A Fairy's Blunder

A Fairy’s Blunder

Once upon a time there lived a fairy whose name was Dindonette. She was

the best creature in the world, with the kindest heart; but she had

not much sense, and was always doing things, to benefit people, which

generally ended in causing pain and distress to everybody concerned. No

one knew this better than the inhabitants of an island far off in the

midst of the sea, which, according to the laws of fairyland, she had

taken under her special protection, thinking day and night of what she

could do to make the isle the pleasantest place in the whole world, as

it was the most beautiful.

Now what happened was this:

As the fairy went about, unseen, from house to house, she heard

everywhere children longing for the time when they would be ‘grown-up,’

and able, they thought, to do as they liked; and old people talking

about the past, and sighing to be young again.

‘Is there no way of satisfying these poor things?’ she thought. And

then one night an idea occurred to her. ‘Oh, yes, of course! It has been

tried before; but I will manage better than the rest, with their old

Fountain of Youth, which, after all, only made people young again. I

will enchant the spring that bubbles up in the middle of the orchard,

and the children that drink of it shall at once become grown men and

women, and the old people return to the days of their childhood.’

And without stopping to consult one single other fairy, who might have

given her good advice, off rushed Dindonette, to cast her spell over the

fountain.

It was the only spring of fresh water in the island, and at dawn was

crowded with people of all ages, come to drink at its source. Delighted

at her plan for making them all happy, the fairy hid herself behind a

thicket of roses, and peeped out whenever footsteps came that way.

It was not long before she had ample proof of the success of her

enchantments. Almost before her eyes the children put on the size

and strength of adults, while the old men and women instantly became

helpless, tiny babies. Indeed, so pleased was she with the result of

her work, that she could no longer remain hidden, and went about telling

everybody what she had done, and enjoying their gratitude and thanks.

But after the first outburst of delight at their wishes being granted,

people began to be a little frightened at the rapid effects of the magic

water. It was delicious to feel yourself at the height of your power and

beauty, but you would wish to keep so always! Now this was exactly what

the fairy had been in too much of a hurry to arrange, and no sooner had

the children become grown up, and the men and women become babies, than

they all rushed on to old age at an appalling rate! The fairy only found

out her mistake when it was too late to set it right.

When the inhabitants of the island saw what had befallen them, they were

filled with despair, and did everything they could think of to escape

from such a dreadful fate. They dug wells in their places, so that they

should no longer need to drink from the magic spring; but the sandy soil

yielded no water, and the rainy season was already past. They stored up

the dew that fell, and the juice of fruits and of herbs, but all this

was as a drop in the ocean of their wants. Some threw themselves

into the sea, trusting that the current might carry them to other

shores--they had no boats--and a few, still more impatient, put

themselves to death on the spot. The rest submitted blindly to their

destiny.

Perhaps the worst part of the enchantment was, that the change from

one age to another was so rapid that the person had no time to prepare

himself for it. It would not have mattered so much if the man who stood

up in the assembly of the nation, to give his advice as to peace or war,

had looked like a baby, as long as he spoke with the knowledge and sense

of a full-grown man. But, alas! with the outward form of an infant, he

had taken on its helplessness and foolishness, and there was no one who

could train him to better things. The end of it all was, that before a

month had passed the population had died out, and the fairy Dindonette,

ashamed and grieved at the effects of her folly, had left the island for

ever.

Many centuries after, the fairy Selnozoura, who had fallen into bad

health, was ordered by her doctors to make the tour of the world twice

a week for change of air, and in one of these journeys she found herself

at Fountain Island. Selnozoura never made these trips alone, but always

took with her two children, of whom she was very fond--Cornichon, a boy

of fourteen, bought in his childhood at a slave-market, and Toupette, a

few months younger, who had been entrusted to the care of the fairy by

her guardian, the genius Kristopo. Cornichon and Toupette were intended

by Selnozoura to become husband and wife, as soon as they were old

enough. Meanwhile, they travelled with her in a little vessel, whose

speed through the air was just a thousand nine hundred and fifty times

greater than that of the swiftest of our ships.

