LONG, long ago there lived a poor widow who had an only son. She did all she could  to keep the house tidy and comfortable, and the son was a good lad who worked early and late to take care of his old mother. But the farm they owned was small, and the land far from the best, so that it was all they could do to get along.

     One day a saint disguised as a tattered beggar passed through that region and stopped at their cottage to ask a night's lodging. They made him welcome and gave him a bed and shared with him their humble food. The saint was pleased by the kindness they showed him, and he saw how hardworking the young man and his mother were, and he decided to do something for them. As he was leaving, he handed the woman a gold ring and said, "When you wish to cook a meal, fill your kettle with water, put it on the fire and drop this ring into it. Then keep telling the kettle what you want to eat, and as soon as the water boils the food will be ready. You need only take the cover off the kettle to find that for which you asked, and you and your son can eat and be happy."

So saying, the saint went his way, and she watched him while he walked slowly along the road until he disappeared from sight. Then she looked at the gold ring that lay in her hand and thought over what the good saint had said to her, wondering if she had not been dreaming. "Well," she said, "I will try this charm and find out whether it will do what he told me it would. Let me see   if I can choose anything I please, I would like some meat dumplings for dinner."

She started the fire, filled the kettle and put it on, then dropped in the ring and said, "I want dumplings, meat dumplings. Come, dumplings, come!"

These words she repeated over and over till the water boiled. Then she took the cover off and behold the kettle was full of the most delicious looking dumplings. "Ah!" she said, "what good fortune is mine! Blessings on that kind man."

Never had she tasted such good food in her life. After eating all she could she fed the cat and dog. How their sides filled out! and when they had eaten their fill, the dog capered and barked about his mistress to express his thanks, while the cat, equally grateful, purred and rubbed against the old woman's dress.

"Now," said the old woman, "I will get dinner for my son. He shall have a fresh lot of dumplings, hot from the kettle."

So, with the help of the ring, she prepared more of the dumplings, and when her son came in tired and warm from his work she said, "I have a good dinner for you to-day, and there is all the food you want and more too."

"A good dinner!" thought he, "what does she mean? All we ever have is oats and cornmeal." However, to his mother he said, "Nothing you cook is bad. It all tastes good."

When she brought on the steaming meat dumplings he could hardly believe his eyes. He had seen such food in the cookshops of the town, but had never tasted it. "While you are eating," the mother said, "I will tell you all about our good luck," and she related what had happened and showed him the gold ring.

After this, day by day, the mother and son and the household cat and dog had plenty to eat, and all was happiness in the family. One afternoon some relatives came to call, and the old lady urged them to stay and eat supper. They refused at first, for they knew her poverty and did not care to eat such food as they thought she would provide. But she repeated her request so earnestly that they consented. What a surprise they had to see the feast of good things she prepared! They exclaimed again and again at the delicate flavor of everything, and at the short time it had taken to get the supper ready. At last one of them asked how she could afford such expensive food.

"Why," said she, "I have a magic ring that gives me whatever food I ask for," and she brought out her treasure and proudly exhibited it and told them all about it.

The guests went away filled with envy, and on a later occasion one of them came to the old lady's cottage when she was absent and stole the precious charm. Only the dog was in the cottage, and though he saw the ring taken he did not know how great the loss was.

When the mistress returned home and began to get her son's supper she discovered that the ring was gone, and was greatly distressed. As soon as the son came in she said to him, "Son, I cannot imagine what has become of our magic ring. It is not in its usual place, and how am I to cook without it I would like to know."

"Probably it has slipped into some crack or hole," said the son. "We'll soon find it."

Together they looked everywhere, but the ring was not to be found, and the old woman wept bitterly and refused to be comforted. The cat and dog came and begged for their supper, but she paid no attention to them.

The family now had to go back to their former hard fare of oats and cornmeal. They had small relish for it, and the cat and dog, now that they had become used to food so much finer, would eat but little and grew quite thin. Finally, the dog concluded the reason they were served so poorly was because the bright, pretty ring was gone which their mistress always put in the kettle when she began cooking. He remembered also how the relative had come slyly in and taken the ring from the cupboard where it had been kept and, after looking at it, had slipped it into his pocket and gone away. So the dog called the cat and told her what he had seen, and how he suspected their change of food was due to the loss of the ring. "I would like to try to get it back," said he.

"I wish you would," responded the cat, "I am hungry all the time."

