DICK WHITTINGTON—I
by James H. Fassett · from The Beacon Second Reader
Adapted Version
Dick was a poor boy. He had no home. He heard about London. London had streets of gold! Dick wanted gold. He wanted to be rich. He walked to London. He walked a long way.
Dick came to London. He saw no gold. Only dirt was there. He looked for work. No one helped him. Dick was very hungry. He had no food. He fell down.
Mr. Fitzwarren saw Dick. He was a kind man. He felt sad for Dick. "Work in my kitchen," he said. Dick had a bed. It was in the attic. The Cook was grumpy. She did not like Dick.
Many rats lived in the attic. They made much noise. Dick could not sleep. He had one penny. He wanted a cat. He bought a cat. Her name was Miss Puss.
Miss Puss caught the rats. The attic was quiet now. Dick slept well. He loved Miss Puss very much. She was his good friend.
Mr. Fitzwarren had a ship. It went to far lands. People sent things to sell. All could send a thing. Mr. Fitzwarren was fair. Dick must send a thing too.
Dick had only Miss Puss. He sent his cat. He was very sad. The Cook said unkind words. She made Dick feel bad. Dick missed his cat much.
Dick was very alone. He was sad. He wanted to leave. He ran away from the house. He left early in the morning. He walked a short way.
Dick heard the bells. The Bow Bells rang. "Ding-dong, ding-dong!" they said. "Turn back, Dick! Lord Mayor of London!" Dick heard the words. He went back home. He felt hope.
The ship sailed far away. It came to a new land. The King lived there. The Queen lived there. Many rats were in their house. The rats ate their food.
The Captain showed Miss Puss. Miss Puss caught the rats. She caught them all. The King was happy. The Queen was happy. They smiled much.
The King gave much gold. The Queen gave jewels. They paid for Miss Puss. It was a big payment. They were very thankful. They liked Miss Puss.
The ship came back. It came to London. Mr. Fitzwarren told Dick. "You are rich now," he said. Dick had much gold. He was very surprised.
Dick was a rich man. He was very happy. He became Lord Mayor. The bells were right! Good things happen to good people. He worked hard.
Original Story
DICK WHITTINGTON—I
Dick Whittington was a poor little boy who lived in the country.
His father and mother were both dead.
Poor little Dick was always willing to work, but sometimes there was no work for him to do, so he often had nothing to eat.
Now Dick was a bright boy.
He kept both ears open to hear what was said around him.
He had heard many times about the great city of London.
Men said that in this great city the people were rich.
Dick had even heard that the streets were paved with gold.
"How I should like to visit that great city," thought Dick, "for I could pick up gold from the streets!"
Dick had earned a little money, so one day he set out to walk to London.
He walked and walked and walked, but London was a long way from his home.
At last a man with a wagon came along. He was a kind man, and he gave Dick a ride.
"Where are you going?" asked Dick.
"I'm going to London," said the man.
"You are very good to give me a ride. I am going there, too," said Dick.
It was dark when they reached London.
That night Dick slept in a barn with the horses.
The next morning he looked for the golden stones in the streets.
He looked and looked, but he could find only dust and dirt.
There were many, many people in London, and Dick thought that he could soon find something to do.
He wandered around the streets, seeking for work.
He asked many people, but no one wanted the poor little country boy.
As Dick had no money for food, he soon became very, very hungry.
At last he grew so weak that he fell down before the door of a great house.
Here the cook found him and began to beat him with a stick.
"Run away, you lazy boy!" she cried.
Poor Dick tried to rise, but he was so faint from want of food that he could not stand.
Just then the owner of the house, Mr. Fitzwarren, came up. He took pity on the poor boy and ordered the cook to give him some food.
Then he turned to Dick and said:
"If you wish to work, you may help the cook in the kitchen. You will find a bed in the attic."
Dick thanked Mr. Fitzwarren again and again for his kindness.
The cook was very cross to Dick and whipped him almost every day.
His bed in the attic was only a pile of old rags.
He soon found that there were many rats and mice in the attic.
They ran over his bed and made so much noise every night that he could not sleep.
"I wish I had a cat," thought Dick, "for she could eat up these rats and mice."