Struck with the beauty of the island, Selnozoura ran the vessel to

ground, and leaving it in the care of the dragon which lived in the hold

during the voyage, stepped on shore with her two companions. Surprised

at the sight of a large town whose streets and houses were absolutely

desolate, the fairy resolved to put her magic arts in practice to

find out the cause. While she was thus engaged, Cornichon and Toupette

wandered away by themselves, and by-and-by arrived at the fountain,

whose bubbling waters looked cool and delicious on such a hot day.

Scarcely had they each drunk a deep draught, when the fairy, who by this

time had discovered all she wished to know, hastened to the spot.

‘Oh, beware! beware!’ she cried, the moment she saw them. ‘If you drink

that deadly poison you will be ruined for ever!’

‘Poison?’ answered Toupette. ‘It is the most refreshing water I have

ever tasted, and Cornichon will say so too!’

‘Unhappy children, then I am too late! Why did you leave me? Listen,

and I will tell you what has befallen the wretched inhabitants of this

island, and what will befall you too. The power of fairies is great,’

she added, when she had finished her story, ‘but they cannot destroy the

work of another fairy. Very shortly you will pass into the weakness and

silliness of extreme old age, and all I can do for you is to make it as

easy to you as possible, and to preserve you from the death that others

have suffered, from having no one to look after them. But the charm is

working already! Cornichon is taller and more manly than he was an hour

ago, and Toupette no longer looks like a little girl.’

It was true; but this fact did not seem to render the young people as

miserable as it did Selnozoura.

‘Do not pity us,’ said Cornichon. ‘If we are fated to grow old so soon,

let us no longer delay our marriage. What matter if we anticipate our

decay, if we only anticipate our happiness too?’

The fairy felt that Cornichon had reason on his side, and seeing by a

glance at Toupette’s face that there was no opposition to be feared from

her, she answered, ‘Let it be so, then. But not in this dreadful place.

We will return at once to Bagota, and the festivities shall be the most

brilliant ever seen.’

They all returned to the vessel, and in a few hours the four thousand

five hundred miles that lay between the island and Bagota were passed.

Everyone was surprised to see the change which the short absence had

made in the young people, but as the fairy had promised absolute silence

about the adventure, they were none the wiser, and busied themselves in

preparing their dresses for the marriage, which was fixed for the next

night.

Early on the following morning the genius Kristopo arrived at the Court,

on one of the visits he was in the habit of paying his ward from time to

time. Like the rest, he was astonished at the sudden improvement in the

child. He had always been fond of her, and in a moment he fell violently

in love. Hastily demanding an audience of the fairy, he laid his

proposals before her, never doubting that she would give her consent to

so brilliant a match. But Selnozoura refused to listen, and even

hinted that in his own interest Kristopo had better turn his thoughts

elsewhere. The genius pretended to agree, but, instead, he went straight

to Toupette’s room, and flew away with her through the window, at the

very instant that the bridegroom was awaiting her below.

When the fairy discovered what had happened, she was furious, and sent

messenger after messenger to the genius in his palace at Ratibouf,

commanding him to restore Toupette without delay, and threatening to

make war in case of refusal.

Kristopo gave no direct answer to the fairy’s envoys, but kept Toupette

closely guarded in a tower, where the poor girl used all her powers of

persuasion to induce him to put off their marriage. All would, however,

have been quite vain if, in the course of a few days, sorrow, joined

to the spell of the magic water, had not altered her appearance so

completely that Kristopo was quite alarmed, and declared that she needed

amusement and fresh air, and that, as his presence seemed to distress

her, she should be left her own mistress. But one thing he declined to

do, and that was to send her back to Bagota.

