THREE SPARROWS
by Atha Westbury · from Australian fairy tales
Adapted Version
Once there was a boy named Toby. Toby liked to grumble. He grumbled about all things! Toby worked in a mine. He did not like to work. Toby was often cross. He did not want to help.
One day, Uncle asked Toby to work. Toby grumbled. He did not want to help. Uncle was very cross. He sent Toby to a dark place. Toby must think there.
Toby was in the dark. A light glowed. A small man stood there. His name was Grip. Grip had bright eyes. "Come with me," Grip said.
Grip took Toby away. They went to a new place. It was sunny and bright. Birds sang in trees. Three wise sparrows lived there. Their names were Test, Try, and Cure.
Grip took Toby to Test Sparrow. Test Sparrow was old. He showed Toby a nice room. Toby had new, soft clothes. He had much yummy food. This was a test for Toby.
Toby liked the nice things. But then he grumbled. He did not like one small thing. Poof! All the nice things went away. Toby was in his old clothes. Grip stood next to him.
Grip took Toby to Try Sparrow. Try Sparrow was kind. Toby lived in a nice home. He had good food. He had a simple chore. He must help with water. This was a new test.
Toby grumbled again. He did not like the small chore. The kind home went away. Toby was with Grip. He felt very sad.
Grip looked very stern. He took Toby to Cure Sparrow. Cure Sparrow was firm. He said Toby must learn. Toby needed a big lesson.
Toby changed. He became a donkey. He was not a boy now. He felt very tired. He worked hard all day. The donkey had to pull things. Toby felt very sad. He missed being a boy.
Toby felt very sad as a donkey. He thought about his grumbling. He was not thankful before. He wished to be a boy again. He promised to be kind. He promised to be thankful. He would not grumble.
Then Toby woke up. He was in the mine. Uncle was there. Uncle shook him. Toby was a boy again. He knew a big lesson.
Toby was a changed boy. He did not grumble now. He grew up happy. He knew the sparrows. He told all to be thankful. He told them not to grumble. Toby learned a big lesson. He was always thankful after that. Toby was a happy boy, grumbling no more.
Original Story
THREE SPARROWS.
Toby Grumbleton worked with his uncle down in one of the deepest mines in Ballarat. If you had searched the whole district in that gold hunting region, you couldn’t have found a more selfish, lazy, and disobedient boy than Toby. In consequence of his surly and complaining disposition his companions had bestowed upon him the nickname of “Toby the Growler,” and he well deserved the title; for a greater snivelling, discontented youth never existed.
“ ‘GET UP, TOBY THE GROWLER, AND FOLLOW ME.’ ”
One day, while at work in the mine, Toby was ordered to gather together all the blunt tools and send them up to the surface to be sharpened. As usual, Toby began to grumble, whereupon his uncle gave him a good thrashing, and the “Growler” ran off into one of the usual drives or passages of the mine to indulge in a sulking fit. Of the many dark and wide caverns underground, none in the whole pit was so large and so gloomy and dismal as the one in which “Toby the Growler” had taken refuge, yet the boy had not been there long before he became aware of a strange yellow-coloured glow lighting up the drive. Looking up, he beheld a little old dwarf, with a lamp in his hand, standing over him. Such a plain, ugly-looking creature Toby had never seen before, though there are any number of queer-looking fellows at Ballarat. The intruder was small, not nearly so tall as Toby, but his head was a rasper, and appeared as if it had belonged to several ancient individuals in succession, the eyes very red, and omitting a fiery glow. He was attired in a suit of brown russet, with a long sugar-loaf hat, and a crutch staff.
“Get up, Toby the Growler, and follow me,” cried the dwarf in a brief tone, and looking at him with those horrid eyes. Toby felt inclined to disobey, but his heart sank within him at sight of the creature, and he therefore followed, grumbling as he went, and wondering where the ugly little humpback would lead him. Of one thing the boy was certain—that the end of the subterranean passage would effectually bar the progress of the unwelcome visitor; but the dim cave seemed to extend and open out before them as they proceeded, until it took the shape of a long railway tunnel, from which they at length emerged into the bright open sunlight, beaming down upon a landscape fairer than a child’s dream. The sudden transit from what appeared to be the bowels of a great high mountain to the noonday light almost blinded our friend Toby; but the dwarf touched him with his staff, and lo! the boy beheld a charming country teeming with life and beauty. Here were soft grassy spots, shaded by trees bending with ripe and golden-hued fruit; yonder a range of hills clothed with richest verdure, and at the feet of which a broad lake gleamed like a burnished shield. There were swans on the lake, and birds of bright plumage on the trees and in the air, and birds everywhere around.
