etary with her, who was the handle of
this cruel game and the weaver of this wicked web. Then he was going to
do the same with the cook, thinking that he had killed the children;
but the cook threw himself at the King's feet and said, "Truly, sir
King, I would desire no other sinecure in return for the service I have
done you than to be thrown into a furnace full of live coals; I would
ask no other gratuity than the thrust of a spike; I would wish for no
other amusement than to be roasted in the fire; I would desire no other
privilege than to have the ashes of the cook mingled with those of a
Queen. But I look for no such great reward for having saved the
children, and brought them back to you in spite of that wicked creature
who wished to kill them."

When the King heard these words he was quite beside himself; he
appeared to dream, and could not believe what his ears had heard. Then
he said to the cook, "If it is true that you have saved the children,
be assured I will take you from turning the spit, and reward you so
that you shall call yourself the happiest man in the world."

As the King was speaking these words, the wife of the cook, seeing the
dilemma her husband was in, brought Sun and Moon before the King, who,
playing at the game of three with Talia and the other children, went
round and round kissing first one and then another. Then giving the
cook a large reward, he made him his chamberlain; and he took Talia to
wife, who enjoyed a long life with her husband and the children,
acknowledging that--

"He who has luck may go to bed,
And bliss will rain upon his head."

XXX

NENNILLO AND NENNELLA

Woe to him who thinks to find a governess for his children by giving
them a stepmother! He only brings into his house the cause of their
ruin. There never yet was a stepmother who looked kindly on the
children of another; or if by chance such a one were ever found, she
would be regarded as a miracle, and be called a white crow. But beside
all those of whom you may have heard, I will now tell you of another,
to be added to the list of heartless stepmothers, whom you will
consider well deserving the punishment she purchased for herself with
ready money.

There was once a good man named Jannuccio, who had two children,
Nennillo and Nennella, whom he loved as much as his own life. But Death
having, with the smooth file of Time, severed the prison-bars of his
wife's soul, he took to himself a cruel wo