TIMID AGNES
by Burton Mrs. Harrison · from The Old-Fashioned Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once there was a girl. Her name was Agnes. She was very sad. Agnes lived with The Mean Aunt. The aunt was not nice. She made Agnes work hard. Agnes was often unhappy.
One day, The Mean Aunt left. She put Agnes in the garret. Sand was on the floor. "Pick up all the sand," she said. "Finish before bedtime. Or you will be sorry." Agnes knew it was hard.
Agnes felt very sad. She started to cry. She could not see the sand. Then she heard a small noise. A blue mouse came out. It had shiny, bright eyes. The mouse looked at Agnes. It began to talk.
Agnes was very scared. She did not like mice. She jumped onto a tall box. "Oh, no!" she cried. "Go away, mouse!" The mouse had a tail. Agnes did not like its tail. She did not want its help.
The Blue Mouse wanted to help. "I can show a secret," it said. "Put me in your pocket. Then you will see." Agnes was still scared. She stayed on the tall box. She did not move.
Agnes said no to the mouse. The mouse did not wait. It whisked its tail. All the sand flew back. It went into the barrel. The floor was clean. Then the mouse left. Agnes was alone.
The Mean Aunt came home. She saw the clean floor. She was very, very angry. "Agnes must go!" she said. "I do not want her here." The aunt had a bad plan.
The aunt took Agnes. She put Agnes in a big box. It was an old wedding chest. The box was very dark. Agnes was all alone. She felt very scared inside. She wanted to get out.
Agnes heard a small noise. It was the Blue Mouse! The mouse made a hole. It made a way out. Agnes felt a little hope. The mouse was helping her. She was not alone now.
The mouse spoke to Agnes. "Put me in your pocket," it said. Agnes was still scared. But she needed help. She was brave this time. "Yes," Agnes said. She put the mouse in her pocket.
The bottom of the box opened. Agnes fell down. She landed softly. She was in a beautiful garden! Flowers grew everywhere. The sun was warm. Agnes felt very happy.
A kind man walked to Agnes. He wore blue clothes. "I was the Blue Mouse," he said. A bad spell made him a mouse. Only a kind girl could break it. Agnes was that kind girl.
Agnes was happy she was brave. She took The Prince's hand. They got married. They lived in a big palace. Agnes was happy forever. She learned to be brave and kind. This made her life wonderful.
Original Story
TIMID AGNES.
ONCE there lived a poor girl whose wicked aunt treated her very cruelly. One morning, the aunt set out for a day of shopping and visiting to the neighboring town, after whipping her niece soundly (as she was in the habit of doing for exercise, every morning), and shutting up the poor girl in the garret, where a barrel of white sand had been spilt upon the floor.
"Pick up every grain of this sand before bedtime, or I will imprison you in the dark closet for a week," said the aunt as she went away.
The poor child cried so that she could not see the tiny particles; and as she sat, crying and picking up what she could feel, she heard a little scratching under the lid of the old wedding-chest in the corner. Presently, a pretty blue mouse with topaz eyes ran down the side of the chest, and came up to her. Now, if there was anything poor Agnes feared more than death, it was a mouse. The very sight of one had always made her shudder and scream and clutch at her petticoats, and climb up on chairs or tables or anything convenient.
So when she saw her visitor she gave a cry of terror, and climbed nimbly up to the top of a broken chest of drawers in the corner of the garret.
"Don't mind me," said the mouse, politely.
"I beg your pardon, but I'm so awfully afraid of you," said Agnes, shuddering to her toes. "I think I could endure you if it were not for your horrid tail! But you really make me creep all over, don't you see?"
"If you would only take that apron off your head, and exercise a little self-control," said the mouse, with a shade of impatience in its manner, "you would soon see that I am a very superior kind of a mouse. Come, Miss Agnes, I have watched you very often at your work here, and I have a great desire to be of service to you. But there is really no talking reason to a person hunched up on top of a chest of drawers with a pink apron over her head; is there, now?"
