'"Since I came into the world I have been many times scoured, and
have cooked much. My only pleasure is to have a good chat with
my companions when I am lying nice and clean in my place after
dinner."

'"Now you are talking too fast," spluttered the fire.

'"Yes, let us decide who is the grandest!" said the matches.

'"No, I don't like talking about myself," said the pot.

'"Let us arrange an evening's entertainment. I will tell the
story of my life.

'"On the Baltic by the Danish shore-"

'What a beautiful beginning!" said all the plates. "That's a
story that will please us all."

'And the end was just as good as the beginning. All the plates
clattered for joy.

'"Now I will dance," said the tongs, and she danced. Oh! how
high she could kick!

'The old chair-cover in the corner split when he saw her.

'The urn would have sung but she said she had a cold; she could
not sing unless she boiled.