bed-chamber window when they got up in the morning. The little girl jumped out and ran into the wood and found her way out of the wood and was never seen there again.

[Based on an English Tale From Joseph Jacobs' English Fairy Tales. London: David Nutt, 1890.]

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Dick Whittington

Dick Whittington was a very little boy when his father and mother died. He was so little at that time that he never knew them, and he did not know where he was born either, but he became the mayor of London. Here is how it happened:

One day he strolled about the country as ragged as a colt when he met with a wagoner who was going to London. The wagoner gave him leave to walk all the way by the side of his wagon without paying anything for his passage. This pleased little Dick after all, for he longed to see London. You see, he had heard that the streets were paved with gold, and was willing to get a bushel of it.

But great was his disappointment when he saw the streets were covered with dirt and not 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. Thus, the 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 friendly help of several people, and one of them bid him,

"Go to work for an idle rogue."

"That I will," said little Dick, "with all my heart; I'll work for you if you'll let me."

The man, who thought this savoured of wit and impertinence (though the lad intended only to show his readiness to work), gave him a blow on his head with a stick so that the blood ran down. Fainting for want of food, he laid himself down at the door of a merchant. The merchant's cook saw him there, and because she was an ill-natured hussy, ordered him to go about his business or she would scald him. At this time the merchant came from market. He too began to scold the boy, bidding him to go to work.

Little Dick answered that he should be glad to work if anybody would employ him, and that he would be glad to get something to eat, for he had had nothing for three days, and he was a poor country boy, and knew nobody.

He then tried to get up, but he was so very weak that he fell down again. This made the merchant order his 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.

Little Dick could have lived happy in this family had he not been bumped about by the cross cook who hit him too. At last Alice, his master's daughter, was told of it. Then she took compassion on the lad and made the servants treat him kindly.

Dick had another difficulty to get over before he could be happy. He had a flock-bed placed for him in a garret, where there was a number of rats and mice that often ran over the lad's nose and disturbed him in his sleep. But one day a gentleman who came to his master's house, gave little Dick a penny for brushing his shoes. This he put into his pocket, determined to lay it out to the best advantage.

Next day, seeing a woman in the street with a cat under her arm, he ran up to know the price of it. As the cat was a good mouse-catcher the woman asked a deal of money for it, but when the boy told her he had but a penny, and that he wanted a cat really bad, she let him have it.

Little Dick hid his new four-footed friend in the garret, for he feared she should be beat about by the harsh cook. The pussy soon killed or frightened away the rats and mice, so that the lad could now sleep well.

The merchant had a ship ready to sail. He called for his servants, as his custom was, in order that each of them might venture something to try their luck: Whatever they sent was to pay neither freight nor custom, for he was kind to them.

All the servants appeared, but Dick did not. As he did not own anything to part with, he couldn't think of sending anything. But then Miss Alice ordered him to be called and offered to lay down something for him. But the merchant would not have it that way, Dick had to bring something of his own like the rest. Dick said he had nothing but a cat.

"Fetch your cat, boy," said the merchant, "and send her."

Little Dick brought his pussycat and delivered her to the captain with tears in his eyes. All the company laughed at the adventure but Miss Alice. She pitied the lad and gave him something to buy another cat.

While pussy was at sea, little Dick was severely beaten at home by the tyrannical cook. She used him so cruelly that at last the lad determined to run away from there. Having packed up the few things he had, he set out very early in the morning in Fall. He travelled as far as Holloway. There he sat down on a stone to think about what course he should take. While he was sitting like that, the six Bow bells began to ring; and he thought their sounds told him:

Turn again, Dick,
Three times Lord Mayor of London.

"Lord Mayor!" said he to himself, "what wouldn't one endure to be Lord Mayor, and ride a fine coach? Well, I'll go back again for it."

So home he went home before the cook found out he had been away.

