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Then the mother came out in haste to welcome the stranger; and she
treated him with honor, giving him the best place at the table and the
hottest cakes.

She and little Gauvain lived all alone, for the father had gone to the
wars when Gauvain was a baby, and had died fighting for the king.

She had cows, horses, and pigs, hens, chickens, and a dog and a cat, and
one treasure greater than a kingdom, for she had a good child in her
house.

Sir Tristram found this out very soon, for little Gauvain ran when he
was called, remembered the cat and dog when he had eaten his own supper,
and went to bed when he was told, without fretting, although the knight
was telling of lions and bears and battles, and everything that little
boys like to hear about.

Sir Tristram was so glad of this that he could scarcely wait for the
time to come when he should meet his comrades under the oak tree.

“I have found a child whom you must see,” he said, as soon as they
came together.

“And so have I,” cried Gerald the Glad.

“And I,” exclaimed Kenneth the Kind.

“And I,” said Brian the Brave.

“And I,” said Percival the Pure; and they looked at each other in
astonishment.

“I do not know the child’s name,” continued Gerald the Glad; “but as I
was riding in the forest I heard some one singing the merriest song! And
when I looked through the trees I saw a little boy bending under a heavy
burden. I hastened to help him, but when I reached the spot he was gone.
I should like to hear him sing again.”

“I rode by the highway,” said Sir Brian the Brave, “and I came suddenly
upon a crowd of great, rough fellows who were trying to torment a small
black dog; and just as I saw them, a little boy ran up, as brave as a
knight, and took the dog in his arms, and covered it with his coat. The
rest ran away when I rode up; but the child stayed, and told me his
name–Gauvain.”

“Why!” exclaimed Kenneth the Kind, “he is the boy who brings wood and
water for Granny Slowsteps. I tarried all night at her cottage, and she
told me of his kindness.”

“I saw a lad at the spring near by,” said Percival the Pure. “He hurried
to fill his bucket, and some rude clown muddied the water as the child
reached down; but he spoke no angry words, and waited patiently till the
water was clear again. I should like to find his home and see him
there.”

Now Sir Tristram had waited to hear them all; but when Sir Percival had
finished, he arose and cried:–

“Come, and I will carry you to the child!” And when the knights followed
him, he led them to the home where little Gauvain was working with his
mother, as happy as a lark and as gentle as a dove.

It was noonday, and the sun was shining brightly on the shields of the
knights, and their plumes were waving in the breeze; and when they
reached the gate, Sir Tristram blew a loud blast on a silver trumpet.

Then all the hens began to cackle, and the dog began to bark, and the
horse began to neigh, and the pigs began to grunt; for they knew that it
was a great day. And little Gauvain and his mother ran out to see what
the matter was.

When the knights saw Gauvain they looked at each other, and every one
cried out: “He is the child!” And Tristram the True said to the
mother:–

“Greeting to you! The king, our wise ruler, has sent us here to see your
good child; for a good child is more precious than a kingdom. And the
king offers him his love and favor if you will let him ride with us to
live at the king’s court and learn to be a knight.”