And Hecate took her at her word , and hurried back to her beloved cave , frightening a great many little children with a glimpse of her dog 's face as she went . Poor Mother Ceres ! It is melancholy to think of her , pursuing her toilsome way , all alone , and holding up that never-dying torch , the flame of which seemed an emblem of the grief and hope that burned together in her heart . So much did she suffer , that , though her aspect had been quite youthful when her troubles began , she grew to look like an elderly person in a very brief time . She cared not how she was dressed , nor had she ever thought of flinging away the wreath of withered poppies , which she put on the very morning of Proserpina 's disappearance . She roamed about in so wild a way , and with her hair so disheveled , that people took her for some distracted creature , and never dreamed that this was Mother Ceres , who had the oversight of every seed which the husbandman planted . Nowadays , however , she gave herself no trouble about seed time nor harvest , but left the farmers to take care of their own affairs , and the crops to fade or flourish , as the case might be . There was nothing , now , in which Ceres seemed to feel an interest , unless when she saw children at play , or gathering flowers along the wayside . Then , indeed , she would stand and gaze at them with tears in her eyes . The children , too , appeared to have a sympathy with her grief , and would cluster themselves in a little group about her knees , and look up wistfully in her face ; and Ceres , after giving them a kiss all round , would lead them to their homes , and advise their mothers never to let them stray out of sight . `` For if they do , '' said she , `` it may happen to you , as it has to me , that the iron-hearted King Pluto will take a liking to your darlings , and snatch them up in his chariot , and carry them away . '' One day , during her pilgrimage in quest of the entrance to Pluto 's kingdom , she came to the palace of King Cereus , who reigned at Eleusis . Ascending a lofty flight of steps , she entered the portal , and found the royal household in very great alarm about the queen 's baby . The infant , it seems , was sickly -LRB- being troubled with its teeth , I suppose -RRB- , and would take no food , and was all the time moaning with pain . The queen -- her name was Metanira -- was desirous of funding a nurse ; and when she beheld a woman of matronly aspect coming up the palace steps , she thought , in her own mind , that here was the very person whom she needed . So Queen Metanira ran to the door , with the poor wailing baby in her arms , and besought Ceres to take charge of it , or , at least , to tell her what would do it good . `` Will you trust the child entirely to me ? '' asked Ceres . `` Yes , and gladly , too , '' answered the queen , `` if you will devote all your time to him . For I can see that you have been a mother . ''
`` You are right , '' said XXXXX .
Ceres Cereus Hecate Metanira Pluto darlings day emblem husbandman left