One day Dick earned a penny by blacking a man's shoes.
"I will try to buy a cat with this penny," thought Dick.
So he started out and soon met a woman with a large cat.
"Will you sell me that cat?" said Dick. "I will give you this penny for her."
"You are a good boy," said the woman, "and you may have the cat for a penny, for I know you will treat her kindly."
That night Dick's bed was free from rats, and Miss Puss had a good supper.
Dick began to love his cat dearly.
DICK WHITTINGTON—II
Now Mr. Fitzwarren had many ships which sailed to distant lands.
When a ship sailed Mr. Fitzwarren let every one in his house send something on it.
The things were sold, and when the ship came back, each person had the money for what he had sent.
One of the ships was ready to sail.
Every one in the house except Dick had sent something.
"What is Dick going to send in the ship?" said Mr. Fitzwarren.
"Oh, that boy has nothing to send," said the cross cook.
"It is true," said poor Dick; "I have nothing but my dear cat."
"Well, then you must send your cat," said Mr. Fitzwarren.
How lonely poor Dick was without Puss!
The cook made fun of him for sending a cat on the ship.
At last Dick became so unhappy that he made up his mind to run away.
He started early in the morning, before any one in the house was up.
He had gone but a short way when he heard the sound of the six great bells of Bow.
As they rang, "Ding-dong, ding-dong!" they seemed to say:
Turn back, Whittington,
Lord Mayor of London.
"It is strange that the bells should speak to me," said Dick, "but if I am to be Lord Mayor of London, I will gladly turn back."
So he ran back to the house of Mr. Fitzwarren.
"I hope they have not missed me," said Dick, as he gently opened the door and stole softly in.
DICK WHITTINGTON—III
Dick's cat was taken across the ocean. The ship sailed and sailed, until at last it came to a distant country.
Now the king and queen of this country were very rich. When the captain was asked to show his goods before them he was very glad indeed to do so.
The king and queen first gave the captain a great feast.
Gold and silver dishes filled with food were brought in.
When these dishes were placed upon the table an army of rats came out.
There were white rats, and black rats, and brown rats, and big rats, and little rats.
At once they fell upon the food and ate it nearly all up.
"Why do you let the rats do this?" asked the captain.
"Alas, we cannot help ourselves," said the king. "I would give half my kingdom to be rid of them."
Then the captain thought of Dick Whittington's cat.
"I have an animal which will rid you of them," said the captain.
"Pray bring it in at once," said the queen.
What fun Dick's cat had killing the rats and mice in the king's palace!
"We must buy that little animal," said the queen. "I do not care how much she may cost."
The captain could hardly carry all the jewels and gold that the king gave him for the cat.
Then the ship with Dick's money came back to London, and the captain told the story to Mr. Fitzwarren.
"We must take these jewels and all this gold at once to Mr. Whittington," said the honest man. "He is no longer a poor boy, for this has made him rich."
They found Dick in the kitchen blacking the stove.
"Come with me at once into the parlor," said Mr. Fitzwarren.
Then the bags of gold and jewels were piled at Dick's feet.
"See what your cat has brought you," said Mr. Fitzwarren. "You are now a rich man and may yet be Lord Mayor of London."
And it is true that after Dick Whittington became a man, he was made Lord Mayor of London.
English Folk Tale
Story DNA
Moral
Kindness and hard work, even in the face of adversity, can lead to unexpected fortune and success.
Plot Summary
Dick Whittington, a poor orphan, travels to London seeking fortune, only to find hardship. He is taken in by Mr. Fitzwarren, where he suffers under a cruel cook and is plagued by rats. With his last penny, Dick buys a cat, which becomes his only comfort. When Mr. Fitzwarren sends a ship on a trading voyage, Dick reluctantly sends his cat. Feeling lonely, Dick attempts to run away but is called back by the magical Bow Bells, which prophesy he will become Lord Mayor. Meanwhile, his cat rids a foreign king's palace of rats, earning a vast fortune. The wealth returns to Dick, making him rich, and he eventually fulfills the prophecy, becoming Lord Mayor of London.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story is based on a real historical figure, Richard Whittington (c. 1350–1423), who was indeed Lord Mayor of London four times. However, the cat element and the 'rags to riches' narrative are largely legendary additions.