“What place is this, sir?” cried Toby in amazement.
“This is the land of the three sparrows,” answered the dwarf with a smile. “Look there; that little white building is the home of ‘Test,’ the eldest of the three; yonder by the water is the palace of ‘Try,’ while on the hills over there you can see the castle of ‘Cure,’ the youngest.”
“Are they real sparrows, sir?” asked Toby.
“No, boy, only in form. They are Australian elves. Every twenty years the great body of elfins in this country transform three of their number into the shape of sparrows, to govern this land, and also for other purposes, of which you may judge for yourself.” Saying which, the dwarf caught the Growler in his arms, and in an instant they were standing by the white palace on the lake. All the windows and doors were wide open, so the dwarf entered with his companion and conducted him to a large room where Test sat perched on the back of an armchair. He seemed a well-feathered, plump old bird and wore spectacles.
“Ah, Grip, my trusty messenger,” he cried, “I see you have returned with the Growler; take him hence and test him in the usual way.”
“Very well, your Excellency,” and the dwarf bent low in obeisance and retired. He led Toby away into a large empty hall, and standing him up beside the door, said, “Toby, Toby, shut your eyes and see what Fate will send you.” The Growler closed his eyes, when the voice of the dwarf was again heard. “Toby, Toby, open your eyes and see what Fate has sent you.”
The boy opened his eyes and beheld the most magnificent apartment it is possible to conceive. Tables with marble tops, inlaid with gold, were loaded with choice fruits and lollies, and by some enchantment the boy’s ragged clothes were changed to a gorgeous suit of crimson velvet, bordered with pearls, and several servants stood at hand ready to do his bidding.
“Ah, this is as it should be!” cried the delighted Toby. “I shall never grumble again if I am to live like this. Here are guns to shoot with; dogs to hunt with; horses to ride, and plenty of fishing in the lake. Ah! I shall be thoroughly satisfied now.” And the Growler set about enjoying himself.
But alas! for human resolves. The fruit made Toby ill; one of the horses threw him and hurt his leg; he nearly shot himself with his gun; and was all but drowned in the lake while fishing; and so he began to complain worse than before. But the moment he did so, the splendid scene vanished from before him in the twinkling of an eye, and he discovered himself in the bare and empty room again, with only his dirty rags, and the dwarf standing grinning beside him.
“Come along with me, Toby the Growler,” cried the old fellow in a mocking tone; and before the boy could refuse he was borne away to the palace of Try. This old and venerable sparrow was deep in the pages of the Observer when Grip entered with Toby.
“Whom have we here?” he inquired, addressing the dwarf.
“Please, your Worship, this is a mortal who has been tested by your Worship’s brother, and has failed,” answered Grip.
“What is his special defect?”
“Grumbling, your Worship.”
“Humph! a common quality among mortals, more especially with farmers and boys. Try him without delay.”
With the quickness of a shifting scene in a magic-lantern Toby was transferred to a cottage in a lonely valley, occupied by an old lady and gentleman, who welcomed him as if he had been their own son, and procured for him all that he could desire. The whole day was one round of pleasure and enjoyment, and the boy expressed himself grateful and satisfied with his position. One simple act he had to perform in return for all this kindness, and that was to draw seven buckets of water from a well every morning, for the use of the cottage. Yet Toby the Growler, unmindful of past experience, began to grumble again, and once more he found himself by the lake with the dwarf at his elbow.
“For the last time, come with me, Toby the Growler,” he cried in a terrible voice, while his red flaming eyes shot out flashes like fire. The boy felt utterly powerless to resist, and swift as a streak of lightning he was carried to the gloomy abode of Cure, the youngest of the three sparrows. The castle was as dark as a dungeon, but the guide found his way within to the reception-hall, where Cure, in regal feathers, sat surrounded by a guard of crows bearing torches.
“Who is this?” inquired the youngest sparrow sternly.
“A grumbling boy, your Highness.”
“Let him be cured. Take him away.”
