THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD (29)
by Andrew Lang · from The Yellow Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once, there was a man and a woman. They wanted a child very much. They asked for a child every day. They wished for a tiny child. A child like a hazel-nut. Heaven heard their wish. They got a small boy. He was tiny like a nut.
The boy was named Little Nut Boy. He was very small. He never grew big. But Little Nut Boy was clever. He was very smart. All people were surprised. He said wise things. He did smart things.
Little Nut Boy was fifteen years old. Mother asked him one day. "What will you do?" she said. "You are still so small." Little Nut Boy smiled. "I will be a messenger," he said. Mother laughed a little.
Mother sent him to Aunt. "Bring a comb," she said. Little Nut Boy found a man. The man rode a big horse. Little Nut Boy climbed on. He sat under the saddle. The horse ran fast. He got the comb. He came back.
Father took his horse to a field. Little Nut Boy went too. Father left the horse. A Thief came by. The Thief did not see Little Nut Boy. He got on the horse. Little Nut Boy climbed the tail. He pinched the horse's back. The horse ran home fast.
Little Nut Boy was twenty years old. He told his parents. "I will go see the world. I will find much gold." His parents laughed. They did not believe him. But Little Nut Boy was ready.
Little Nut Boy found some storks. They slept on the roof. He tied himself to a stork. He hid in its soft feathers. The storks flew south. Winter was coming. Little Nut Boy flew with them.
They came to a warm, sunny land. People saw Little Nut Boy. They took him to The Kind King. The King liked the small boy. He gave Little Nut Boy a gift. It was a very big diamond. It was shiny and bright.
Little Nut Boy tied the diamond. He tied it to the stork's neck. The storks flew north now. They flew back home. Little Nut Boy flew with them. He was happy to go home. He had his big diamond.
He came to his village. He untied the diamond. It fell to the ground. He covered it with sand. He ran to his parents. "Come see!" he said. They were very surprised. They were very happy.
Little Nut Boy and his parents lived happily. They were rich and proud. All because Little Nut Boy was so clever and brave! Little Nut Boy showed everyone. Being smart and brave is good.
Original Story
THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD (29)
(29) From the Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki.
There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and they prayed Heaven every day to send them a child, though it were no bigger than a hazel-nut. At last Heaven heard their prayer and sent them a child exactly the size of a hazel-nut, and it never grew an inch. The parents were very devoted to the little creature, and nursed and tended it carefully. Their tiny son too was as clever as he could be, and so sharp and sensible that all the neighbours marvelled over the wise things he said and did.
When the Hazel-nut child was fifteen years old, and was sitting one day in an egg-shell on the table beside his mother, she turned to him and said, ‘You are now fifteen years old, and nothing can be done with you. What do you intend to be?’
‘A messenger,’ answered the Hazel-nut child.
Then his mother burst out laughing and said, ‘What an idea! You a messenger! Why, your little feet would take an hour to go the distance an ordinary person could do in a minute!’
But the Hazel-nut child replied, ‘Nevertheless I mean to be a messenger! Just send me a message and you’ll see that I shall be back in next to no time.’
So his mother said, ‘Very well, go to your aunt in the neighbouring village, and fetch me a comb.’ The Hazel-nut child jumped quickly out of the egg-shell and ran out into the street. Here he found a man on horseback who was just setting out for the neighbouring village. He crept up the horse’s leg, sat down under the saddle, and then began to pinch the horse and to prick it with a pin. The horse plunged and reared and then set off at a hard gallop, which it continued in spite of its rider’s efforts to stop it. When they reached the village, the Hazel-nut child left off pricking the horse, and the poor tired creature pursued its way at a snail’s pace. The Hazel-nut child took advantage of this, and crept down the horse’s leg; then he ran to his aunt and asked her for a comb. On the way home he met another rider, and did the return journey in exactly the same way. When he handed his mother the comb that his aunt had given him, she was much amazed and asked him, ‘But how did you manage to get back so quickly?’
‘Ah! mother,’ he replied, ‘you see I was quite right when I said I knew a messenger was the profession for me.’
His father too possessed a horse which he often used to take out into the fields to graze. One day he took the Hazel-nut child with him. At midday the father turned to his small son and said, ‘Stay here and look after the horse. I must go home and give your mother a message, but I shall be back soon.’
