The Magic Seeds
by David Cory · from The Iceberg Express
Adapted Version
Mary Louise was on a walk. She saw a small Dwarf. He was pulling a big flower. He shook the tall plant. Black seeds fell into his basket.
Mary Louise said, "Hello!" She offered help. Dwarf ran. Mary Louise caught his coat. "Do not be afraid," she said.
The Dwarf stopped running. He put down his seed basket. He gave Mary Louise some seeds. "These seeds are very good," he said. Mary Louise smiled. She said good-bye.
Mary Louise walked on. She saw a small hut. An Old Woman opened the door. "How do you do?" she asked. Her husband looked for seeds. Mary Louise had seeds.
Mary Louise gave her two seeds. The Old Woman dug small holes. She put the seeds in the ground. A yellow stalk grew very fast. It grew taller than the door. It grew taller than the roof. It went up to the sky.
Mary Louise climbed the tall stalk. She saw a big meadow. Many happy flowers were there. Birds sang sweet songs. Little rabbits hopped around. Lambs ate green grass. It was a strange, happy place.
Mary Louise looked down. She forgot her boots. Her boots were at the hut. She had no shoes now. She walked on soft grass. She walked with bare feet.
She came to a shoe shop. She asked for red boots. The shoe man found a box. Inside were red, tall boots. They fit Mary Louise well. She had money to pay. She was very happy.
Mary Louise heard happy sounds. It was a pretty fountain. She followed the water. It went to the big seashore. A mermaid sat on sand. She looked very scared. She lost her pearl comb.
Mary Louise picked up the comb. She gave it to the mermaid. "Do not be afraid," she said. The mermaid swam away fast. She went to her island home.
Mary Louise felt a bit sad. She dug her feet in sand. A big, grumpy Crab King came. He grabbed her sleeve tight. He tore her sleeve. Mary Louise was not happy.
Mary Louise was brave. She took out her small pin. She poked the Crab King. He felt a little tickle. The Crab King cried out. He begged her to stop. "Oh, please stop!" he said.
The Crab King cried more. "I will give you pearls!" he said. Mary Louise took out the pin. The Crab King dug in sand. He found two shiny pearls. He gave them to her.
Mary Louise still felt cross. "My sleeve is torn," she said. The Crab King went away. He came back with a gift. It was a pretty green coat. It felt like soft silk.
The Crab King crawled away. He went to rest his claw. Mary Louise put on the coat. She had pearls and new boots. Her trip went on. She was happy.
Original Story
The Magic Seeds
Little Mary Louise placed the ring upon her finger and then bidding the Prince good-by turned her steps as she thought, towards home. But she had gone but a short way when she came to a funny little dwarf tugging at a great sunflower, and every once in a while he'd shake the stalk until down would come a shower of black seeds, which he put in a small basket.
"Hello," cried Mary Louise, "don't you want me to help you?"
When the little dwarf heard her voice, he started to run away, but Mary Louise caught him by the tail of his coat.
"Don't be afraid of me, little dwarf, I won't harm you."
So the dwarf set down his basket of seeds, and after he had straightened his coat, for it was half off his back, he said:
"I'll give you some of the seeds. They are very wonderful seeds."
Then little Mary Louise said good-by and by and by she came to a poor woodcutter's hut. In answer to her knock an old woman opened the door.
"How do you do!" she said with a bow, and then she told Mary Louise that her husband had just gone to the village for sunflower seeds. Wasn't that strange? It made Mary Louise laugh and taking from her pocket a handful she showed them to the old lady.
"My husband may not find any," she said. "Will you give me two that I may plant them on each side of our front door?" Then digging a hole in the ground on each side of the step she planted the seeds. And, would you believe it? all of a sudden a yellow stalk sprung up, and pretty soon it was as high as the door and then it was higher than the roof and before long it reached way up into the sky, so far and so high that you couldn't see the top.
"Goodness gracious me!" exclaimed the old woman. "What kind of seeds are these?"
"I'll climb up and see," and up the stalk went little Mary Louise. Bigger and bigger it grew until finally it spread out altogether into a great big meadow covered with sunflowers.
Everywhere the birds were singing and little rabbits hopping about, and nearby a flock of lambs nibbling the fresh green grass.
"Oh my!" exclaimed little Mary Louise, "this is strange, very strange!"
When, all of a sudden, one of the sunflowers began to sing:
"I love the sun in the big blue sky,
As he rolls along his pathway high,
Through the clouds and over the blue
While he brightly shines on me and you.
There's no one else that I love so much
As the golden sun with his soft warm touch."
And then all the sunflowers joined in the chorus:
"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful sun,
We turn and follow you as you run
Over the soft and azure sky;
Beautiful sun with your golden eye."