Plot Beats (14)
- Dick Whittington, a poor orphan, decides to go to London after hearing its streets are paved with gold.
- He travels to London, finds no gold, and struggles to find work, eventually collapsing from hunger.
- Mr. Fitzwarren, a kind merchant, takes pity on Dick and gives him a job in his kitchen and a bed in the attic, despite the cook's cruelty.
- Dick is tormented by rats in his attic bed and uses his only penny to buy a cat.
- The cat successfully rids his attic of rats, and Dick grows to love her dearly.
- Mr. Fitzwarren prepares a ship for a trading voyage and insists everyone, including Dick, send something to be sold.
- Dick reluctantly sends his beloved cat on the ship, enduring the cook's mockery.
- Feeling lonely and unhappy, Dick decides to run away from Mr. Fitzwarren's house.
- As he leaves, the Bow Bells ring, seemingly telling him to 'Turn back, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London,' convincing him to return.
- The ship carrying Dick's cat reaches a distant land where the king and queen are plagued by rats.
- The captain presents Dick's cat, who swiftly eliminates all the rats in the palace.
- The grateful king and queen pay an immense fortune in jewels and gold for the cat.
- The ship returns to London, and Mr. Fitzwarren informs Dick of his newfound wealth.
- Dick becomes a rich man and, as foretold by the bells, eventually becomes Lord Mayor of London.
Characters
Dick Whittington ★ protagonist
A small, slender boy, likely underfed, with the lean build of someone who has known hardship. His movements are initially hesitant and weak from hunger, but he possesses an underlying resilience.
Attire: Simple, worn, and patched peasant clothing typical of 14th-century England. Likely consists of a coarse linen tunic or shirt, possibly a worn wool jerkin, and breeches, all in muted, earthy tones like brown, grey, or undyed off-white. His shoes would be sturdy but well-worn, perhaps leather or wooden clogs.
Wants: To find work, earn money, escape poverty, and ultimately, to find a better life in London.
Flaw: His initial naivete about London's 'golden streets' and his vulnerability to the harshness of others, like the cook.
Transforms from a poor, naive, and hungry country boy into a wealthy and respected man, ultimately becoming the Lord Mayor of London, fulfilling the prophecy of the Bow Bells.
Hardworking, observant, hopeful, resilient, kind, and grateful. He is not easily deterred by hardship and shows great affection for his cat.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, slender English peasant boy, around 10 years old, standing upright and facing forward. He has a lean build, fair skin, and bright, observant blue eyes. His short, shaggy light brown hair is unkempt. He wears a patched, coarse linen tunic in a muted grey-brown, worn wool breeches, and sturdy, scuffed brown leather shoes. His expression is earnest and hopeful, with a slight, gentle smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Miss Puss ◆ supporting
A large, healthy domestic cat, likely a tabby or a solid color, with strong hunting instincts. Her fur is well-maintained, and she moves with feline grace and efficiency.
Attire: None, as she is an animal.
Wants: To hunt rats and mice, to be cared for, and to provide companionship to Dick.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, as she is primarily a tool for Dick's fortune.
Remains consistent in her nature as a skilled hunter. Her actions directly lead to Dick's fortune.
Intelligent, loyal (to Dick), efficient hunter, calm, and observant. She is a creature of instinct but also capable of forming bonds.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, sleek domestic cat, a grey tabby with dark stripes, standing alert and facing forward. She has bright green eyes and perked ears. Her tail is held high. She has a focused, intelligent expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Mr. Fitzwarren ◆ supporting
A prosperous and well-respected merchant, likely of a sturdy build, reflecting his comfortable lifestyle. He carries himself with authority and benevolence.
Attire: Rich, but practical, merchant attire of 14th-century England. This would include a long, dark wool tunic or houppelande, possibly lined with fur, over a linen shirt. He might wear a coif or a simple cap, and sturdy leather shoes. His clothing would be well-made and clean, in colors like deep blue, green, or crimson.
Wants: To conduct his shipping business successfully, to maintain a well-ordered household, and to act with integrity.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, he acts as a moral compass.
Remains consistent as a benevolent and honest figure, facilitating Dick's rise to fortune.
