down in the wood and began to make up a story, for it had to be
ready by Saturday, and that was no easy matter.

When he had it ready it was Saturday.

The sultan, the sultana, and the whole court were at tea with the
princess.

He was most graciously received.

'Will you tell us a story?' said the sultana; 'one that is
thoughtful and instructive?'

'But something that we can laugh at,' said the sultan.

'Oh, certainly,' he replied, and began: 'Now, listen attentively.
There was once a box of matches which lay between a tinder-box
and an old iron pot, and they told the story of their youth.

'"We used to be on the green fir-boughs. Every morning and
evening we had diamond-tea, which was the dew, and the whole day
long we had sunshine, and the little birds used to tell us
stories. We were very rich, because the other trees only dressed
in summer, but we had green dresses in summer and in winter.
Then the woodcutter came, and our family was split up. We have
now the task of making light for the lowest people. That is why
we grand people are in the kitchen."

'"My fate was quite different," said the iron pot, near which the
matches lay.