When his father had gone, a robber passed by and saw the horse grazing without any one watching it, for of course he could not see the Hazel-nut child hidden in the grass. So he mounted the horse and rode away. But the Hazel-nut child, who was the most active little creature, climbed up the horse’s tail and began to bite it on the back, enraging the creature to such an extent that it paid no attention to the direction the robber tried to make it go in, but galloped straight home. The father was much astonished when he saw a stranger riding his horse, but the Hazel-nut child climbed down quickly and told him all that had happened, and his father had the robber arrested at once and put into prison.
One autumn when the Hazel-nut child was twenty years old he said to his parents: ‘Farewell, my dear father and mother. I am going to set out into the world, and as soon as I have become rich I will return home to you.’
The parents laughed at the little man’s words, but did not believe him for a moment. In the evening the Hazel-nut child crept on to the roof, where some storks had built their nest. The storks were fast asleep, and he climbed on to the back of the father-stork and bound a silk cord round the joint of one of its wings, then he crept among its soft downy feathers and fell asleep.
The next morning the storks flew towards the south, for winter was approaching. The Hazel-nut child flew through the air on the stork’s back, and when he wanted to rest he bound his silk cord on to the joint of the bird’s other wing, so that it could not fly any farther. In this way he reached the country of the black people, where the storks took up their abode close to the capital. When the people saw the Hazel-nut child they were much astonished, and took him with the stork to the King of the country. The King was delighted with the little creature and kept him always beside him, and he soon grew so fond of the little man that he gave him a diamond four times as big as himself. The Hazel-nut child fastened the diamond firmly under the stork’s neck with a ribbon, and when he saw that the other storks were getting ready for their northern flight, he untied the silk cord from his stork’s wings, and away they went, getting nearer home every minute. At length the Hazel-nut child came to his native village; then he undid the ribbon from the stork’s neck and the diamond fell to the ground; he covered it first with sand and stones, and then ran to get his parents, so that they might carry the treasure home, for he himself was not able to lift the great diamond.
So the Hazel-nut child and his parents lived in happiness and prosperity after this till they died.
Story DNA
Moral
Even the smallest and most unlikely individuals can achieve great things through cleverness and determination.
Plot Summary
A childless couple receives a child no bigger than a hazel-nut, who, despite his size, is remarkably clever. As he grows, the Hazel-nut child proves his capabilities by secretly riding a horse to deliver a message and later by saving his father's horse from a robber. At twenty, he embarks on a journey, flying south on a stork's back, where he gains a massive diamond from a king. He returns home with his treasure, bringing prosperity and happiness to his once-doubting parents, living a fulfilling life despite his tiny stature.
Themes
Emotional Arc
doubt to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale comes from a collection by Andrew Lang, often drawing from various European folk traditions. The specific reference to 'Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki' points to a Polish origin, likely from a collection by Antoni Józef Gliński or similar folklorists.
Plot Beats (11)
- A childless couple wishes for a child, even one the size of a hazel-nut, and their wish is granted.
- The Hazel-nut child is tiny but exceptionally clever and sensible, amazing everyone.
- At fifteen, his mother questions his future, but he insists he will be a messenger.
- He proves his ability by secretly riding a horse to a neighboring village and back to fetch a comb.
- Later, he saves his father's grazing horse from a robber by hiding and biting the horse's tail, forcing it home.
- At twenty, he decides to seek his fortune in the world, despite his parents' disbelief.
- He secretly attaches himself to a stork and flies south for the winter.
- In the land of black people, he is taken to the King, who is charmed by him and gives him a huge diamond.
- He fastens the diamond to the stork's neck and returns home with the migrating storks.
- Upon reaching his village, he drops the diamond, covers it, and brings his parents to retrieve the treasure.
- The family lives in happiness and prosperity thanks to the Hazel-nut child's resourcefulness.
Characters
The Hazel-nut Child
Extremely tiny, no bigger than a hazel-nut, never grew an inch taller than this size. Despite his small stature, he is described as active and agile.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but would be simple, practical clothing suitable for a child of his background, perhaps a small tunic and trousers made of linen or wool, in muted colors.
Wants: To prove his worth and capability despite his size, to become rich and provide for his parents, to explore the world.
Flaw: His extreme smallness is his primary physical limitation, though he often turns it into an advantage.
Starts as a child proving his capabilities to his parents, then ventures into the world to seek his fortune, ultimately returning home wealthy and fulfilling his promise.
Clever, sharp, sensible, determined, resourceful, brave, adventurous.