The pussycat was taken to the coast of Africa - and Africa is where the cat is thought to come from, in case you didn't know it. The ship was driven on a part of the coast of Barbary where Moors lived. The English didn't know about them. The Moors received the boat and the crew with civility. Therefore the captain showed them what goods he had on board in order to trade with them. He sent some of the goods to the king of the country. He in turn was so well pleased that he sent for the captain and the factor [he acted or transacted business for the merchant and his people] to come to his castle, which was about a mile from the sea.

Here they were placed on rich carpets, and the king and queen sat down at the upper end of the room. An excellent dinner was brought in; but no sooner were the dishes put down but an amazing number of rats and mice came running and crawling and ate all the meat in an instant.

"Aren't these vermin offensive?" asked the factor.

"Oh! yes," said they, "and the king would give half his treasure to be freed of them. They not only destroy his dinner, they assault him in his chamber and in bed, so that he has to be watched while he is sleeping, for fear of them."

The factor jumped for joy; for now he remembered little Dick and his cat and told the king. 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," he said. "If the cat will perform what you say, I'll load your ship with gold and jewels in exchange for her."

The factor told the king that it would be inconvenient to part with her, for when she was gone, rats and mice might destroy the goods in the ship—but for the king's sake he would fetch her.

"Run, run," said the queen; "I'm impatient to see the dear thing."

Away flew the factor, and returned with the cat just as the rats and mice were eating the next dinner at the castle. At once he put down the pussycat, who killed a great number of them.

The king rejoiced greatly to see the rats destroyed by so small a creature. The queen was highly pleased too, and desired the cat might be brought near that she might look at her. The factor called "Pussy, pussy, pussy!" and she came to him. He then handed her over to the queen, while stroking the cat. Calling "Pussy, pussy!" the queen also touched her and was happy as can be.

The factor then put her down on the queen's lap. Purring the cat played with the queen's hand, and then sang herself to sleep.

Having seen the great and courageous exploits of the pussycat, the king understood that her kittens could stock the whole country. Therefore he gave ten times as much for the cat as the captain got for all the rest that was on the ship. That was not little. Then after taking leave of the royal couple and other great personages at court, the captain and his men sailed with a fair wind for England.

The merchant who had taken Dick into his house, had just entered the counting-house and seated himself at the desk one early morning, when somebody came knocking at the door.

"Who's there?" said the merchant.

"It's a friend," answered the other, "and I bring good news of your ship."

The merchant bustled up in such a hurry that he forgot his gout. The captain and factor entered with a cabinet of jewels, and a bill of lading. The riches made the merchant lift up his eyes in thankfulness for the prosperous voyage. Then they told him the adventures of the cat and showed him the cabinet of jewels which they had brought for Dick Whittington. The merchant cried out:

Go, send him in and tell him of his fame.
Call him Dick by name.

Then some who were present told him that this treasure was too much for such a poor boy, but the he said:

"God forbid that I should take away as much as a penny; it's his own, and he shall have it all."

Dick Whittington was at this time cleaning the kitchen. The merchant, however, made him come to him, and ordered a chair to be set for him. The merchant took him by the hand and said:

"Indeed, Dick Whittington, I sent for you to congratulate you. Your cat has brought you more money than I have, and may you long enjoy it and be happy!"

At length, after being shown the treasure and convinced by them that it was no silly prank against a poor boy, he fell on his knees and thanked God. He then laid all the treasure at his master's feet, but the merchant 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. Dick then asked Miss Alice if she would have it, but she would not. She told him she heartily rejoiced at his good success, and wished him all the happiness he could have. Then she married him. This is how it happened:

First Dick gave ample funds to the captain, factor, and the ship's crew for the care they had taken of his cat and the cargo. He likewise distributed presents to all the servants in the house, even his tormenter, the cook. She little deserved it.

The merchant advised Dick how to dress up like a gentleman, and offerend Dick to live in his house as his guest till he could get himself something better. And when Dick Whittington's face was washed, his hair curled, and he dressed in a rich suit, he showed up to be a good-mannered young fellow. And in a little time he dropped his accent and soon grew a sprightly and good companion - so much that Miss Alice now fell in love with him. Her father perceived they had this good liking for each other and he proposed a match between them. Both said yes. Many fine people attended the ceremony. The couple lived very happy, had several children, and died at a good old age.