Agnes, hearing the mouse talk so pleasantly, made a desperate effort to come down from her perch and converse with the little creature.
After a while the blue mouse's eloquence proved sufficient to induce her to follow it near a crack in the wall, and to peep between the boards, as directed.
There she saw a secret room, full of beautiful things—clothes and jewels—scattered on the floor.
"All these shall be yours, fair Agnes," said the mouse, "if you will carry me in your pocket for a day."
Agnes trembled with horror so that she could hardly bring herself to say, "Thank you kindly, good Mr. Blue Mouse, but I hardly need anything new in the way of clothes, going out as little as I do. O—o—oh!" she exclaimed, catching her breath, as the mouse seemed to scuttle toward her.
"Do not fear! I am entirely too proud to obtrude my company where it is so little desired. Farewell, Miss Agnes; I leave you. But before I go, allow me to arrange this little difficulty for you."
The gallant little mouse whisked his tail (that hateful tail!), twice over the pile of sand, and at once, every grain of the shining heap, and all that lay scattered over the garret floor, flew back into the barrel.
"Thank you, kind Mr. Blue Mouse," cried the grateful Agnes; but no answer came. Her benefactor was nowhere to be seen. She looked in vain for the crack in the wall he had led her to; it was no longer in view.
When the wicked aunt found that Agnes had completed her task, she flew into a violent rage, and determined to rid herself forever of the girl. So, taking her again into the garret, she bound her hand-and-foot, tied a handkerchief across her mouth to still her cries, and, opening the old wedding-chest in the corner, thrust poor Agnes bodily into it, closing the lid with a vicious bang, and locking it with the great iron key.
Shutting Agnes into the Chest.
"Lie there till doomsday, you tiresome thing!" said the wicked aunt, going down-stairs to eat her supper.
Poor Agnes thought she must soon die of suffocation, but just then she heard a scratching noise; four little feet scuttled over her face, and a long smooth tail whisked by her ear.
"Ugh!" groaned poor Agnes. "It's a mouse shut up here with me! Oh! why didn't she kill me, outright?"
Then little teeth began gnawing at her bandages and at the ropes that bound her, and in a few moments she was free.
"I am here, Miss Agnes; though, indeed, I won't touch you again!" said the familiar voice of the Blue Mouse. "But if you would only trust me, and carry me in your pocket, how much I could do for you!"
At last Agnes consented to grant his wish and, trembling in every limb, she let the mouse run into her pocket. Without a moment's delay, the bottom of the chest gave way, and Agnes felt herself sinking, sinking. When she recovered her wits, which in that moment of terror seemed fairly to forsake her, there she was in a beautiful garden, filled with ladies and gentlemen walking two and two in a grand procession along a bowery path strewn with roses and carnations. Fountains played in the sunshine, birds sang on the boughs. It was a scene so gay and beautiful, that Agnes clapped her hands for joy.
"How happy I am here!" she cried.
"And happy you shall always be here," said a voice behind her.
Agnes, turning, saw a young gentleman dressed in a blue court costume with topaz buttons, and wearing in his cap a long smooth plume of blue, caught by a brilliant brooch of the same gems.
He explained to her that he was none other than the mouse she had so much feared. Condemned from childhood to remain a mouse until some fair maiden should, of her own free will, allow him to run into her pocket, the unfortunate prince had only now been released from his long imprisonment. This garden belonged to his own palace, and the ladies and gentlemen coming to meet him were his friends and courtiers.
Agnes, shedding tears of penitence over the blindness of her former prejudice, bestowed her hand upon the prince, and was happy evermore.
Story DNA
Moral
Overcoming one's fears and prejudices can lead to unexpected rewards and happiness.