The words were scarcely spoken ere poor Toby found himself instantly transformed into a donkey with long ears. He was on a hard, hilly road, dragging a heavy dray after him loaded with firewood. At first the lad felt somewhat doubtful respecting the sudden transformation, but a smart thump across his buttock soon convinced him he was no longer an idle boy, but a beast of burden, with a cruel youth for his master, who beat and bruised him unmercifully with a thick stick. Oh! the long and weary hours he had to toil, while the miserable food he had to eat made him weep, and wet the winkers with his tears. He thought of his uncle and his home, and all the many kindnesses he had received, and had repaid with complaints and grumblings, and he vowed earnestly, and with true penitence, that if ever he got back again to the mine and to his kind relative, he would avoid complaining for the rest of his life.
With this firm resolve came another sudden shifting in the magic scene. So sudden was it that Toby rubbed his eyes, and found himself in that self-same narrow drive in the mine at Ballarat, with his uncle shaking him by the collar, and telling him that it was time to go to the surface.
Toby is a man now, and is married and has several children; and if one of these begins to grumble, he does not forget to remind them of the Three Sparrows.
Story DNA
Moral
Grumbling and discontent lead to unhappiness and hardship, while gratitude and hard work bring contentment.
Plot Summary
Toby 'the Growler,' a selfish and discontented boy working in a mine, is magically transported by a dwarf to the Land of the Three Sparrows: Test, Try, and Cure. He is first given a life of luxury, but his grumbling causes it to vanish. Next, he experiences a life of simple kindness, but again, his complaining about a small chore makes it disappear. Finally, he is transformed into a donkey and forced to endure harsh labor and abuse, which finally breaks his spirit and makes him genuinely repent. Toby awakens back in the mine, a changed boy, and grows up to be a grateful man who teaches his children the lesson he learned.
Themes
Emotional Arc
discontent to suffering to repentance to contentment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ballarat was a significant gold mining town in Victoria, Australia, during the 19th century gold rush, known for its deep mines.
Plot Beats (13)
- Toby Grumbleton, known as 'Toby the Growler,' is introduced as a selfish, lazy, and disobedient boy working in a mine.
- Toby grumbles about a task, gets thrashed by his uncle, and retreats to a dark cavern to sulk.
- A strange dwarf named Grip appears, glowing yellow, and commands Toby to follow him.
- Grip transports Toby from the mine to a beautiful, sunlit land, the 'Land of the Three Sparrows,' ruled by Australian elves named Test, Try, and Cure.
- Grip takes Toby to Test, who subjects him to a 'test' of luxury, providing him with magnificent clothes, food, and entertainment.
- Toby initially enjoys the luxury but soon grumbles when minor inconveniences occur, causing the splendid scene to vanish, leaving him in rags with Grip.
- Grip takes Toby to Try, who places him in a kind old couple's cottage where he receives every comfort, only needing to draw seven buckets of water daily.
- Toby again grumbles about the simple chore, and this pleasant life also vanishes, leaving him with Grip.
- Grip, angered, takes Toby to Cure, who sternly orders him to be 'cured.'
- Toby is instantly transformed into a donkey, forced to drag a heavy dray and endure beatings from a cruel master.
- Through his suffering as a donkey, Toby deeply repents his grumbling and vows to be grateful if he ever returns to his human form.
- Toby suddenly finds himself back in the mine, his uncle shaking him awake, realizing it was a dream or magical experience.
- Toby grows up to be a changed man, married with children, and uses the story of the Three Sparrows to teach his own children about the dangers of grumbling.
Characters
Toby Grumbleton ★ protagonist
A young boy, likely of average height and build for his age, with a generally disheveled appearance due to his work in the mines. His face often wears a sulky or discontented expression.
Attire: Ragged, dirty clothes typical of a poor miner's boy in 19th-century Ballarat, Australia. Likely coarse, dark fabric trousers and a shirt, possibly with a waistcoat, all stained with grime and dust from the mine.
Wants: Initially, he is motivated by avoiding work and indulging in self-pity. Later, his motivation shifts to escaping his donkey form and returning to his human life, driven by penitence.
Flaw: His fatal flaw is his constant grumbling, discontentment, and ingratitude, which prevents him from appreciating kindness and opportunities.
Starts as a thoroughly unpleasant, ungrateful boy. Through a series of magical trials and a harsh transformation into a donkey, he learns the value of hard work, gratitude, and contentment, vowing to change his ways. He becomes a reformed man who teaches his children against grumbling.