AT 1651, Whittington's Cat. Examples of the tale type need not feature a cat, and the helper can be replaced by the angel St. Michael or St. Joseph. (WP, "Dick Whittington and His Cat") Now, there was a historical character, Richard Whittington (ca. 1354–1432). He was an English merchant, a politician, and the real-life inspiration for the English folk tale Dick Whittington and His Cat. In the tale he starts out poor, but the real Whittington was never very poor and there is no evidence that he kept a cat either. The real Whittington was four times Lord Mayor of London, a member of parliament and a sheriff of London. He lived at the time of King Henry V, who conferred the honour of knighthood on him too He used his wealth to benefit people. He fed many poor citizens, with a yearly allowance for poor scholars, erected a hospital and gave a lot to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and built Newgate for criminals. In the 19th century there arose a popular pantomime called Dick Whittington and His Cat, very loosely based on Richard Whittington. There are several versions of the traditional story. It tells how Dick, a boy from a poor Gloucestershire family, sets out for London to make his fortune by the help of a cat. Dick embarks on a series of adventures. In one version he travels abroad on a ship and wins many friends as a result of the rat-catching activities of his cat. Eventually he becomes wealthy, marries his master's daughter and is made Lord Mayor of London three times. (WP, "Richard Whittington") The entertaining story has similarities to medieval tales that tell of a character who makes his fortune selling his cat abroad. An Italian example is by Lorenzo Magalotti's (d. 1732) story about a 16th-century merchant who made his fortune selling his cat to the king of the isle of Canary (Canaria). A Persian story tells of a widow's son who lived in the 10th century and made his fortune in India with his cat.

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The Pedlar of Swaffham

In the old days when London Bridge was lined with shops from one end to the other, and salmon swam under the arches, there lived at Swaffham, in Norfolk, a poor pedlar. He had much ado to make his living, trudging about with his pack at his back and his dog at his heels, and at the close of the day's labour was but too glad to sit down and sleep. Now it fell out that one night he dreamed a dream, and in it he saw the great bridge of London town, and it sounded in his ears that if he went there he should hear joyful news. He made little count of the dream, but on the next night it came back to him, and again on the third night.

Then he said to himself, "I have to try out that dream, since it was repeated twice," and so he trudged up to London town. Long was the way and he was right glad when he stood on the great bridge and saw the tall houses on right hand and left, and had glimpses of the water running and the ships sailing by. All day long he paced to and fro, but he heard nothing that might yield him comfort. And again next day he stood and he gazed — he paced afresh all along the London Bridge, but nothing did he see and nothing did he hear.

The third day when he still stood on the bridge and gazed, a shopkeeper nearby spoke to him.

"Friend," said he, "I wonder much at your fruitless standing. Have you no wares to sell?"

"No, indeed," said the pedlar.

"And you do not beg for alms?"

"Not so long as I can keep myself."

"Then, tell me, what do you want here, and what business do you have?"

"Well, kind sir, to tell the truth, I dreamed that if I came here, I should hear good news."

The shopkeeper laughed heartily.

"Nay, you must be a fool to take a journey on such an errand. I have dreams too. Last night I dreamt myself to be in Swaffham, a place somewhere in Norfolk, and it seemed to me I was in an orchard behind a pedlar's house, and in that orchard was a great oak tree. Then it seemed to me that if I digged I should find a great treasure beneath that tree. But don't think you I'm such a fool as to take a long and wearisome journey for a dream. No, my good fellow, learn wit from a wiser man than yourself. Get home and mind your business."

When the pedlar heard this he said nothing, but he was exceedingly glad inwardly. He returned home speedily, digged underneath the great oak tree in his orchand, and found a great treasure. He grew exceeding rich, but he did not forget to do good. He built up again the church at Swaffham, and when he died they put a statue of him in it, all in stone with his pack at his back and his dog at his heels.