When the song was finished, little Mary Louise went on her way, and it was very lucky for her that the grass was soft, for she wore no boots, which I forgot to mention she had left a the foot of the big giant sunflower by the side of the poor woodman's hut.
Well, by and by, she came to a little shoemaker's shop, where the shoemaker sat just outside the door.
"Have you a pair of red top boots?" she asked. And would you believe it? That shoemaker got up and walked inside his shop and took down a box from the top shelf, and there inside was a beautiful pair of red top boots, which fitted as if they had been made for her. Well wasn't that the luckiest thing that could have happened?
But perhaps it was just as lucky that she found money enough in her pocket to pay for them.
Pretty soon, not so very far, she came to a fountain where all day long the water played a soft little song:
"Over the pebbles and over the sand
I run till I reach the sea-shore land,
Where the pink shells sing and the big waves roar,
And the mermaids comb their hair on the shore."
"I think I'll follow this pretty book," said Mary Louise, "and maybe it will take me home."
She ran along its mossy banks until she came to the seashore. Right there on the soft warm sand sat a mermaid combing her long hair.
With a glad cry Mary Louise ran towards her. But it wasn't her friend the Mermaid Princess. No, she was a strange little mermaid, who gave a frightful scream and with a flop of her graceful tail, glided into the water. Just as she was about to dive down out of sight, she saw her pretty pearl comb on the beach.
"Don't be afraid of me," said Mary Louise, picking it up and leaning over the water. "I know your Princess Mermaid—daughter of King Seaphus," and she handed the little mermaid the pearly comb, who then swam away to her island of coral and pearl.
"Heigh ho," sighed little Mary Louise, "here I am by the sad sea waves with nobody to talk to," and as she had nothing to do, she dug a hole in the sand and thrusting in both her feet, covered them up. All of a sudden a tremendous crab crawled up and before she could run away, fastened his great claw in her sleeve.
"Oh I am king of the blue sea crabs,
And king of the sandy shore,
And I can fight as well as bite
With my big tre-men-dous claw.
Oh, I can pinch as well as a clam,
I'm king of all pinchers, you bet I am."
Now little Mary Louise was a brave girl, and unclasping her breastpin, she stuck the point right in the wrist of the Crab King's claw, after which he began to sing a different kind of song, and the tears came out of his eyes, and pretty soon he begged to be let alone.
"I'll give you the most beautiful pearl in all the world," he said, but Mary Louise only laughed and pointed to her torn sleeve:
"That won't mend my sleeve, King Crab. What right had you to tear it?"
"Oh, please take the pin out of my elbow," begged the tearful Crab King, so frightened that he couldn't tell whether it was his wrist or his elbow that Mary Louise was pricking. "I'll give you two pearls. Oh, please pull out your pin."
As soon as she had put away her breastpin, the Crab King started to dig in the sand and pretty soon he brought up two lovely pearls.
"But what am I to do with my torn sleeve?" asked Mary Louise, for she was still angry with that disagreeable old crab.
Without answering, the King of the Crabs crawled off into the tall sea grass and in a few minutes came back with a little package done up in sea weed, and after he had unwrapped it, what do you suppose Mary Louise saw? Why, a beautiful pale sea green coat made of sea silk. It was very beautiful and looked just like the shimmery green of the waves.
"Here is a coat of the great Crab King,
It's finer than silk or anything,
For none but a merman has ever worn
A coat so beautifully shimmery shorn,"
cried the King Crab, handing it to Mary Louise. Then he crawled away, for he wised to have the doctor see his wounded elbow, I imagine.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
After leaving a Prince, Mary Louise encounters a dwarf who gives her magical sunflower seeds. She shares them with a poor old woman, leading to a giant stalk that takes her to a magical meadow. Continuing her journey, she finds perfect red boots and helps a mermaid. She then faces a crab king who tears her sleeve, but she bravely outsmarts him, earning pearls and a magical sea-silk coat, continuing her whimsical adventure.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to wonder to mild annoyance to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
David Cory was an American author known for children's books in the early 20th century, often featuring whimsical adventures.
Plot Beats (15)
- Mary Louise, after bidding a Prince good-bye, encounters a dwarf struggling with a giant sunflower.
- She offers to help the dwarf, who initially tries to run away but is caught.
- The dwarf, grateful for her kindness, gives Mary Louise some 'very wonderful' black seeds.
- Mary Louise comes across a poor woodcutter's hut where an old woman laments her husband's search for sunflower seeds.
- Mary Louise gives the old woman two of her magic seeds, which are planted and immediately grow into an enormous stalk reaching into the sky.
- Mary Louise climbs the stalk and finds herself in a vast meadow filled with singing sunflowers and other animals.
- She realizes she left her boots at the foot of the stalk and continues her journey barefoot.
