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 em-
bers. She then raked the ashes over him, and
turned quietly away.

You may imagine, if you can, how Q.ueen
Metanira shrieked, thinking nothing less than
that her dear child would be burned to a cinder.
She burst forth from her hiding-place, and run-
ning 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
griping 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 hoi
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 entire I)

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