arations were made on the
hearth; but they now found that the dwarf could not reach it. They
therefore put two chairs together, laid a slab of marble on them, and
asked the little wonder to step up and begin his skill. In a large
circle stood the cooks, scullions, servants, and others, looking at him
in amazement, to see how readily and quickly he proceeded, and how
cleanly and neatly he prepared every thing. When he had finished, he
ordered both dishes to be put to the fire, and to be boiled until he
should call out; then he began to count one, two, three, and so on up
to five hundred, when he cried out, "Stop, take them off," and then
invited the head cook to taste them.

The taster ordered the scullion to bring him a gold spoon, which he
first rinsed in the brook, and then gave it to the head cook. The
latter, stepping up to the hearth with a grave mien, took a spoonful,
tasted it, and shutting his eyes, smacked his lips with delight,
saying, "Delicious! by the duke's life, delicious! Would you not like
to taste a spoonful, Mr. Steward?" The latter, bowing, took the spoon,
tasted it, and was beside himself with delight.

"With all due respect to your skill, dear breakfast-maker, you aged and
experienced cook, you have never been able to make the soup or
dumplings so delicious."

The cook also tasted it, shook the dwarf reverentially by the hand,
saying, "My little man, you are a master of your art, yes, that herb
'stomach comforter' imparts a peculiar charm to the whole."

At this moment the duke's valet entered the kitchen, and informed them
that the duke wished his breakfast. The preparations were now dished
up in silver, and sent up to the duke; but the head cook took the dwarf
to his own room to converse with him. They had scarcely sat down long
enough to say half a paternoster, when a messenger came and called the
head cook to the duke. He quickly put on his best clothes, and
followed the messenger.

The duke looked well pleased, He had eaten all they had served, and was
just wiping his beard as the master-cook entered. "Master," said he,
"I have hitherto always been well satisfied with your cooks; but tell
me who prepared the breakfast this morning? It never was so delicious
since I sat on the throne of my fathers; tell me the name of the cook,
that I may send him a ducat as a present."

"My lord, this is a strange story," replied the master; and he told the
duke that a dwarf had been brought