Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/174

158 "Good heavens! but where on earth did any one hear of a Christian feeding his dog on coals?"

"And where, please tell me—where was it ever known that a Christian mother killed her child?"

"What do you mean, young man?"

"This—that I am your lost child, and that this dog is your old clerk Theodore, who told all those lies about my mother."

And the boy told his father all that he had heard Theodore tell his wife. The merchant was delighted to have his son back, and at once ordered his wife to be set free again. They then all three moved to the golden palace, on the other side of the river, where they lived in happiness ever after, while the princess went back to her father.

As for the dog Theodore, he remained a dog until his death, which fortunately took place very soon; whether it was from the hot coal, or something else, I cannot say, all I know is, that he departed this life.

The little boy became a great man, and was a lucky one all his life.