a baby? I cannot believe it. This is an ordinary piece of wood for the fireplace, like all other pieces with which we boil a pot of beans. What next? What if there may be some one hidden inside? If there is, so much the worse for him. I will settle him.” And saying this, he seized with both hands that poor piece of wood and knocked it around without pity against the stone wall of the room.
Then he stopped to listen, so as to hear if there was any voice that complained. He waited two minutes, and nothing; five minutes, and nothing; ten minutes, and nothing.
“I understand,” he said, forcing a laugh and rubbing his wig; “I imagined that I heard a voice cry ‘Oh!’ I will begin to work again.” And because he was somewhat frightened, he tried to hum an air so as to make himself courageous.
Meanwhile he stopped working with the ax and took up a plane to make the wood even and clean; but while he planed he heard again the little voice, this time in a laughing tone, “Stop! you are taking the skin off my body.”
This time poor Master Cherry fell down as if shot. When he opened his eyes he found himself sitting on the ground. His face appeared transfigured, and the end of his nose, which was always purple, became blue from great fear.
