Dick and his cat

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21399

Title

Dick and his cat

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Mary Ellis retells the classic tale of Dick Whittington and his cat in simple, four-letter words for young readers. This heartwarming story follows a homeless boy who finds kindness, learns to be good, and discovers the value of his feline friend. With a gentle tone and clear moral lessons, it appeals to children learning to read independently while offering a timeless narrative of redemption and friendship.

Summary up to 500 words

Mary Ellis's retelling of 'Dick and his Cat' recounts the poignant journey of a six-year-old orphan named Dick. After his mother dies, the destitute boy collapses on a doorstep in a town, where he is discovered by a kind man and a unkind little girl. While the man takes pity on Dick's pale, suffering face, the girl treats him harshly, offering only scraps and rags. Lacking guidance, Dick descends into bad behavior, lying and stealing, with his only comfort being a gray cat he rescues from bullies. A turning point arrives when Dick attempts to flee his home in despair. The sound of a church bell reminds him of his mother's final prayers and his own misdeeds. Overcome with repentance, he returns, reforms, and regains the family's love. The narrative then follows the cat's destiny. When a sailor named Jack prepares to sail to a distant land, Dick offers his beloved pet to accompany him. On the ship, the cat proves invaluable by hunting rats. Upon reaching a foreign kingdom plagued by rodents, Jack presents the cat to the king. The animal terrifies the infestation, saving the royal feast. The king rewards Jack with a pile of gold and keeps the cat. When Jack returns home, the family realizes the treasure was intended for Dick. Overjoyed, Dick decides to share the wealth generously. He distributes gifts to his benefactors, sets aside funds for his future wisdom and work, and plans to help others. The story concludes with the family united, illustrating the moral that goodness, wisdom, and wealth are best combined.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21399.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21399.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-08 13:20 UTC

Categories

• Biography
• Fiction
• Poverty
• Success
• Cats