Kind, honest, fair, discerning, and generous. He shows pity for Dick and ensures he receives his due fortune.
Image Prompt & Upload
A prosperous English merchant, an adult man in his 40s, standing upright and facing forward. He has a sturdy build, a kind, wise face with a neatly trimmed dark beard, and discerning brown eyes. His dark brown hair is neatly styled and slightly greying at the temples. He wears a long, dark blue wool houppelande, possibly lined with a darker fabric, over a white linen shirt, and sturdy dark leather shoes. His posture is confident and benevolent. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Cook ⚔ antagonist
A stout, imposing woman, likely with strong arms from her work in the kitchen. Her demeanor is often aggressive and harsh.
Attire: Practical, sturdy working clothes of a 14th-century English household cook. This would include a coarse linen smock or kirtle, possibly a heavy wool apron, and sturdy, comfortable shoes. Her clothing would be functional, perhaps stained, in muted colors like grey, brown, or off-white. She would wear a simple linen coif or head covering.
Wants: To maintain her position without extra effort, to assert her authority over those she perceives as beneath her, and to express her general discontent.
Flaw: Her cruelty and short temper, which make her disliked and ultimately irrelevant to the positive outcomes of the story.
Remains consistently cruel and does not change. Her actions highlight Dick's resilience.
Cruel, ill-tempered, lazy (wants to avoid extra work), dismissive, and mean-spirited. She takes pleasure in tormenting Dick.
Image Prompt & Upload
A stout, imposing English woman in her 40s, standing with a stern, scowling face and sharp, critical dark eyes. Her ruddy complexion suggests a life spent near heat. Her dark hair is pulled back tightly under a simple white linen coif. She wears a coarse, stained grey linen smock, a heavy brown wool apron, and sturdy, flat brown leather shoes. Her posture is stiff and aggressive, hands on her hips. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The King of the Distant Country ◆ supporting
A wealthy and regal monarch, likely of a comfortable build, reflecting his opulent lifestyle. He carries himself with the dignity of a ruler, though somewhat exasperated by his rat problem.
Attire: Opulent royal attire, reflecting the wealth of his kingdom. Given the generic 'distant country' and the mention of jewels and gold, this suggests a non-European, possibly Middle Eastern or South Asian, aesthetic. He would wear flowing robes of rich silk or brocade, perhaps in deep jewel tones like sapphire or emerald, embroidered with gold thread. A jeweled turban or crown would adorn his head, and he might wear ornate sandals.
Wants: To rid his palace and kingdom of the rat infestation.
Flaw: His inability to solve the rat problem despite his immense wealth.
Remains consistent as a grateful monarch who rewards generously.
Wealthy, generous (when motivated), frustrated, and desperate to solve his kingdom's rat problem.
Image Prompt & Upload
A regal and dignified Middle Eastern king, an adult man in his 50s, standing upright and facing forward. He has a comfortable build, a dignified face with a neatly trimmed dark beard, and wise dark eyes. He wears a flowing robe of rich sapphire blue silk, embroidered with gold thread, and a jeweled turban adorned with a large ruby. His hands are adorned with ornate gold rings. His expression is one of regal authority mixed with a hint of past frustration. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Queen of the Distant Country ◆ supporting
A graceful and elegant monarch, reflecting her royal status and comfortable life. She carries herself with poise.
Attire: Luxurious royal attire, similar in style to the King's but tailored for a queen. She would wear flowing gowns of fine silk or brocade, perhaps in vibrant colors like crimson or gold, intricately embroidered. Her head might be covered with a delicate, jeweled veil or a small, ornate crown. She would wear fine jewelry.
Wants: To rid her palace of the rat infestation and restore peace to her home.
Flaw: Her helplessness against the rat problem.
Remains consistent as a grateful monarch who rewards generously.
Elegant, concerned, decisive, and generous. She is quick to recognize the value of the cat and willing to pay any price.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elegant and graceful Middle Eastern queen, an adult woman in her 40s, standing upright and facing forward. She has a beautiful, dignified face with expressive dark eyes. Her dark hair is styled elegantly and covered by a delicate, jeweled gold veil. She wears a flowing gown of rich crimson silk, intricately embroidered with gold patterns, and elaborate gold necklaces. Her posture is poised and regal. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Captain ◆ supporting
A seasoned sailor, likely of a sturdy build from years at sea. He carries himself with the confidence and practicality of a man accustomed to travel and trade.