Selfish, lazy, disobedient, surly, complaining, discontented, ungrateful. He is prone to sulking and grumbling.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy, around 10 years old, with a lean build and average height. His face is smudged with dirt, and he has a perpetually sulky expression with downturned lips and slightly narrowed eyes. His hair is short, dark, and practical, also dusty. He wears ragged, dark brown coarse linen trousers, a grey, patched long-sleeved shirt, and a dark, grimy waistcoat, all typical of a 19th-century Australian miner's boy. His posture is slightly hunched, conveying reluctance. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Grip ◆ supporting
A little old dwarf, small in stature, not nearly as tall as Toby. He has a plain, ugly appearance with a disproportionately large head that looks ancient. His eyes are very red and emit a fiery glow.
Attire: A suit of brown russet fabric, suggesting a rustic, earthy tone. He wears a long, pointed sugar-loaf hat, characteristic of traditional dwarf or gnome imagery.
Wants: To fulfill his role as a messenger and guide for the Australian elves, specifically to test and 'cure' mortals like Toby.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but he is bound by the directives of the three sparrows.
Remains consistent throughout the story, serving as Toby's guide and enforcer of the trials.
Brief, mocking, observant, dutiful (as a messenger), powerful, and somewhat stern.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, elderly dwarf, significantly shorter than a human child, with a plain, ugly face and a disproportionately large, ancient-looking head. His eyes are very red and glow with a fiery light. He wears a suit of rough brown russet fabric and a tall, pointed, dark brown sugar-loaf hat. He carries a simple wooden crutch staff in one hand and a small, glowing yellow lantern in the other. His posture is slightly hunched but firm. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Test ◆ supporting
A well-feathered, plump old bird, specifically a sparrow, but with an air of wisdom and authority. He wears spectacles.
Attire: Regal, well-maintained sparrow feathers, suggesting a plump and healthy bird. The spectacles are his primary 'attire' detail.
Wants: To test mortals and assess their character, specifically their propensity for grumbling.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but his method of testing relies on the mortal's internal reaction to luxury.
Remains consistent as a tester of character.
Authoritative, wise, direct, and observant. He is the first to 'test' Toby.
Image Prompt & Upload
A plump, well-feathered sparrow, with brown and grey plumage, perched upright on the back of a grand, dark wooden armchair. The sparrow wears small, round, wire-rimmed spectacles perched on its beak. Its head is slightly tilted, as if in contemplation. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Try ◆ supporting
An old and venerable sparrow, deep in the pages of a newspaper.
Attire: Regal, well-maintained sparrow feathers, suggesting a venerable and respected bird.
Wants: To provide a second chance for mortals who fail Test, offering a trial based on simple duties and kindness.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but his method of testing relies on the mortal's ability to appreciate simple kindness and fulfill basic responsibilities.
Remains consistent as a tester of character.
Venerable, observant, thoughtful, and pragmatic. He understands the commonality of human flaws.
Image Prompt & Upload
A venerable, old sparrow with brown and grey plumage, perched on a small, ornate wooden table. Its head is tilted downwards, deeply engrossed in reading a miniature, folded newspaper titled 'The Observer'. The sparrow appears thoughtful and still. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Cure ◆ supporting
The youngest of the three sparrows, sitting in regal feathers, surrounded by a guard of crows bearing torches. His castle is dark and dungeon-like.
Attire: Regal sparrow feathers, implying a majestic and powerful appearance despite being a bird.
Wants: To 'cure' mortals of their flaws through severe and transformative punishment.
Flaw: His method is harsh and offers no gentle persuasion, relying solely on shock and hardship.
Remains consistent as the enforcer of ultimate 'cures'.
Stern, decisive, unyielding, and focused on immediate, drastic solutions.
Image Prompt & Upload
A stern-looking sparrow, with dark, regal-looking feathers, perched on a dark, ornate throne. The sparrow's posture is upright and commanding. It is surrounded by several shadowy figures of crows, each holding a small, glowing torch. The background is dark and resembles a gloomy castle hall. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Toby's Uncle ○ minor
A miner, likely strong and weathered from his work in the deep mines of Ballarat. His appearance would be rugged and practical.
Attire: Typical miner's attire of 19th-century Ballarat: sturdy, dark, coarse fabric trousers, a work shirt, and possibly a heavy jacket or waistcoat, all well-worn and dirty.
Wants: To ensure Toby does his work and learns responsibility, and to maintain order in the mine.
Flaw: His patience can be tested by Toby's constant grumbling.
Remains consistent as a figure of authority and discipline.