In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and

Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while

Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces. But before

war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned

by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf. They had never seen their daughter

since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers

to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty. What was their

amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a

middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact,

older than themselves. Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were

at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of

his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady

in her place. Bursting with rage, he sent instantly for all the servants

and guards of the town, and inquired who had the insolence to play him

such a trick, and what had become of their prisoner. They replied that

since Toupette had been in their charge she had never left her rooms

unveiled, and that during her walks in the surrounding gardens, her food

had been brought in and placed on her table; as she preferred to eat

alone no one had ever seen her face, or knew what she was like.

The servants were clearly speaking the truth, and Kristopo was obliged

to believe them. ‘But,’ thought he, ‘if they have not had a hand in

this, it must be the work of the fairy,’ and in his anger he ordered the

army to be ready to march.

On her side, Selnozoura of course knew what the genius had to expect,

but was deeply offended when she heard of the base trick which she

was believed to have invented. Her first desire was to give battle to

Kristopo at once, but with great difficulty her ministers induced her to

pause, and to send an ambassador to Kristopo to try to arrange matters.

So the Prince Zeprady departed for the court of Ratibouf, and on his way

he met Cornichon, who was encamped with his army just outside the gates

of Bagota. The prince showed him the fairy’s written order that for the

present peace must still be kept, and Cornichon, filled with longing to

see Toupette once more, begged to be allowed to accompany Zeprady on his

mission to Ratibouf.

By this time the genius’s passion for Toupette, which had caused all

these troubles, had died out, and he willingly accepted the terms of

peace offered by Zeprady, though he informed the prince that he still

believed the fairy to be guilty of the dreadful change in the girl. To

this the prince only replied that on that point he had a witness who

could prove, better than anyone else, if it was Toupette or not, and

desired that Cornichon should be sent for.

When Toupette was told that she was to see her old lover again, her

heart leapt with joy; but soon the recollection came to her of all that

had happened, and she remembered that Cornichon would be changed as well

as she. The moment of their meeting was not all happiness, especially

on the part of Toupette, who could not forget her lost beauty, and the

genius, who was present, was at last convinced that he had not been

deceived, and went out to sign the treaty of peace, followed by his

attendants.

‘Ah, Toupette: my dear Toupette!’ cried Cornichon, as soon as they were

left alone; ‘now that we are once more united, let our past troubles be

forgotten.’

‘Our past troubles!’ answered she, ‘and what do you call our lost beauty

and the dreadful future before us? You are looking fifty years older

than when I saw you last, and I know too well that fate has treated me

no better!’

‘Ah, do not say that,’ replied Cornichon, clasping her hand. ‘You are

different, it is true; but every age has its graces, and surely no woman

of sixty was ever handsomer than you! If your eyes had been as bright as

of yore they would have matched badly with your faded skin. The wrinkles

which I notice on your forehead explain the increased fulness of your

cheeks, and your throat in withering is elegant in decay. Thus the

harmony shown by your features, even as they grow old, is the best proof

of their former beauty.’

‘Oh, monster!’ cried Toupette, bursting into tears, ‘is that all the

comfort you can give me?’

‘But, Toupette,’ answered Cornichon, ‘you used to declare that you did

not care for beauty, as long as you had my heart.’

‘Yes, I know,’ said she, ‘but how can you go on caring for a person who

is as old and plain as I?’

‘Toupette, Toupette,’ replied Cornichon, ‘you are only talking nonsense.

My heart is as much yours as ever it was, and nothing in the world can

make any difference.’

At this point of the conversation the Prince Zeprady entered the room,

with the news that the genius, full of regret for his behaviour, had

given Cornichon full permission to depart for Bagota as soon as he

liked, and to take Toupette with him; adding that, though he begged they

would excuse his taking leave of them before they went, he hoped, before

long, to visit them at Bagota.

Neither of the lovers slept that night--Cornichon from joy at returning

home, Toupette from dread of the blow to her vanity which awaited her at

Bagota. It was hopeless for Cornichon to try to console her during the

journey with the reasons he had given the day before. She only grew

worse and worse, and when they reached the palace went straight to her

old apartments, entreating the fairy to allow both herself and Cornichon

to remain concealed, and to see no one.

