to be goose-boy; and that was how he got his nickname
of Paperarello. And in order that no one should guess that he was any
better than a goose-boy should be, he rubbed his face and his rags over
with mud, and made himself altogether such a disgusting object that
every one crossed over to the other side of the road when he was seen
coming.

'Do go and wash yourself, Paperarello!' said the queen sometimes, for he
did his work so well that she took an interest in him. 'Oh, I should not
feel comfortable if I was clean, your Majesty,' answered he, and went
whistling after his geese.

It happened one day that, owing to some accident to the great flour
mills which supplied the city, there was no bread to be had, and the
king's army had to do without. When the king heard of it, he sent for
the cook, and told him that by the next morning he must have all the
bread that the oven, heated seven times over, could bake. 'But, your
Majesty, it is not possible,' cried the poor man in despair. 'The mills
have only just begun working, and the flour will not be ground till
evening, and how can I heat the oven seven times in one night?' 'That
is your affair,' answered the King, who, when he took anything into his
head, would listen to nothing. 'If you succeed in baking the bread you
shall have my daughter to wife, but if you fail your head will pay for
it.'

Now Paperarello, who was passing through the hall where the king was
giving his orders, heard these words, and said: 'Your Majesty, have no
fears; I will bake your bread.' 'Very well,' answered the king; 'but
if you fail, you will pay for it with your head!' and signed that both
should leave his presence.

The cook was still trembling with the thought of what he had escaped,
but to his surprise Paperarello did not seem disturbed at all, and when
night came he went to sleep as usual. 'Paperarello,' cried the other
servants, when they saw him quietly taking off his clothes, 'you cannot
go to bed; you will need every moment of the night for your work.
Remember, the king is not to be played with!'

'I really must have some sleep first,' replied Paperarello, stretching
himself and yawning; and he flung himself on his bed, and was fast
asleep in a moment. In an hour's time, the servants came and shook him
by the shoulder. 'Paperarello, are you mad?' said they. 'Get up, or you
will lose your head.' 'Oh, do let me sleep a little more, answered he.
And this was all he would say, though