m to the king, to whom he related this wonderful
story, from beginning to end. The queen wished to have the charming
little dog; and Cherry would have been exceedingly happy could he have
forgotten that he was originally a man and a king. He was lodged most
elegantly, had the richest of collars to adorn his neck, and heard
himself praised continually. But his beauty rather brought him into
trouble, for the queen, afraid lest he might grow too large for a pet,
took advice of dog-doctors, who ordered that he should be fed entirely
upon bread, and that very sparingly; so poor Cherry was sometimes nearly
starved.

One day, when they gave him his crust for breakfast, a fancy seized him
to go and eat it in the palace garden; so he took the bread in his mouth
and trotted away toward a stream which he knew, and where he sometimes
stopped to drink. But instead of the stream he saw a splendid palace,
glittering with gold and precious stones. Entering the doors was a crowd
of men and women, magnificently dressed; and within there was singing
and dancing and good cheer of all sorts. Yet, however grandly and gayly
the people went in, Cherry noticed that those who came out were pale,
thin, ragged, half-naked, covered with wounds and sores. Some of them
dropped dead at once; others dragged themselves on a little way and
then lay down, dying of hunger, and vainly begged a morsel of bread from
others who were entering in--who never took the least notice of them.

Cherry perceived one woman, who was trying feebly to gather and eat some
green herbs. "Poor thing!" said he to himself; "I know what it is to be
hungry, and I want my breakfast badly enough; but still it will kill me
to wait till dinner time, and my crust may save the life of this poor
woman."

So the little dog ran up to her and dropped his bread at her feet; she
picked it up and ate it with avidity. Soon she looked quite recovered,
and Cherry, delighted, was trotting back again to his kennel, when he
heard loud cries, and saw a young girl dragged by four men to the door
of the palace, which they were trying to compel her to enter. Oh, how
he wished himself a monster again, as when he slew the tiger!--for the
young girl was no other than his beloved Zelia. Alas! what could a poor
little dog do to defend her? But he ran forward and barked at the men,
and bit their heels, until at last they chased him away with heavy
blows. And then he lay down outside the palace door, determi