FAIRIES
by Abbie Farwell Brown · from The star jewels, and other wonders
Adapted Version
I am not afraid of fairies! No, not me, not at all. I read it in a book, you see. A big, bright book, very tall.
It told me all about their wings. It told me where they hide. It told me all their tiny things. They sparkle deep inside.
I know just how to say hello. I would smile and say, "Hello, fairy!" I would be quiet, and soft, and slow. I would not be scary.
I have my special wish all ready. It is a wish for fun. My wish is happy, bright, and steady. For everyone under the sun.
Sometimes I feel them very close. A tingle on my nose. A whisper, like a tiny ghost. That’s how the feeling goes.
They are near me, I just know. A shimmer in the air. But I cannot see them, though. They are not really there.
I wonder about them every day. Are they playing a game? Do they hide and run away? Do they know my name?
Are the fairies scared of me? Is that why they won’t appear? Maybe they are shy, you see. Maybe that is why, my dear.
Maybe they peek from a flower. Maybe they hide in the rain. Maybe they wait for the right hour. To come out again.
So I will be patient and kind. I will wait right here. With my happy wish in my mind. And a smile, ear to ear.
Because I am not afraid, you know. Of fairies, big or small. I just wish they would say hello. And come and play with all.
Original Story
FAIRIES
If I should see a Fairy,
I should not be afraid,
I know so much about them,
From all that I have read.
I’ve planned how I would greet them,
And what I ought to say;
I’d have my Wish all ready,
To save the least delay.
I sometimes feel them near me,
But still I cannot see.
I wonder, oh! I wonder,
Are they afraid of me?
The Riverside Press
*Electrotyped and printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.
Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A.*
THE FLOWER PRINCESS
By ABBIE FARWELL BROWN
“Here is a return to the gracefully romantic fairy stories we all used to love. Four tales of adventure in the country where the unreal touches upon the real, prettily illustrated and written with the literary skill that always appeals to the good taste of a child.”
The Outlook, New York.
“Delicate fancy and humor have gone into the making of these pretty tales for children, which prove again Miss Brown’s title to be numbered among the story-tellers mothers may depend upon.”
The Christian Register, Boston.
Illustrated. Square 12mo, $1.00.
By ABBIE FARWELL BROWN
IN THE DAYS OF GIANTS
“Miss Brown relates some of the bravest tales from the brave old sagas of the Northland. They have an enchantment which appeals particularly to the youthful mind.”
New York Globe.
Illustrated by E. Boyd Smith.
12mo, $1.10, net. Postpaid, $1.21.
THE BOOK OF SAINTS
AND FRIENDLY BEASTS
“There is a very tender, sympathetic charm about the book. Miss Brown has chosen a score of stories concerning saints and animals to tell again simply and with a pretty choice of word and phrase.”
London Times.
Illustrated by F. Y. Cory.
12mo, $1.25.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.
Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.
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Story DNA
Plot Summary
A child speaker confidently declares they would not be afraid to meet a fairy, having extensively prepared for such an encounter by reading and planning their greeting and wish. Though they sometimes feel fairies nearby, they cannot see them. The child then wonders if, perhaps, the fairies are the ones who are afraid.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to wonder
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Abbie Farwell Brown was an American author known for children's literature in the early 20th century, often drawing on folklore and mythology.
Plot Beats (6)
- The speaker states they would not be afraid if they saw a Fairy.
- The speaker explains their lack of fear comes from extensive reading about fairies.
- The speaker has planned their greeting and what to say to a fairy.
- The speaker has their wish ready to make without delay.
- The speaker sometimes senses fairies nearby but cannot see them.
- The speaker wonders if the fairies are, in fact, afraid of them.
Characters
The Child ★ protagonist
The story does not provide specific physical details, allowing for a universal child figure. Likely small in stature, with a curious and imaginative demeanor.
Attire: No specific details are given, implying simple, comfortable clothing typical for a child of the early 20th century, likely a dress or simple tunic and trousers, made of practical fabrics like cotton or wool.
Wants: To meet fairies, to understand them, and to make a wish.
Flaw: Their inability to actually see the fairies, despite feeling their presence.
The child's arc is one of sustained wonder and a slight shift from confident expectation to a wondering question about the fairies' perspective.
Imaginative, curious, brave (not afraid of fairies), prepared, thoughtful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, gender-neutral, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. They have a round, innocent face with wide, curious eyes and a slightly open mouth as if in wonder. Their hair is short and slightly tousled. They wear a simple, knee-length, light blue linen tunic with short sleeves and plain brown leather sandals. Their hands are clasped loosely in front of them. Thoughtful, slightly wistful expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Fairies ◆ supporting
The story does not provide specific physical details, leaving their appearance to the imagination. Traditionally, fairies are depicted as small, ethereal beings, often with delicate features and wings.
Attire: No specific details are given, but traditionally depicted in garments made of natural elements like leaves, petals, or gossamer, in shimmering, natural colors.
Wants: To remain hidden, to observe, or perhaps to interact only when they choose.
Flaw: Their elusiveness prevents direct interaction, and their potential shyness or fear keeps them hidden.
They remain unseen and mysterious throughout the poem, their presence felt but not confirmed.
Mysterious, elusive, perhaps shy or cautious, as suggested by the child's question, 'Are they afraid of me?'
Image Prompt & Upload
A tiny, ethereal, androgynous figure, translucent and shimmering with soft light, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. They have delicate, pointed features, large, luminous eyes, and long, flowing, iridescent hair that seems to drift. Their body is slender and graceful, with delicate, insect-like wings that are barely visible and slightly transparent. They wear a garment made of shimmering, gossamer-like fabric in shades of pale green and silver, appearing to be woven from moonlight and dew. Their expression is serene and slightly curious. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Narrator's Imagined Encounter Space
An undefined, personal space where the narrator imagines meeting fairies, filled with anticipation and readiness.
Mood: Whimsical, hopeful, slightly mysterious, imaginative
The narrator mentally prepares for a fairy encounter and wonders if fairies are afraid of them.
Image Prompt & Upload
A soft, ethereal mist gently swirls through a sun-dappled glade, where ancient, moss-covered oak trees stand sentinel. Patches of wild clover and tiny, dew-kissed wildflowers dot the forest floor, catching the light. A sense of quiet anticipation hangs in the air, as if something magical is about to appear from the shimmering haze. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.