- She arrives at a shoemaker's shop and miraculously finds a perfect pair of red top boots, with enough money to pay for them.
- Mary Louise follows a singing fountain to the seashore, where she encounters a frightened mermaid who has lost her pearl comb.
- Mary Louise returns the comb to the mermaid, who then swims away.
- Feeling lonely, Mary Louise digs her feet into the sand, only to be attacked by a tremendous Crab King who tears her sleeve.
- Mary Louise bravely uses her breastpin to prick the Crab King, making him cry and beg for mercy.
- The Crab King offers two beautiful pearls as a bribe, which Mary Louise accepts after removing the pin.
- Still upset about her torn sleeve, Mary Louise is then given a beautiful pale sea-green coat made of sea silk by the Crab King as a final offering.
- The Crab King crawls away to tend to his wound, and Mary Louise continues her journey with her new magical possessions.
Characters
Mary Louise
Small and agile, capable of climbing a giant sunflower stalk. Her exact height and build are not specified, but she is described as 'little'. She has fair skin, as indicated by her rosy cheeks in other stories by the same author, and a generally pleasant demeanor.
Attire: Initially wears an unspecified dress. Later acquires a beautiful pale sea-green coat made of sea silk, which shimmers like waves. She also obtains a pair of red-top boots. Her initial attire is simple enough that she is without boots for a time.
Wants: To return home, to explore, and to help others. She is driven by curiosity and a sense of adventure.
Flaw: Can be a bit naive, as shown by her initial trust in the dwarf and her surprise at the crab's aggression. She also forgets her boots.
She begins her journey towards home, but through her adventures, she gains new items (magic seeds, red boots, sea-silk coat, pearls) and experiences, demonstrating her bravery and resourcefulness.
Brave, curious, kind, resourceful, and a little bit sassy. She is not easily frightened and stands up for herself.
The Dwarf
A funny little dwarf, small in stature, with a coat that is half off his back, suggesting a somewhat disheveled appearance from his work. He is strong enough to tug at a great sunflower stalk.
Attire: A coat, which is half off his back, implying simple, functional clothing for working outdoors. The color and fabric are not specified, but would be earthy tones, possibly wool or coarse linen.
Wants: To collect sunflower seeds. He seems to be a guardian or harvester of these magical seeds.
Flaw: Fearful, easily startled.
Does not have a significant arc, serves as a catalyst for Mary Louise's journey by providing the magic seeds.
Shy, easily frightened, but also generous (offering the wonderful seeds).
The Old Woman
An old woman living in a poor woodcutter's hut. Her physical description is not detailed, but her circumstances suggest a life of hardship. She is likely frail but still capable of digging holes for seeds.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing, likely made of coarse linen or wool in muted, practical colors. Perhaps a plain apron over a long dress.
Wants: To provide for her family, specifically to get sunflower seeds for her husband.
Flaw: Her poverty and reliance on her husband for provisions.
Witnesses the magic of the seeds, but her personal arc is not explored. She serves to highlight the seeds' power.
Polite, grateful, and easily astonished by magic.
The Crab King
A tremendous crab, much larger than a normal crab, with a great claw capable of fastening onto a sleeve. He is described as 'disagreeable old crab'. His shell would be a deep blue, reflecting his title as 'king of the blue sea crabs'.
Attire: None, as he is a crab, but he later provides a 'coat of the great Crab King'.
Wants: To assert his dominance, to pinch and fight, and later, to be free from pain.
Flaw: Vulnerable to pain, easily intimidated once injured.
Begins as an aggressive antagonist, but is subdued by Mary Louise and forced to become a reluctant benefactor, giving her pearls and a magical coat.
Boastful, aggressive, easily frightened when hurt, and ultimately generous (under duress).
Locations
Woodcutter's Hut
A humble, poor woodcutter's hut, likely a simple timber structure with a front door and a step. The ground immediately outside is suitable for planting.
Mood: Humble, welcoming, then magical and wondrous
Mary Louise gives magic seeds to an old woman, leading to the instantaneous growth of a colossal sunflower stalk.
Sky Meadow of Sunflowers
A vast, expansive meadow located high in the sky, completely covered with countless large, vibrant sunflowers. The air is filled with bird song, and small animals like rabbits and lambs roam freely.
Mood: Magical, joyful, serene, wondrous
Mary Louise discovers this magical realm at the top of the giant sunflower stalk, where the sunflowers sing.
Seashore
A soft, warm sandy beach at the edge of the sea, with pebbles and mossy banks leading to it. The water is home to mermaids and crabs, and the air carries the sound of waves.
Mood: Initially peaceful, then slightly perilous and adventurous
Mary Louise follows a stream to the sea, encounters a mermaid and a talking crab, and receives a magical sea-silk coat.