lled than go to
the palace again. He told her, however, that the king's son was to be
married the next day, and that there was to be a great banquet, and she
must go into the kitchen and wash the dishes. He added that when she had
the chance she must steal a pot of broth and hide it about her so that
no one should see it. She had to do as she was told, and had scarcely
concealed the pot when the king's son came into the kitchen and told his
wife she must come to the ball that had followed the banquet. She did
not wish to go, but he took her by the arm and led her into the midst of
the festival. Imagine how the poor woman felt at that ball, dressed as
she was, and with the pot of broth! The king began to poke his sword at
her in jest, until he hit the pot, and all the broth ran on the floor.
Then all began to jeer her and laugh, until poor Stella fainted away
from shame, and they had to go and get some vinegar to revive her. At
last the king's mother came forward and said: "Enough; you have revenged
yourself sufficiently." Then turning to Stella: "Know that this is your
mother, and that he has done this to correct your pride and to be
avenged on you for calling him dirty." Then she took her by the arm and
led her to another room, where her maids dressed her as a queen. Her
father and mother then appeared and kissed and embraced her. Her husband
begged her pardon for what he had done, and they made peace and always
lived in harmony. From that day on she was never haughty, and had
learned to her cost that pride is the greatest fault.[5]

* * * * *

A curious feature in Italian stories is the part played by dolls or
puppets. They sometimes serve to represent an absent mistress, or to
take her place and receive the brunt of the husband's anger. The most
peculiar of these doll-stories are found in the south of Italy; the one
that follows is from Naples (_Nov. fior._ p. 333) and is entitled:

XXX. THE FAIRY ORLANDA.

There was once a merchant who had no children. He was obliged to go away
for merchandise. His wife said to him: "Here is a ring; put it on your
finger. You must bring me a doll as large as I am; one that can move,
sew, and dress herself. If you forget, this ring will turn red, and your
steamer will go neither forward nor backward." And so it happened. He
forgot the doll, embarked on the steamer, and it would not move. The
pilot said: "Sir, have you forgotten anything?" to all th