For some time after their arrival the fairy was taken up with the

preparations for the rejoicings which were to celebrate the peace, and

with the reception of the genius, who was determined to do all in his

power to regain Selnozoura’s lost friendship. Cornichon and Toupette

were therefore left entirely to themselves, and though this was only

what they wanted, still, they began to feel a little neglected.

At length, one morning, they saw from the windows that the fairy and

the genius were approaching, in state, with all their courtiers in

attendance. Toupette instantly hid herself in the darkest corner of

the room, but Cornichon, forgetting that he was now no longer a boy of

fourteen, ran to meet them. In so doing he tripped and fell, bruising

one of his eyes severely. At the sight of her lover lying helpless on

the floor, Toupette hastened to his side; but her feeble legs gave way

under her, and she fell almost on top of him, knocking out three of her

loosened teeth against his forehead. The fairy, who entered the room at

this moment, burst into tears, and listened in silence to the genius,

who hinted that by-and-by everything would be put right.

‘At the last assembly of the fairies,’ he said, ‘when the doings of each

fairy were examined and discussed, a proposal was made to lessen, as

far as possible, the mischief caused by Dindonette by enchanting

the fountain. And it was decided that, as she had meant nothing but

kindness, she should have the power of undoing one half of the spell. Of

course she might always have destroyed the fatal fountain, which would

have been best of all; but this she never thought of. Yet, in spite of

this, her heart is so good, that I am sure that the moment she hears

that she is wanted she will fly to help. Only, before she comes, it is

for you, Madam, to make up your mind which of the two shall regain their

former strength and beauty.’

At these words the fairy’s soul sank. Both Cornichon and Toupette were

equally dear to her, and how could she favour one at the cost of the

other? As to the courtiers, none of the men were able to understand why

she hesitated a second to declare for Toupette; while the ladies were

equally strong on the side of Cornichon.

But, however undecided the fairy might be, it was quite different with

Cornichon and Toupette.

‘Ah, my love,’ exclaimed Cornichon, ‘at length I shall be able to

give you the best proof of my devotion by showing you how I value the

beauties of your mind above those of your body! While the most charming

women of the court will fall victims to my youth and strength, I shall

think of nothing but how to lay them at your feet, and pay heart-felt

homage to your age and wrinkles.’

‘Not so fast,’ interrupted Toupette, ‘I don’t see why you should have it

all. Why do you heap such humiliations upon me? But I will trust to the

justice of the fairy, who will not treat me so.’

Then she entered her own rooms, and refused to leave them, in spite of

the prayers of Cornichon, who begged her to let him explain.

No one at the court thought or spoke of any other subject during the few

days before the arrival of Dindonette, whom everybody expected to set

things right in a moment. But, alas! she had no idea herself what was

best to be done, and always adopted the opinion of the person she was

talking to. At length a thought struck her, which seemed the only way

of satisfying both parties, and she asked the fairy to call together all

the court and the people to hear her decision.

‘Happy is he,’ she began, ‘who can repair the evil he has caused, but

happier he who has never caused any.’

As nobody contradicted this remark, she continued:

‘To me it is only allowed to undo one half of the mischief I have

wrought. I could restore you your youth,’ she said to Cornichon, ‘or

your beauty,’ turning to Toupette. ‘I will do both; and I will do

neither.’

A murmur of curiosity arose from the crowd, while Cornichon and Toupette

trembled with astonishment.

‘No,’ went on Dindonette, ‘never should I have the cruelty to leave one

of you to decay, while the other enjoys the glory of youth. And as I

cannot restore you both at once to what you were, one half of each of

your bodies shall become young again, while the other half goes on

its way to decay. I will leave it to you to choose which half it shall

be--if I shall draw a line round the waist, or a line straight down the

middle of the body.’

She looked about her proudly, expecting applause for her clever idea.