The Mother
Not explicitly described, but likely a woman of average build and height for a peasant woman from Bukownia, Poland.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing from Bukownia, Poland, such as a linen smock, a wool skirt, and an apron, in muted, earthy tones. Likely wears a headscarf.
Wants: To care for her unique child, to understand his capabilities.
Flaw: Her initial doubt about her son's abilities.
Moves from skepticism about her son's capabilities to amazement and pride as he proves himself.
Loving, devoted, initially skeptical, amazed, supportive.
The Father
Not explicitly described, but likely a man of average build and height for a peasant man from Bukownia, Poland, perhaps with a sturdy, hardworking physique.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing from Bukownia, Poland, such as a linen shirt, wool trousers, and a vest, in muted, earthy tones. Likely wears sturdy boots.
Wants: To care for his unique child, to provide for his family.
Flaw: His inability to see his tiny son, leading to the horse being stolen.
Witnesses his son's cleverness and courage, leading to pride and prosperity.
Devoted, trusting, astonished, supportive.
The Robber
Not explicitly described, but would likely be depicted as a rough, perhaps burly man, consistent with a common thief from Bukownia, Poland.
Attire: Dark, practical, and somewhat worn clothing suitable for a robber from Bukownia, Poland, such as a dark wool tunic, trousers, and a cloak, designed for stealth and movement.
Wants: To steal the unattended horse for personal gain.
Flaw: His inability to perceive the tiny Hazel-nut Child, leading to his downfall.
Appears, attempts a theft, is thwarted by the Hazel-nut Child, and is subsequently arrested and imprisoned.
Opportunistic, greedy, easily confused, somewhat foolish.
The King of the Black People
A man of African descent, likely of regal bearing and stature, consistent with a monarch from a sub-Saharan African kingdom. He is described as delighted and fond of the Hazel-nut Child.
Attire: Rich, flowing royal attire from a sub-Saharan African kingdom, such as a brightly colored kente cloth or similar woven fabric, possibly adorned with gold jewelry and intricate patterns. A regal headwrap or crown would be appropriate.
Wants: To understand and appreciate the unique Hazel-nut Child, to enjoy his company.
Flaw: None explicitly shown.
Welcomes the Hazel-nut Child, becomes fond of him, and generously rewards him, enabling the child's return home with wealth.
Benevolent, curious, delighted, generous, fond.
Locations
Parents' Cottage Interior
A cozy, humble interior of a Polish rural cottage, likely a single main room with a large, whitewashed masonry stove (piec kaflowy) in one corner, and a sturdy wooden table as the central piece of furniture. The walls would be plastered and possibly adorned with simple folk art or religious icons. Sunlight streams through a small window.
Mood: Warm, domestic, slightly humorous, intimate
The Hazel-nut child, at 15, declares his intention to be a messenger, sparking his mother's disbelief and then his first successful journey.
Rural Road to Neighboring Village
A well-trodden dirt path winding through the gentle, rolling landscape of rural Poland. Fields of grain or pasture stretch on either side, bordered by occasional clusters of birch or willow trees. The path is dusty, and the air is clear.
Mood: Open, active, adventurous
The Hazel-nut child hitches a ride on a horse to the neighboring village, demonstrating his unique messenger abilities.
Pasture Field
An open, grassy pasture field, likely with some wildflowers and burdock leaves, where a horse grazes. The field is bordered by a low, rustic wooden fence or a line of trees. The sun is high overhead.
Mood: Peaceful, then tense and dramatic
The Hazel-nut child guards his father's horse and thwarts a robber, leading to the robber's capture.
Parents' Cottage Roof
The steeply pitched, thatched roof of a traditional Polish cottage, with a large stork's nest built into the chimney or highest point. The thatch is weathered, and the nest is made of interwoven branches and twigs. The night sky is visible above.
Mood: Quiet, anticipatory, magical
The Hazel-nut child embarks on his journey into the world by attaching himself to a sleeping stork.
Capital City of the Black People's Country
A vibrant, bustling capital city in a sub-Saharan African kingdom, characterized by buildings made of sun-baked mud brick (adobe) with intricate geometric patterns, possibly some with thatched or flat roofs. The landscape is dry and dusty, with acacia trees and perhaps a distant baobab. The air is warm and dry.
Mood: Exotic, bustling, awe-inspiring, royal
The Hazel-nut child arrives, is presented to the King, and receives a large diamond.