“One evening,” commenced daddy, “when the house was quiet and still, and every one was sleeping soundly, the tins and pans began to talk in the kitchen.
“‘I think I am to be congratulated more than any of you,’ said the egg beater. ‘You see my name means that I beat eggs. But not only do I beat eggs. I beat cream and all other things they wish to whip into a fine fluffy state.’
“‘True enough,’ agreed the other pans and tins.
“‘But you see,’ said the egg beater, ‘the wonderful part is that I am not cross. Imagine being used only as a beater. Imagine forever whipping everything that comes near you. Isn’t that enough to make an egg beater cross? But am I cross?’
“And all the pots and pans creaked and said, ‘No.’
“‘Then,’ said the egg beater, ‘it only goes to show that my disposition is quite perfect. Even whipping and beating everything that comes my way doesn’t make me cross.’
“‘Listen to me,’ said the cheese grater. ‘Think of what my name means!’
“What?’ asked the others.
“‘It means I am greater than anything else. No other pot or tin or pan is named by my name.’
“‘Oh,’ chuckled the gravy spoon, a big, good-natured, easy-going spoon, ‘you don’t understand at all.’
“‘What don’t I understand?’ asked the cheese grater.
“‘You see I help the gravy at the table and I hear the grownups and children talk. They say that greater means something finer, bigger, stronger, more noble than something that is merely great. Now greatest means the best of all. You see the way they spell your name is quite different from the way they spell the word that means great.’
“‘And what difference does that make?’ asked the cheese grater, who was feeling sad.
“‘All the difference in the world,’ said the gravy spoon. ‘It means something quite different.’
“‘The very idea of making such a mistake,’ said the cheese grater sadly.
“‘Never mind,’ said the egg beater. ‘I have a really bad name and I rise above it. I do the best I can and don’t complain. You must do the same.’
“‘I will,’ said the cheese grater. ‘But I am so disappointed.’
“So the rest of the talk between the tins, pots and pans was not upon their names and the meanings of them.”