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 Ceres . `` I once had a child of my own . Well ; I will be the nurse of this poor , sickly boy . But beware , I warn you , that you do not interfere with any kind of treatment which I may judge proper for him . If you do so , the poor infant must suffer for his mother 's folly . '' Then she kissed the child , and it seemed to do him good ; for he smiled and nestled closely into her bosom . So Mother Ceres set her torch in a corner -LRB- where it kept burning all the while -RRB- , and took up her abode in the palace of King Cereus , as nurse to the little Prince Demophoon . She treated him as if he were her own child , and allowed neither the king nor the queen to say whether he should be bathed in warm or cold water , or what he should eat , or how often he should take the air , or when he should be put to bed . You would hardly believe me , if I were to tell how quickly the baby prince got rid of his ailments , and grew fat , and rosy , and strong , and how he had two rows of ivory teeth in less time than any other little fellow , before or since .
Instead of the palest , and wretchedest , and puniest imp in the world -LRB- as his own mother confessed him to be , when Ceres first took him in charge -RRB- , he was now a strapping baby , crowing , laughing , kicking up his heels , and rolling from one end of the room XXXXX the other .
For about after during if in into that to with