Once upon a time there was a queen who bore a son so ugly and misshapen that for some time it was doubtful if he would have human form at all. But a fairy who was present at his birth promised that he should have plenty of brains and added that by virtue of the gift which she had just bestowed upon him he would be able to impart to the person whom he should love best the same degree of intelligence which he possessed himself. This somewhat consoled the poor queen who was greatly disappointed at having brought into the world such a hideous brat. And indeed no sooner did the child begin to speak than his sayings proved to be full of shrewdness while all that he did was somehow so clever that he charmed everyone. I forgot to mention that when he was born he had a little tuft of hair upon his head. For this reason he was called Ricky of the Tuft Ricky being his family name.
