THE FAIRY WHO JUDGED HER NEIGHBORS
by Jean Ingelow · from Wonder-Box Tales
Adapted Version
Once, a little fairy lived in a meadow. She often said mean things about others. Her mother saw this. "Go travel," her mother said. "Be kind to others." The fairy kissed her mother. Then she flew away.
The fairy made new shoes from yellow flowers. She flew over a green field. She saw a sad lark. The lark sat on a big rock. "Why are you sad?" she asked. The lark had long claws. "My claws are ugly," he said. "No one will like me."
The fairy looked at his claws. "They look bad," she said. "You must be mean." She did not help him. She flew away.
A kind grasshopper came. He hopped near the lark. "Do not be sad," he said. "Sing a song. I will tell others you are nice."
The lark sang a sweet song. His song was very pretty. A brown lark heard it. She liked his song. She came to see him.
The lark and the brown lark became friends. They built a nest together. They were happy. They had three eggs.
The fairy traveled more. She still thought bad things about others. She came back to the meadow.
She saw the grasshopper. "That lark is still mean," she said. "His claws are for fighting."
"Come see his eggs," said the grasshopper. They went to the nest. The mother lark was sad.
"The grass will be cut," she said. "Our eggs are in danger."
The lark looked at his claws. He had an idea. "I can carry the eggs," he thought. "My claws can help."
He took the eggs one by one. He was very careful. He put them in a safe place. The eggs were safe.
The fairy saw this. She felt very bad. "I was wrong," she said. "I should not judge by looks." She learned this. She promised to be kind. The end.
Original Story
THE FAIRY WHO JUDGED HER NEIGHBORS
There was once a Fairy who was a good Fairy, on the whole, but she had one very bad habit; she was too fond of finding fault with other people, and of taking for granted that everything must be wrong if it did not appear right to her.
One day, when she had been talking very unkindly of some friends of hers, her mother said to her: "My child, I think if you knew a little more of the world, you would become more charitable. I would therefore advise you to set out on your travels; you will find plenty of food, for the cowslips are now in bloom, and they contain excellent honey. I need not be anxious about your lodging, for there is no place more delightful for sleeping in than an empty robin's nest when the young have flown. And if you want a new gown, you can sew two tulip leaves together, which will make you a very becoming dress, and one that I should be proud to see you in."
The young Fairy was pleased at this permission to set out on her travels; so she kissed her mother, and bade good-by to her nurse, who gave her a little ball of spiders' threads to sew with, and a beautiful little box, made of the egg-shell of a wren, to keep her best thimble in, and took leave of her, wishing her safe home again.
The young Fairy then flew away till she came to a large meadow, with a clear river flowing on one side of it, and some tall oak-trees on the other. She sat down on a high branch in one of these oaks, and, after her long flight, was thinking of a nap, when, happening to look down at her little feet, she observed that her shoes were growing shabby and faded. "Quite a disgrace, I declare," said she. "I must look for another pair. Perhaps two of the smallest flowers of that snapdragon which I see growing in the hedge would fit me. I think I should like a pair of yellow slippers." So she flew down, and, after a little trouble, she found two flowers which fitted her very neatly, and she was just going to return to the oak-tree, when she heard a deep sigh beneath her, and, peeping out from her place among the hawthorn blossoms, she saw a fine young Lark sitting in the long grass, and looking the picture of misery.
"What is the matter with you, cousin?" asked the Fairy.
"Oh, I am so unhappy," replied the poor Lark; "I want to build a nest, and I have got no wife."
"Why don't you look for a wife, then?" said the Fairy, laughing at him. "Do you expect one to come and look for you? Fly up, and sing a beautiful song in the sky, and then perhaps some pretty hen will hear you; and perhaps, if you tell her that you will help her to build a capital nest, and that you will sing to her all day long, she will consent to be your wife."
"Oh, I don't like," said the Lark, "I don't like to fly up, I am so ugly. If I were a goldfinch, and had yellow bars on my wings, or a robin, and had red feathers on my breast, I should not mind the defect which now I am afraid to show. But I am only a poor brown Lark, and I know I shall never get a wife."
"I never heard of such an unreasonable bird," said the Fairy. "You cannot expect to have everything."
"Oh, but you don't know," proceeded the Lark, "that if I fly up my feet will be seen; and no other bird has feet like mine. My claws are enough to frighten any one, they are so long; and yet I assure you, Fairy, I am not a cruel bird."
"Let me look at your claws," said the Fairy.
So the Lark lifted up one of his feet, which he had kept hidden in the long grass, lest any one should see it.
"It looks certainly very fierce," said the Fairy. "Your hind claw is at least an inch long, and all your toes have very dangerous-looking points. Are, you sure you never use them to fight with?"
"No, never!" said the Lark, earnestly; "I never fought a battle in my life; but yet these claws grow longer and longer, and I am so ashamed of their being seen that I very often lie in the grass instead of going up to sing, as I could wish."
"I think, if I were you, I would pull them off," said the Fairy.
"That is easier said than done," answered the poor Lark. "I have often got them entangled in the grass, and I scrape them against the hard clods; but it is of no use, you cannot think how fast they stick."
"Well, I am sorry for you," observed the Fairy; "but at the same time I cannot but see that, in spite of what you say, you must be a quarrelsome bird, or you would not have such long spurs."
