THE TOBACCO FAIRY from THE BLUE HILLS
by Cyrus MacMillan · from Canadian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
A kind old man lived by a lake. He lived with his wife and two children. They were very happy. Then, his people went away. Elder felt very, very sad. He was very alone.
Elder chose to be kind. He helped his friends. He helped other people. This made him feel a little better. People called him Elder. They loved him very much. But he still felt alone inside.
One day, Elder sat by the lake. Big, dark birds flew from far away. They came from blue hills. One bird fell down. It was hurt. It lay on the ground.
Other people were scared. They told Elder to stop. But Elder was brave. He wanted to help the bird. He walked to the hurt bird.
Elder came very close. A bright light came down. The bird went away. It was gone. A warm, glowing stone was there. It lay on the ground.
The warm, glowing stone changed. It became a tiny, tiny person. This person was very small. No bigger than Elder's thumb. "Hello, Elder," it said. It was a Tiny Friend.
The Tiny Friend came from far away. He came from the Blue Hills. He had a special gift. It was for Elder. Elder was very kind. He at times felt alone.
The Tiny Friend gave Elder seeds. They were tiny, tiny seeds. "Plant them now," he said. "Put them in the warm ground." He did this.
Wow! The seeds grew very fast. Soon, many green leaves grew. It was a special plant. The plant grew very big.
The Tiny Friend gave Elder a pipe. It was a special pipe. "Use this special plant," he said. "Put it in the pipe." "It will help you feel calm." "You will think of happy times." "You will not feel so alone."
"Show other kind old men," he said. "Show them the special plant too." He listened well.
Then, the Tiny Friend waved goodbye. He went back to the Blue Hills. He was never seen again. He went far, far away.
Elder felt happy and calm. He used his special pipe. He used the special plant. He thought of all the good things. This special plant came to his people. He was not so alone now.
Original Story
THE TOBACCO FAIRY FROM THE BLUE HILLS
A man and his wife and two little children were living long ago on the shores of a lake surrounded by large trees, deep in the Canadian forest. They lived very happily together, and as game was plentiful, they wanted for nothing. As the children grew up they became each day more beautiful and gentle, until the old women of the tribe said, "They are too good and lovely for this world; their home is surely elsewhere in the West." Before they grew to maturity a cruel plague spread over the land and carried them off with its ravages. Their mother was the next to go, slowly growing weaker, and wasting away before the eyes of her husband, who was powerless to save her.
The man was now left all alone upon the earth. The joy of his life had gone with his wife and children, and he went about in great loneliness and sorrow. Life was long to him and dreary, and often he wished that he too was dead. But at last he roused himself and said, "I will go about doing good. I will spend my life helping others, and perhaps in that way I can find peace." So he worked hard and did all the good he could for the weaker and the poorer people of his tribe. He was held in high esteem by all the people of the village, and in their affection for him they all called him "Grandfather." He grew to be very old, and because of his good deeds he found great happiness. But he was still very solitary, and the days and evenings were long and lonely, and as he grew older and his work grew less, he found it hard to pass away the time, for he could only sit alone and dream of his vanished youth and of his absent friends.
One day he sat thinking by the lake. Many people of the village were around him, but as usual he sat alone. Suddenly a large flock of birds, looking like great black clouds, came flying from the blue hills in the distance toward the shore of the lake. They wheeled and circled about, and hovered long over the trees, uttering strange cries. The people had never before seen such large birds, and they were much afraid and said, "They are not ordinary creatures. They foreshadow some strange happening." Suddenly one of the birds fluttered for an instant and fell slowly to the earth with an arrow in its breast. No one in the village had shot at the flock, and where the arrow had come from no man knew. The mystery frightened the people still more, and they looked to the old man for counsel, for they knew that he was very wise.
The fallen bird lay fluttering on the ground, seemingly in pain. The other birds circled about it for a short time, uttering loud cries. Then they screamed and called to each other and flew back to the distant blue hills, leaving the fallen bird behind them with the arrow sticking in its breast. The old man was not frightened by the sight. He said, "I will go to the stricken bird; perhaps I can heal its wound." But the people, in great fear, said, "Do not go, Grandfather, the bird will do you harm." But the old man answered, "It can do no harm to me. My work is ended and my life is almost done. My sky is dark, for I am full of sorrow, and with me it is already the twilight of time. I am alone in the world, for my kindred have gone. I am not afraid of death, for to me it would be very welcome. What matters it if I should die?" And he went to the stricken bird to see if he could help it.
