How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter, found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a child Centuries ago there lived--"A king!" my little readers will say immediately.

　　No, children, you are mistaken. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood. It was not an expensive piece of wood. Far from it. Just a common block of firewood, one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire in winter to make cold rooms cozy and warm.

　　I do not know how this really happened, yet the fact remains that one fine day this piece of wood found it selfin the shop of an old carpenter. His real name was Mastro Antonio, but everyone called him Mastro Cherry, for the tip of his nose was so round and red and shiny that it looked like a ripe cherry.

　　As soon as he saw that piece of wood, Mastro Cherry was filled with joy. Rubbing his hands together happily, he mumbled half to himself:

　　"This has come in the nick of time. I shall use it to make the leg of a table. "He grasped the hatchet quickly to peel off the bark and shape the wood. But as he was about to give it the first blow, he stood still with arm uplifted, for he had heard awee, little voice say in a beseeching tone: "Please be careful!

　　Do not hit me so hard! "What a look of surprise shone on Mastro Cherry'sf ace! His funny face became still funnier.

　　He turned frightened eyes about the room to find out where that wee, little voice had come from and he saw no one! He looked under the bench--no one! He peeped inside the closet--no one! He searched among the shavings--no one! He opened the door to look up and down the street--and still no one!

　　"Oh, I see!" he then said, laughing and scratching his Wig.

　　"It can easily be seen that I only thought I heard the tiny voice say the words! Well, well--to work once more. "He struck a most solemn blow upon the piece of wood.

　　"Oh, oh! You hurt!" cried the same far-away little voice.

Mastro Cherry grew dumb, his eyes popped out of his head, his mouth opened wide, and his tongue hung down on his chin.

　　从前有……
　　“有一个国王！”我的小读者马上要说。
　　不对，小朋友，你们错了，从前有一段木头。
　　这段木头并不是什么贵重木头，就是柴堆里那种普通木头，扔进炉子和壁炉生火和取暖用的。
　　我也不知道是怎么回事，总之有一天，这段木头碰巧到了一位老木匠的铺子里，这位老木匠名叫安东尼奥，大伙儿却管他叫樱桃师傅，叫他樱桃师傅，因为他的鼻尖红得发紫，再加上亮光光的，活像一个熟透了的樱桃。
　　樱桃师傅看见这段木头，高兴极了，他满意得一个劲儿搓着手，低声嘟嚷说：
　　“这段木头来得正好，我要拿它做条桌子腿。”
　　说干就干，他马上拿起一把锋利的斧子，动手就要削掉树皮，先大致砍出条桌子腿的样子。可他第一斧正要砍下去，手举在头顶上却一下子停住不动了，因为他听见一个很细很细的声音央求他说：
　　“可别把我砍得太重了！”
　　诸位想象一下吧，樱桃师傅这位善良的老头儿该是多么惊讶啊！
　　他一双眼睛吓傻了，满屋子骨碌碌转了一圈，要看看这个声音是打哪儿来的，可他一个人也没有看见！他往工作台底下看看，没有人，他打开一直关着的柜子看看，没有人；他往一篓刨花和碎木片里面看看，也没有人；他甚至打开铺子门往街上看看，还是没有人！那么……？
　　“我明白了，”他于是抓抓头上的假发，笑着说，“这声音一准是我听错了。我还是干我的活吧，”
　　他重新拿起斧子，在那段木头上狠狠地一斧砍下去。
　　“唉哟！你把我砍痛了！”还是那很细的声音埋怨着叫起来。
　　这一回樱桃师傅当真愣住了，眼睛吓得鼓了出来，嘴巴张得老大，舌头拖到下巴，活像喷水池里一个妖怪的石头像。