Attire: Practical but respectable sailor's attire of 14th-century England. This would include a sturdy wool tunic or doublet, breeches, and heavy leather boots. He might wear a simple cap. His clothing would be functional for sea travel, in colors like dark blue, brown, or grey.
Wants: To successfully complete his voyages, trade goods, and act honestly on behalf of Mr. Fitzwarren and his household.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; he acts as a facilitator.
Remains consistent as an honest and capable figure, crucial to the plot's resolution.
Observant, resourceful, honest, and business-minded. He quickly recognizes the value of Dick's cat and ensures Dick receives his due.
Image Prompt & Upload
A seasoned English ship captain, an adult man in his 40s, standing upright and facing forward. He has a sturdy build, a weathered face with a neatly trimmed dark beard, and alert blue eyes. His dark hair is practical and short. He wears a sturdy dark blue wool doublet, brown breeches, and heavy dark leather boots. He holds a small, rolled-up map in his right hand. His posture is confident and steady. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
London Streets
The bustling, dirty streets of 14th-century London, filled with many people and the sounds of a busy city. The ground is dusty and muddy, not paved with gold as Dick had imagined.
Mood: Initially hopeful and awe-struck, quickly turning to disappointment, hunger, and desperation for Dick.
Dick's arrival in London, his search for gold and work, and his eventual collapse from hunger.
Image Prompt & Upload
A narrow, winding cobblestone street in medieval London, covered in a thin layer of dust and mud. Tall, half-timbered houses with overhanging upper stories line both sides, their windows small and leaded. Pedestrians in simple wool clothing bustle past, and a few market stalls are visible in the distance. The sky is overcast, casting a soft, diffused light. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mr. Fitzwarren's House - Attic
A cramped, dusty attic room serving as Dick's sleeping quarters. It contains a meager bed made of old rags and is infested with rats and mice.
Mood: Uncomfortable, noisy, and initially lonely, transforming into a place of quiet companionship once the cat arrives.
Dick's sleepless nights due to rats, his desire for a cat, and where he first bonds with Miss Puss.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dimly lit, dusty attic room with exposed rough-hewn wooden beams crisscrossing the low ceiling. A small, grimy window high on a sloped wall lets in a sliver of moonlight. In one corner, a humble bed of piled rags lies on the floor. Shadows stretch long across the uneven wooden floorboards, and the air is thick with dust motes. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mr. Fitzwarren's House - Kitchen
A busy, often chaotic kitchen in a wealthy London merchant's house, dominated by a large stove and the presence of a cross cook.
Mood: Harsh and unwelcoming for Dick due to the cook's cruelty, but later becomes a place of revelation and fortune.
Dick's daily toil under the cook's harsh supervision, and later, where he is found blacking the stove when his fortune is revealed.
Image Prompt & Upload
A bustling, warm kitchen in a grand 14th-century English merchant's house. A massive brick hearth with a roaring fire dominates one wall, with various iron pots and kettles hanging over it. Long, sturdy wooden worktables are covered with cooking implements and fresh produce. Sunlight streams through a large, mullioned window, illuminating dust motes in the air and casting warm glows on the timbered walls. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Distant King's Palace - Dining Hall
A lavish dining hall in a foreign king's palace, adorned with gold and silver dishes, but plagued by an overwhelming infestation of rats.
Mood: Initially grand and opulent, quickly turning chaotic and frustrating due to the rat infestation, then triumphant with the cat's arrival.
The feast where the rats devour the food, the king's despair, and the dramatic demonstration of Dick's cat's abilities.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, opulent dining hall within a Middle Eastern-inspired palace, featuring high, vaulted ceilings with intricate muqarnas detailing. Long, low tables are laden with shimmering gold and silver platters of food. Geometric tile mosaics adorn the lower walls, and sunlight filters through arched, latticed windows, casting patterned light on the polished marble floor. Swarms of rats scurry across the tables and floor. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.