As he went along, his path suddenly grew dark, but as he drew nearer, a bright flame suddenly swept down from the sky to the place where the bird was lying. There was a flash of fire, and when the old man looked he saw that the bird had been completely burned up. When he came to where it had lain, nothing but black ashes remained. He stirred up the ashes with his stick, and lying in the centre he found a large living coal of fire. As he looked at it, in a twinkling it disappeared, and in its place was a strange little figure like a little man, no bigger than his thumb. "Hello, Grandfather," it called, "do not strike me, for I have been sent to help you."
SUDDENLY A LARGE FLOCK OF BIRDS, LOOKING LIKE GREAT BLACK CLOUDS, CAME FLYING FROM THE BLUE HILLS
"Who are you?" asked the old man.
"I am one of the Little People from the distant blue hills," said the tiny boy. Then the old man knew that the little fellow was one of the strange fairy people of the mountains, of whom he had often heard. "What do you want?" he asked.
"I have been sent to you with a precious gift," answered the little man. The old man wondered greatly, but he said nothing.
Then the fairy from the blue hills said, "You are old and lonely. You have done many noble deeds, and you have always gone about bringing good to others. In that way you have found peace. And because of your good life, I have been sent to bring you more contentment. Your work is done, but your life is not yet ended, and you have still a long time to dwell upon the earth. You must live out your mortal course. You are longing always for your dead wife and children, and you are often thinking of your youth, and with you the days are long and time hangs heavy. But I have been sent to you with a gift that will help you to pass the time more pleasantly."
Then the little man gave him a number of small seeds and said, "Plant these at once, here, in the ashes from which I have just risen." The old man did as he was told. At once the seeds sprouted and great leaves grew from them, and soon the place where the bird had been burned up became a large field of Tobacco.
The fairy then gave him a large pipe and said, "Dry these leaves and place them in this pipe and smoke them. You will have great contentment, and when you have nothing to do it will help you to pass the time away, and when no one is with you it will be a companion. And it will bring you many dreams of the future and of the past. And when the smoke curls upwards it will have for you many visions of those you loved, and you will see their faces in the smoke as you sit alone in the twilight."
The old man was very thankful for the fairy's gift. But the little man said, "Teach other old men how to use it, so that they, too, may possess it and enjoy it."
Then the fairy quickly disappeared, going towards the distant blue hills, and he was never seen in the village again. And with his pipe and his tobacco the old man went back to his dreaming, with more contentment than before. In this way Tobacco was brought to the Indians in the old days.
Story DNA
Moral
Even in profound sorrow, a life dedicated to helping others can lead to peace and unexpected comfort.
Plot Summary
An old man, devastated by the loss of his family to a plague, dedicates his life to helping others, finding some peace but remaining deeply solitary. One day, a mysterious bird falls from the sky, and the old man, unafraid of death, approaches it. The bird is consumed by fire, and from its ashes emerges a tiny fairy who, recognizing the old man's good deeds and loneliness, gifts him tobacco seeds and a pipe. The fairy explains that smoking tobacco will bring contentment, pass the time, and offer visions of his loved ones. The old man finds solace in this gift and shares it, thus introducing tobacco to his people.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Cyrus MacMillan was a Canadian folklorist who collected many tales from Indigenous peoples, particularly in Eastern Canada. This story reflects an Indigenous origin myth for tobacco, often seen as a sacred plant used in ceremonies and for spiritual connection.
Plot Beats (13)
- A man, his wife, and two children live happily by a lake until a plague takes his children and then his wife, leaving him utterly alone and sorrowful.
- The man decides to dedicate his life to helping others, earning the respect and affection of his tribe, who call him "Grandfather," and finding some happiness, but still feeling solitary.
- One day, while sitting by the lake, a large, mysterious flock of black birds flies from the blue hills, and one falls to the ground with an arrow in its breast.
- The villagers are frightened and warn the old man not to approach the bird, but he, unafraid of death, goes to investigate.
- As he approaches, a bright flame descends, burning the bird to ashes, leaving behind a living coal of fire.
- The coal transforms into a tiny fairy, no bigger than a thumb, who greets the old man.
- The fairy reveals he is from the Blue Hills and has been sent with a gift for the old man due to his good deeds and loneliness.
- The fairy gives the old man small seeds and instructs him to plant them in the ashes.
- The seeds immediately sprout into a field of tobacco leaves.
- The fairy then gives the old man a pipe and explains that drying and smoking the leaves will bring contentment, pass the time, serve as a companion, and provide visions of his loved ones.
- The fairy instructs the old man to teach other old men how to use tobacco.
- The fairy disappears back to the blue hills, never to be seen again.
- The old man finds great contentment with his pipe and tobacco, dreaming of his past, and thus tobacco is brought to the Indigenous people.
