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〃I was a mother once；〃 Ceres always replied； 〃and having nursed my
own child； I know what other children need。〃
But Queen Metanira； as was very natural； had a great curiosity to
know precisely what the nurse did to her child。 One night； therefore； she
hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were
accustomed to sleep。 There was a fire in the chimney； and it had now
crumbled into great coals and embers； which lay glowing on the hearth；
with a blaze flickering up now and then； and flinging a warm and ruddy
light upon the walls。 Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap；
and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead。 She
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undressed the little prince； and bathed him all over with some fragrant
liquid out of a vase。 The next thing she did was to rake back the red
embers； and make a hollow place among them； just where the backlog had
been。 At last； while the baby was crowing； and clapping its fat little hands；
and laughing in the nurse's face （just as you may have seen your little
brother or sister do before going into its warm bath）； Ceres suddenly laid
him； all naked as he was； in the hollow among the red…hot embers。 She
then raked the ashes over him； and turned quietly away。
You may imagine； if you can； how Queen Metanira shrieked； thinking
nothing less than that her dear child would be burned to a cinder。 She burst
forth from her hiding…place； and running to the hearth； raked open the fire；
and snatched up poor little Prince Demophoon out of his bed of live coals；
one of which he was gripping in each of his fists。 He immediately set up a
grievous cry； as babies are apt to do； when rudely startled out of a sound
sleep。 To the queen's astonishment and joy； she could perceive no token of
the child's being injured by the hot fire in which he had lain。 She now
turned to Mother Ceres； and asked her to explain the mystery。
〃Foolish woman；〃 answered Ceres； 〃did you not promise to intrust this
poor infant entirely to me？ You little know the mischief you have done
him。 Had you left him to my care； he would have grown up like a child of
celestial birth； endowed with superhuman strength and intelligence； and
would have lived forever。 Do you imagine that earthly children are to
become immortal without being tempered to it in the fiercest heat of the
fire？ But you have ruined your own son。 For though he will be a strong
man and a hero in his day； yet； on account of your folly； he will grow old；
and finally die； like the sons of other women。 The weak tenderness of his
mother has cost the poor boy an immortality。 Farewell。〃
Saying these words； she kissed the little Prince Demophoon； and
sighed to think what he had lost； and took her departure without heeding
Queen Metanira； who entreated her to remain； and cover up the child
among the hot embers as often as she pleased。 Poor baby！ He never slept
so warmly again。
While she dwelt in the king's palace； Mother Ceres had been so
continually occupied with taking care of the young prince； that her heart
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was a little lightened of its grief for Proserpina。 But now； having nothing
else to busy herself about； she became just as wretched as before。 At
length； in her despair； she came to the dreadful resolution that not a stalk
of grain； nor a blade of grass； not a potato； nor a turnip； nor any other
vegetable that was good for man or beast to eat； should be suffered to
grow until her daughter were restored。 She even forbade the flowers to
bloom； lest somebody's heart should be cheered by their beauty。
Now； as not so much as a head of asparagus ever presumed to poke
itself out of the ground； without the especial permission of Ceres； you may
conceive what a terrible calamity had here fallen upon the earth。 The
husbandmen plowed and planted as usual； but there lay the rich black
furrows； all as barren as a desert of sand。 The pastures looked as brown in
the sweet month of June as ever they did in chill November。 The rich
man's broad acres and the cottager's small garden patch were equally
blighted。 Every little girl's flower bed showed nothing but dry stalks。 The
old people shook their white heads； and said that the earth had grown aged
like themselves； and was no longer capable of wearing the warm smile of
summer on its face。 It was really piteous to see the poor； starving cattle
and sheep； how they followed behind Ceres； lowing and bleating； as if
their instinct taught them to expect help from her； and everybody that was
acquainted with her power besought her to have mercy on the human race；
and； at all events； to let the grass grow。 But Mother Ceres； though
naturally of an affectionate disposition； was now inexorable。
〃Never；〃 said she。 〃If the earth is ever again to see any verdure； it must
first grow along the path which my daughter will tread in coming back to
me。〃
Finally； as there seemed to be no other remedy； our old friend
Quicksilver was sent post…haste to King Pluto； in hopes that he might be
persuaded to undo the mischief he had done； and to set everything right
again； by giving up Proserpina。 Quicksilver accordingly made the best of
his way to the great gate； took a flying leap right over the three…headed
mastiff； and stood at the door of the palace in an inconceivably short time。
The servants knew him both by his face and garb； for his short cloak； and
his winged cap and shoes； and his snaky staff had often been seen
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thereabouts in times gone by。 He requested to be shown immediately into
the king's presence； and Pluto； who heard his voice from the top of the
stairs； and who loved to recreate himself with Quicksilver's merry talk；
called out to him to come up。 And while they settle their business together；
we must inquire what Proserpina had been doing ever since we sa