“A story, nonna mia,” begged I, and “A story,” echoed the children: “tell us the story about Teresina.” So Clementina began:—
Once there was a woman who had two daughters: at least, one was a daughter, and the other a step-daughter. Now the daughter, named Luisa, was ugly and wicked: but the step-daughter, Teresina, was so good and beautiful that everybody loved her. This made Luisa very jealous, and she began to think what she might do to get rid of Teresina. One evening she said to her mother:—
“Mother, send Teresina into the woodhouse to-night, so that the bear may come and eat her while she’s alone in the forest.”
So the mother gave Teresina a piece of dry bread and said to her:—
“Take your distaff and go and spin wool in the woodhouse to-night.”
“Very well,” said Teresina, and went out into the forest; and the dog and the cat went with her.
When she got into the woodhouse she shut the door, pulled out her piece of bread, and began to eat her supper.
“Miaou, miaou,” said pussy, and patted her arm.
“Ah, poor little pussy, are you hungry too? Here’s a piece of bread for you.”
“Bow-wow,” said the dog, and put his front paws on her knee.