But Cornichon and Toupette were shaking with rage and disappointment,

and everyone else broke into shouts of laughter. In pity for the unhappy

lovers, Selnozoura came forward.

‘Do you not think,’ she said, ‘that instead of what you propose, it

would be better to let them take it in turns to enjoy their former youth

and beauty for a fixed time? I am sure you could easily manage that.’

‘What an excellent notion!’ cried Dindonette. ‘Oh, yes, of course that

is best! Which of you shall I touch first?’

‘Touch her,’ replied Cornichon, who was always ready to give way to

Toupette. ‘I know her heart too well to fear any change.’

So the fairy bent forward and touched her with her magic ring, and in

one instant the old woman was a girl again. The whole court wept with

joy at the sight, and Toupette ran up to Cornichon, who had fallen down

in his surprise, promising to pay him long visits, and tell him of all

her balls and water parties.

The two fairies went to their own apartments, where the genius followed

them to take his leave.

‘Oh, dear!’ suddenly cried Dindonette, breaking in to the farewell

speech of the genius. ‘I quite forgot to fix the time when Cornichon

should in his turn grow young. How stupid of me! And now I fear it is

too late, for I ought to have declared it before I touched Toupette with

the ring. Oh, dear! oh, dear! why did nobody warn me?’

‘You were so quick,’ replied Selnozoura, who had long been aware of

the mischief the fairy had again done, ‘and we can only wait now till

Cornichon shall have reached the utmost limits of his decay, when he

will drink of the water, and become a baby once more, so that Toupette

will have to spend her life as a nurse, a wife, and a caretaker.’

After the anxiety of mind and the weakness of body to which for so long

Toupette had been a prey, it seemed as if she could not amuse herself

enough, and it was seldom indeed that she found time to visit poor

Cornichon, though she did not cease to be fond of him, or to be kind to

him. Still, she was perfectly happy without him, and this the poor man

did not fail to see, almost blind and deaf from age though he was.

But it was left to Kristopo to undo at last the work of Dindonette, and

give Cornichon back the youth he had lost, and this the genius did all

the more gladly, as he discovered, quite by accident, that Cornichon was

in fact his son. It was on this plea that he attended the great yearly

meeting of the fairies, and prayed that, in consideration of his

services to so many of the members, this one boon might be granted

him. Such a request had never before been heard in fairyland, and

was objected to by some of the older fairies; but both Kristopo and

Selnozoura were held in such high honour that the murmurs of disgust

were set aside, and the latest victim to the enchanted fountain was

pronounced to be free of the spell. All that the genius asked in return

was that he might accompany the fairy back to Bagota, and be present

when his son assumed his proper shape.

They made up their minds they would just tell Toupette that they

had found a husband for her, and give her a pleasant surprise at her

wedding, which was fixed for the following night. She heard the news

with astonishment, and many pangs for the grief which Cornichon would

certainly feel at his place being taken by another; but she did not

dream of disobeying the fairy, and spent the whole day wondering who the

bridegroom could be.

At the appointed hour, a large crowd assembled at the fairy’s palace,

which was decorated with the sweetest flowers, known only to fairyland.

Toupette had taken her place, but where was the bridegroom?

‘Fetch Cornichon!’ said the fairy to her chamberlain.

But Toupette interposed: ‘Oh, Madam, spare him, I entreat you, this

bitter pain, and let him remain hidden and in peace.’

‘It is necessary that he should be here,’ answered the fairy, ‘and he

will not regret it.’

And, as she spoke, Cornichon was led in, smiling with the foolishness of

extreme old age at the sight of the gay crowd.

‘Bring him here,’ commanded the fairy, waving her hand towards Toupette,

who started back from surprise and horror.

Selnozoura then took the hand of the poor old man, and the genius came

forward and touched him three times with his ring, when Cornichon was

transformed into a handsome young man.

‘May you live long,’ the genius said, ‘to enjoy happiness with your

wife, and to love your father.’

And that was the end of the mischief wrought by the fairy Dindonette!

[Cabinet des Fées.]