Strict, disciplinary, hardworking, and patient (up to a point) with Toby's grumbling.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rugged adult man, with a strong, muscular build, in his 40s. His face is weathered and stern, with a thick beard and short, dark, practical hair, all smudged with mine dust. He wears sturdy, dark grey canvas trousers, a thick, dark blue work shirt, and heavy leather boots, typical of a 19th-century Australian miner. He stands with a firm, authoritative posture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Ballarat Gold Mine - Deep Drive
One of the deepest, darkest, widest, gloomiest, and most dismal caverns in the Ballarat gold mining district. It's a subterranean passage that initially seems to extend and open out, eventually taking the shape of a long railway tunnel.
Mood: Gloomy, dismal, oppressive, then suddenly mysterious and transformative.
Toby is ordered to gather blunt tools, gets thrashed by his uncle, and sulks here, encountering the dwarf for the first time.
Image Prompt & Upload
A deep, dark, and wide subterranean gold mine cavern, with rough-hewn rock walls showing veins of quartz and ore. A narrow, damp passage extends into the distance, illuminated by a faint, unnatural yellow glow emanating from a small, ancient-looking lantern held by a tiny figure. Water drips from the ceiling, creating small puddles on the uneven ground. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Land of the Three Sparrows - General Landscape
A charming country teeming with life and beauty, a landscape fairer than a child’s dream. It features soft grassy spots shaded by trees bending with ripe, golden-hued fruit, a range of hills clothed with rich verdure, and a broad lake gleaming like a burnished shield. Swans are on the lake, and birds of bright plumage are everywhere.
Mood: Idyllic, magical, bountiful, dreamlike, initially overwhelming.
Toby and the dwarf emerge from the mine into this magical land, where the dwarf explains the nature of the three sparrows and their homes.
Image Prompt & Upload
A breathtaking, idyllic Australian landscape under a bright noonday sun, with rolling verdant hills in the background. In the foreground, soft, emerald-green grassy plains are dotted with unique Australian trees like Eucalyptus and Bottle Brush, their branches laden with fantastical golden-hued fruits. A broad, shimmering lake, reflecting the clear blue sky, stretches across the midground, with elegant black swans gliding gracefully. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Test's Palace - Magnificent Apartment
A magnificent apartment with marble-topped tables inlaid with gold, loaded with choice fruits and lollies. Toby's ragged clothes are magically replaced with a gorgeous suit of crimson velvet bordered with pearls. Several servants stand at hand.
Mood: Luxurious, opulent, initially delightful, then quickly becomes a source of discomfort and frustration.
Toby is 'tested' by being granted every luxury and pleasure, which he initially enjoys but soon finds leads to illness and accidents, causing him to grumble again.
Image Prompt & Upload
An opulent, sun-drenched apartment within a grand Australian elfin palace, featuring polished marble floors and walls inlaid with intricate gold patterns. Large, low tables with smooth marble tops are laden with exotic, brightly colored fruits and an array of glistening lollies. Soft, filtered light streams through tall, arched windows, illuminating the rich textures of crimson velvet draperies and the subtle shimmer of pearl embellishments on magically appearing garments. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Try's Palace - Lonely Valley Cottage
A simple cottage located in a lonely valley, providing a comfortable and welcoming home environment. It has a well nearby from which water must be drawn daily.
Mood: Cozy, welcoming, domestic, but ultimately becomes a place of renewed grumbling for Toby.
Toby is 'tried' by being placed in a loving home where he only has one simple chore – drawing water – but he fails by grumbling again.
Image Prompt & Upload
A quaint, weathered Australian rural cottage nestled in a secluded, sun-dappled valley. The cottage is built from local timber with a corrugated iron roof, surrounded by native bushland and a small, well-tended garden. A simple wooden well with a bucket and rope stands nearby, casting a long shadow in the soft morning light. The air is clear and still, with distant hills visible through the valley mist. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Cure's Castle - Dungeon-like Abode
A gloomy, dark castle, described as being 'as dark as a dungeon'. The reception-hall is lit by torches carried by a guard of crows.
Mood: Foreboding, stern, punitive, dark, and transformative.
Toby is brought to Cure's castle for his final 'cure', where he is transformed into a donkey and forced into hard labor, leading to his genuine repentance.
Image Prompt & Upload
A foreboding, ancient castle interior, as dark and stark as a dungeon, constructed from rough-hewn, dark grey stone blocks. A vast, gloomy reception-hall is dimly illuminated by flickering torchlight, casting long, dancing shadows across the high, vaulted ceilings and thick stone pillars. Perched on ledges and standing guard are numerous large, black crows, their eyes glinting in the torch glow. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
