How Malice Cheated Madame Bouqui 169

cry. She howled and wailed; and her little voice was heard
far away.
 Madame Bouqui was below the foot of the mountain,
riding the donkey home, when she heard the baby's voice.
So she switched the donkey right and left with a rope and
then dug her heels on the animal's side. And when she
arrived she quickly jumped down and ran to the baby.
 What's wrong with her?, she asked Bouqui.
 I don't know, Ti-Chate. I did all the things you told me.
 I looked after her, tossed her, and sang a lullaby to her.-
 -Did you feed her her milk?, she asked.
 cYou didn't say to feed her, Ti-Chate. You said to look
 after her and dandle her, and that was just what I did,,
 he said innocently.
 Madame Bouqui ran and warmed some milk and fed the
 baby who soon became quiet. Then she said, cIt's a good
 thing I didn't stay away as long as I intended to. You're so
 stupid, Bouqui; I'd like to see you stay one whole day with
 nothing at all to eat, to see how you'd feel.-
 -I'm sorry, Ti-Chate. Next time you go away, I'll take
 better care of her.*
 A few days later Madame Bouqui said, ,Since you're so
 stupid, and cannot take care of the baby when I'm away, I'm
 going to send you to town to sell some vegetables and buy
 groceries for the house.,
 She put the vegetables and fruit on the donkey's back
 and turned her over to Bouqui. -Lead the donkey to the
 market place. And be sure you sell everything for a good
 price.)