There was once a cook called Grethel, who wore shoes with red
rosettes; and when she went out in them, she turned and twisted about
gaily, and thought, 'How fine I am!'
After her walk she would take a draught of wine, in her
light-heartedness; and as wine gives an appetite, she would then taste
some of the dishes that she was cooking, saying to herself, 'The cook
is bound to know how the food tastes.'
It so happened that one day her master said to her, 'Grethel, I have a
guest coming to-night; roast me two fowls in your best style.'
'It shall be done, sir!' answered Grethel. So she killed the chickens,
scalded and plucked them, and then put them on the spit; towards
evening she put them down to the fire to roast. They got brown and
crisp, but still the guest did not come. Then Grethel called to her
Master, 'If the guest does not come I must take the fowls from the
fire; but it will be a thousand pities if they are not eaten soon
while they are juicy.'