CHAPTER 1.
How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter, found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a child.
Centuries ago there lived-- "A king!" my little readers will say immediately.
No, children, you are mistaken.

Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.

It was not an expensive piece of wood.

Far from it.

Just a common block of firewood, one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire in winter to make cold rooms cozy and warm.
I do not know how this really happened, yet the fact remains that one fine day this piece of wood found itself in the shop of an old carpenter.