Tommy Tucker was an orphan and street urchin. Living on the streets of the big city, Tommy would often busk for food and sleep in barrels. While sleeping in a barrel Tommy met a stray cat. The feline claimed ownership of the barrel and demanded that Tommy pay rent in order to lodge in the cask. Tommy, having no money, offered to get food for the cat and the two set off to the local bakery where Tommy would perform to get food from the baker.