"You must help," said the dog. "I know where the thief lives, but I am afraid I couldn't get into the house. I am not able to climb up posts and over roofs as you can. No doubt you could get in at some window."

"I will do what I can," said the cat, and they set off together.

By and by they came to a river. "It is of no use for me to attempt to go farther," said the cat. "I can't swim."

"But I can," the dog said. "You must get on my back and I will take you over."

So they crossed the river and in a short time came to the house of the person who had stolen the ring. The dog waited outside the gate while the cat climbed the fence into the yard. She approached the dwelling, and after searching found a window open and scrambled through. She made her way to the kitchen and looked about, but could see nothing of the ring. However, she discovered a large rathole, and that suggested a plan which she thought might be successful. So she sat down and began to watch the rathole. At last a rat poked its head out and she immediately pounced on it and held it fast.

"Don't kill me! Don't kill me "pleaded the rat.

"Well," said the cat, "I will spare your life if you will do me a favor."

The rat promised, and the cat told of the stolen ring which she had come to recover.

"I know that ring," the rat responded. "The mistress of the house uses it every time she cooks, and by its means the family has the best of food every day. Let me go and I will get it for you."

"No," said the cat, "I can't trust you. How am I to be certain that you would come back? I will hold you closely, and you must call your companions and tell them where the ring is. When they bring it I will set you free."

Then the rat called to the other rats and several of them were soon peeking out of the rathole. The prisoner told them that they must bring the ring they had seen the mistress of the house using in the cooking of late. "You will find it on a pantry shelf behind the cream jar," said the captive.

Away ran the rats, and soon they returned with the ring. Then the prisoner was allowed to go, while the cat hastened out to where the dog was waiting for her. She carried the ring in her mouth, but took it out and showed it to the dog and related the manner in which she had managed to get it into her possession. They were both very glad, and now they started for home.

Presently they came to the river and the cat got on the dog's back and he began to swim across. They, had nearly reached the other shore when a fish leaped from the water so close to them that the cat made a snap at it to catch it with her teeth. She forgot she had the ring in her mouth, and it dropped out, and down it went out of sight to the bottom of the river.

How the dog did howl and scold then! He was so hungry, and he had been thinking of all the good things he would have to eat in the days to come! The cat was very sorry and promised she would contrive a way to get the ring again if only he would not bark so loudly.

When they came to the shore the cat noticed a big frog who looked so friendly that she told her trouble to him. "You are used to the water," she said, in closing, "and you have such bright eyes I am sure you could find the ring if you would try."

"I'm very glad to do what I can," responded the frog, and he jumped into the river.

He had not been gone long before he returned carrying the lost charm. The cat thanked him and took the ring, and she and the dog went on toward home. They were so happy they could not get over the ground fast enough. The sun was just peeping above the eastern horizon when they arrived in sight of the cottage where they lived. A thin wisp of smoke was curling up from the chimney and they knew that the old woman was beginning. to get breakfast.

They were soon at the door and the cat mewed to be let in, the old woman heard her and when she opened the door and saw pussy lay the ring down on the threshold she was greatly amazed. She hastily stooped and taking the ring in her hand examined it to make sure it was the one that had been missing. Then she caught up the cat, took her in the house, and shutting the door, caressed her again and again. The dog was left outside, for the old woman did not know how much he had helped the cat, and she paid no attention to him.

Soon a big breakfast was ready, and once again the mother and son were happy. In their gratitude they fed the cat all she could eat before they had their own breakfast, but they forgot the dog. After a little the cat went out into the yard and with great pride told the poor, hungry dog of all the good things she had been eating and boasted of the nice food that had been promised her for the future.

"Yes," said the dog, "we shall have plenty of the best to eat after this."

"Oh, I don't know about you," responded the cat. "I fancy I am the one who will get all the reward for bringing back the ring."

"Didn't you save any breakfast for me?" inquired the dog.

"No," the cat replied, "I had myself to think of. The old woman and her son and I have eaten all that was cooked. There is nothing left for you. If you are very hungry you had better fly around and find a bone."

When the dog heard that he sprang at her and seized and shook her violently. She thought she was going to be killed, but by a great effort she got free and escaped, lame and sore. They were friends no longer and the dog went and told all the other dogs how the cat had treated him. The dogs, without exception, were very indignant at her ingratitude, and after talking the matter over they solemnly vowed hostility to the cats for all time to come. This vow they have kept, and from that day to this the dog is the cat's enemy the world over.