Plot Summary
Timid Agnes is cruelly treated by her aunt, who gives her an impossible task of cleaning spilled sand. A talking blue mouse offers help, but Agnes's intense fear prevents her from accepting. The mouse magically cleans the sand anyway, but the enraged aunt then locks Agnes in a chest to die. The blue mouse reappears, frees Agnes, and this time, out of desperation, she allows him into her pocket. They are transported to a beautiful garden where the mouse reveals himself to be a prince, freed from a curse by Agnes's act of courage, and they marry and live happily ever after.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Burton Mrs. Harrison was an American author, and this story reflects common Victorian-era fairy tale tropes and moral lessons.
Plot Beats (13)
- Agnes is cruelly treated by her wicked aunt, who regularly whips her.
- The aunt locks Agnes in the garret with a barrel of spilled sand, ordering her to pick up every grain by bedtime or face punishment.
- Agnes cries, overwhelmed by the task, when a polite, talking blue mouse with topaz eyes appears from a chest.
- Agnes, terrified of mice, climbs onto a chest of drawers, refusing the mouse's offer of help because of his tail.
- The mouse, though initially impatient, offers Agnes a glimpse into a secret room full of treasures if she carries him in her pocket.
- Agnes, still too afraid, declines the offer, but the mouse, before leaving, magically makes all the sand fly back into the barrel.
- The wicked aunt, finding the task completed, is furious and decides to get rid of Agnes permanently.
- The aunt binds Agnes, gags her, and locks her inside the old wedding chest to suffocate.
- Inside the chest, Agnes hears scratching and realizes the blue mouse is with her, gnawing at her bonds to free her.
- The mouse again asks Agnes to carry him in her pocket, and this time, out of sheer terror and desperation, she agrees.
- The bottom of the chest gives way, and Agnes finds herself in a beautiful, joyful garden.
- A young gentleman in blue court attire approaches, revealing himself to be the blue mouse, a prince cursed to remain a mouse until a maiden willingly carried him.
- Agnes, filled with penitence for her prejudice, accepts the prince's hand, and they marry and live happily in his palace.
Characters
Agnes ★ protagonist
Slender build, likely of average height for a young woman of the late 19th century. Her constant fear and mistreatment suggest a somewhat delicate or withdrawn demeanor, but she possesses an underlying resilience.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing. She wears a 'pink apron' over her head at one point, suggesting a basic linen or cotton dress, possibly in muted colors, and a practical apron for chores. Her clothes would be mended and plain.
Wants: To escape her cruel aunt and find safety and happiness. Initially, her motivation is simply survival and avoiding punishment.
Flaw: Her extreme timidity and phobia of mice, which initially prevents her from accepting help and seeing beyond appearances.
Transforms from a terrified, cowering girl into a confident, happy princess who overcomes her deepest fear and finds love and freedom.
Timid, fearful, easily startled, kind-hearted, grateful, initially prejudiced (against mice), but capable of overcoming her fears for a greater good.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman of slender build and average height, standing slightly hunched, facing forward. She has a pale complexion, a round face, and wide, fearful eyes. Her light brown hair is pulled back simply. She wears a plain, light grey linen dress with a simple white collar and a faded pink cotton apron tied at her waist, which she holds up to her face as if to hide. Her expression is one of extreme timidity and fear. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Wicked Aunt ⚔ antagonist
Likely a stern, imposing figure. Her cruelty suggests a harsh countenance, perhaps a gaunt or severe build from her 'exercise' of whipping. No specific details are given, but one can infer a formidable presence.
Attire: Practical, perhaps dark and severe clothing, reflecting her unfeeling nature and the period. Not necessarily rich, but well-kept and unadorned, emphasizing her harshness.
Wants: To torment Agnes, to assert her power, and eventually, to rid herself of Agnes entirely.
Flaw: Her uncontrollable rage and cruelty, which ultimately leads to her downfall (Agnes's escape and subsequent happiness).
Remains consistently wicked throughout the story, serving as the catalyst for Agnes's suffering and eventual escape. She does not change.
Cruel, wicked, abusive, tyrannical, easily enraged, unfeeling, sadistic (takes 'exercise' in whipping her niece).