Characters
The Old Man (Grandfather) ★ protagonist
A very old man, likely of Indigenous Canadian descent, with a weathered face and body from a lifetime spent in the forest. His build is probably lean from age and hard work, but not frail. His skin would be tanned and lined.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing made from natural materials suitable for the Canadian forest environment. This would likely include buckskin leggings and a tunic, possibly adorned with simple beadwork or quillwork. He might wear moccasins on his feet. The colors would be earthy tones like browns, greys, and muted greens.
Wants: Initially driven by profound grief and a wish for death after losing his family. Later, his motivation shifts to finding peace and purpose by doing good for others. Ultimately, he seeks contentment and a way to cope with his loneliness and memories.
Flaw: His overwhelming sorrow and loneliness, which make life feel long and dreary. He is prone to dwelling on the past.
Transforms from a man consumed by sorrow and wishing for death into a respected elder who finds peace and contentment through service and, finally, through the gift of tobacco, which helps him to reconcile with his loneliness and memories.
Grief-stricken, benevolent, wise, resilient, solitary, contemplative.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly Indigenous Canadian man standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a deeply lined, weathered face with kind, dark eyes and a prominent nose. His long, grey hair is tied back with a leather thong. He wears a buckskin tunic with simple quillwork at the collar, buckskin leggings, and soft leather moccasins. He holds a sturdy wooden walking stick in his left hand and a large, intricately carved wooden pipe in his right. His expression is wise and contemplative. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Tobacco Fairy (Little Man) ◆ supporting
A tiny figure, no bigger than a thumb, with a human-like form. He emanates a bright, fiery glow upon appearance, suggesting an ethereal or elemental nature.
Attire: No specific clothing is mentioned, implying he might appear in a natural, ethereal form, perhaps with a shimmering or glowing quality that serves as his 'attire'. If clothing is inferred, it would be simple and natural, like tiny leaves or bark, but the text suggests a more elemental appearance.
Wants: Sent by a higher power (implied by 'Little People from the distant blue hills') to bring contentment and a valuable gift to the Old Man as a reward for his good deeds.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; as a magical being, he seems to operate with purpose and power.
Serves as a catalyst for the Old Man's final transformation, delivering the gift of tobacco and then disappearing, fulfilling his purpose.
Benevolent, purposeful, wise, direct, magical.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tiny, ethereal male figure, no bigger than a thumb, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a youthful, miniature face with bright, sparkling eyes and a faint, warm glow to his skin. He appears to be formed of light or shimmering energy, with no distinct clothing, but a subtle, leaf-like texture might be implied. He holds a few tiny, dark seeds in his open palm. His expression is serene and wise. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Lakeside Dwelling in the Canadian Forest
A home situated on the shores of a lake, surrounded by large, dense trees deep within the Canadian forest. The area is rich with game.
Mood: Initially happy and abundant, later becoming solitary and sorrowful after loss.
The man's initial happy family life, and later his solitary existence after his family's passing.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tranquil Canadian lake shore at dawn, with mist rising gently from the calm water. Towering pine and spruce trees with dark green needles line the distant banks, their reflections shimmering on the surface. The foreground features a small, simple log cabin nestled amongst the trees, smoke curling from its stone chimney. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Village Gathering by the Lake
An open area by the lake shore where the people of the tribe gather. It's a place for community interaction, but also where the old man often sits alone.
Mood: Initially communal but with an undercurrent of the old man's loneliness, shifting to fear and mystery with the arrival of the strange birds.
The arrival of the mysterious flock of birds and the subsequent falling of the arrow-stricken bird, leading to the old man's fateful encounter.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide view of a tranquil lake, its surface reflecting a clear afternoon sky. On the near shore, a small gathering of Indigenous people, dressed in traditional attire, are looking towards the distant, hazy blue hills. The ground is a mix of packed earth and sparse grasses, with a few scattered smooth river stones. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Site of the Fallen Bird / Tobacco Field
The specific spot on the ground where the mysterious bird fell. It transforms from a site of ashes to a rapidly growing field of tobacco leaves.
Mood: Mysterious and transformative, leading to a sense of wonder and contentment.
The magical appearance of the Tobacco Fairy, the planting of the tobacco seeds, and the instant growth of the tobacco field, marking the origin of tobacco.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, cleared patch of earth on the edge of a forest, illuminated by a soft, ethereal glow. In the center, dark ashes are visible, from which vibrant green tobacco plants with large, broad leaves are rapidly sprouting and growing, almost magically. The surrounding forest floor is covered in fallen leaves and pine needles, with dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