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult woman of sturdy build and average height, standing rigidly, facing forward. She has a severe, angular face with thin lips and cold, dark eyes. Her dark hair is pulled back tightly into a severe bun. She wears a dark grey, high-necked dress made of sturdy wool, with long sleeves and no ornamentation. Her expression is one of stern anger and displeasure. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Blue Mouse / Prince ◆ supporting
As a mouse: a 'pretty blue mouse' with 'topaz eyes'. As a prince: a 'young gentleman' of noble bearing, dressed in a 'blue court costume'.
Attire: As a mouse: natural fur. As a prince: a 'blue court costume' with 'topaz buttons', and a 'long smooth plume of blue' in his cap, caught by a 'brilliant brooch of the same gems'. This suggests a formal, elegant attire of the late 19th century, perhaps velvet or silk, in shades of blue with golden or jeweled accents.
Wants: To break the curse that transformed him into a mouse, which requires a fair maiden to willingly carry him in her pocket. He also genuinely desires to help Agnes.
Flaw: His cursed form, which makes him appear frightening to Agnes, hindering his ability to gain her trust immediately.
Remains consistent in his helpfulness and noble character. His arc is completed when Agnes breaks his curse, transforming him back into his human form and allowing him to reclaim his life and kingdom.
Polite, eloquent, patient, gallant, proud, helpful, persistent, kind, understanding.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man of noble bearing and slender build, standing upright, facing forward. He has a handsome, oval face with kind, intelligent dark eyes and neatly styled dark hair. He wears a formal, deep blue velvet court costume with intricate gold embroidery, featuring prominent topaz buttons down the front. A long, smooth blue feather plume is tucked into his matching blue cap, secured by a brilliant topaz brooch. His expression is gentle and reassuring. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Garret
A dusty, neglected attic room in a humble cottage, with a barrel of white sand spilt across the wooden floor. An old, heavy wedding-chest sits in a corner, alongside a broken chest of drawers. Light filters in, revealing tiny dust motes.
Mood: oppressive, desolate, fearful, later magical
Agnes is imprisoned here and tasked with picking up sand; she first meets the Blue Mouse and later is trapped in the wedding-chest.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dimly lit, dusty garret room in a rustic German half-timbered cottage. Sunlight streams weakly through a small, grimy window, illuminating a large spill of fine white sand on wide, weathered wooden floorboards. In one corner, a heavy, dark oak wedding-chest with iron fittings sits next to a dilapidated, paint-peeling chest of drawers. Cobwebs hang from the exposed timber beams of the sloped ceiling. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Secret Room within the Wall
A hidden chamber, glimpsed through a crack in the garret wall, filled with an abundance of beautiful clothes and sparkling jewels scattered on the floor.
Mood: mysterious, alluring, opulent
The Blue Mouse reveals this treasure to Agnes, offering it to her.
Image Prompt & Upload
A narrow, hidden chamber, barely visible through a jagged crack in a rough-hewn timber wall. Inside, a dazzling array of silken gowns in rich jewel tones and sparkling gold and silver jewelry are strewn across a polished wooden floor. Soft, ethereal light emanates from an unseen source, making the gems glitter. The space feels ancient and untouched. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Prince's Palace Garden
A magnificent, sun-drenched garden belonging to a prince's palace, featuring a 'bowery path' strewn with roses and carnations. Fountains play gracefully, and birds sing from lush boughs. Ladies and gentlemen in elegant attire walk in a grand procession.
Mood: joyful, beautiful, grand, romantic
Agnes is transported here after being freed from the chest, and the Blue Mouse reveals himself as the Prince.
Image Prompt & Upload
A breathtaking formal garden of a grand European palace, possibly French or Italian Baroque style, bathed in warm afternoon sunlight. Ornate stone fountains with cascading water shimmer in the light. A wide, gravel 'bowery path' is meticulously lined with blooming rose bushes and vibrant carnations, leading towards distant, classical palace architecture. Elegant ladies and gentlemen in 18th-century court attire stroll leisurely. Lush, manicured trees and flowering shrubs create a sense of depth and beauty. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