"That is just what I am always afraid people will say," sighed the Lark.
"For," proceeded the Fairy, "nothing is given us to be of no use. You would not have wings unless you were to fly, nor a voice unless you were to sing; and so you would not have those dreadful spurs unless you were going to fight. If your spurs are not to fight with," continued the unkind Fairy, "I should like to know what they are for?"
"I am sure I don't know," said the Lark, lifting up his foot and looking at it. "Then you are not inclined to help me at all, Fairy? I thought you might be willing to mention among my friends that I am not a quarrelsome bird, and that I should always take care not to hurt my wife and nestlings with my spurs."
"Appearances are very much against you," answered the Fairy; "and it is quite plain to me that those spurs are meant to scratch with. No, I cannot help you. Good morning."
So the Fairy withdrew to her oak bough, and the poor Lark sat moping in the grass while the Fairy watched him. "After all," she thought, "I am sorry he is such a quarrelsome fellow, for that he is such is fully proved by those long spurs."
While she was so thinking, the Grasshopper came chirping up to the Lark, and tried to comfort him.
"I have heard all that the Fairy said to you," he observed, "and I really do not see that it need make you unhappy. I have known you some time, and have never seen you fight or look out of temper; therefore I will spread a report that you are a very good-tempered bird, and that you are looking out for a wife."
The Lark upon this thanked the Grasshopper warmly.
"At the same time," remarked the Grasshopper, "I should be glad if you could tell me what is the use of those claws, because the question might be asked me, and I should not know what to answer."
"Grasshopper," replied the Lark, "I cannot imagine what they are for—that is the real truth."
"Well," said the kind Grasshopper, "perhaps time will show."
So he went away, and the Lark, delighted with his promise to speak well of him, flew up into the air, and the higher he went the sweeter and the louder he sang. He was so happy, and he poured forth such delightful notes, so clear and thrilling, that the little ants who were carrying grains to their burrow stopped and put down their burdens to listen; and the doves ceased cooing, and the little field-mice came and sat in the openings of their holes; and the Fairy, who had just begun to doze, woke up delighted; and a pretty brown Lark, who had been sitting under some great foxglove leaves, peeped out and exclaimed, "I never heard such a beautiful song in my life—never!"
"It was sung by my friend, the Skylark," said the Grasshopper, who just then happened to be on a leaf near her. "He is a very good-tempered bird, and he wants a wife."
"Hush!" said the pretty brown Lark. "I want to hear the end of that wonderful song."
For just then the Skylark, far up in the heaven, burst forth again, and sang better than ever—so well, indeed, that every creature in the field sat still to listen; and the little brown Lark under the foxglove leaves held her breath, for she was afraid of losing a single note.
"Well done, my friend!" exclaimed the Grasshopper, when at length he came down panting, and with tired wings; and then he told him how much his friend the brown Lark, who lived by the foxglove, had been pleased with his song, and he took the poor Skylark to see her.
The Skylark walked as carefully as he could, that she might not see his feet; and he thought he had never seen such a pretty bird in his life. But when she told him how much she loved music, he sprang up again into the blue sky as if he was not at all tired, and sang anew, clearer and sweeter than before. He was so glad to think that he could please her.
He sang several songs, and the Grasshopper did not fail to praise him, and say what a cheerful, kind bird he was. The consequence was, that when he asked the brown Lark to overlook his spurs and be his wife, she said:
"I will see about it, for I do not mind your spurs particularly."
"I am very glad of that," said the Skylark. "I was afraid you would disapprove of them."
"Not at all," she replied. "On the contrary, now I think of it, I should not have liked you to have short claws like other birds; but I cannot exactly say why, for they seem to be of no use in particular."
This was very good news for the Skylark, and he sang such delightful songs in consequence, that he very soon won his wife; and they built a delightful little nest in the grass, which made him so happy that he almost forgot to be sorry about his long spurs.
The Fairy, meanwhile, flew about from field to field, and I am sorry to say that she seldom went anywhere without saying something unkind or ill-natured; for, as I told you before, she was very hasty, and had a sad habit of judging her neighbors.
She had been several days wandering about in search of adventures, when one afternoon she came back to the old oak-tree, because she wanted a new pair of shoes, and there were none to be had so pretty as those made of the yellow snapdragon flower in the hedge hard by.
While she was fitting on her shoes, she saw the Lark's friend.
"WHILE SHE WAS FITTING ON HER SHOES, SHE SAW THE LARK'S FRIEND."
"How do you do, Grasshopper?" asked the Fairy.
"Thank you, I am very well and very happy," said the Grasshopper; "people are always so kind to me."
"Indeed!" replied the Fairy. "I wish I could say that they were always kind to me. How is that quarrelsome Lark who found such a pretty brown mate the other day?"
"He is not a quarrelsome bird indeed," replied the Grasshopper. "I wish you would not say that he is."
"Oh, well, we need not quarrel about that," said the Fairy, laughing; "I have seen the world, Grasshopper, and I know a few things, depend upon it. Your friend the Lark does not wear those long spurs for nothing."
The Grasshopper did not choose to contend with the Fairy, who all this time was busily fitting yellow slippers to her tiny feet. When, however, she had found a pair to her mind—
"Suppose you come and see the eggs that our pretty friend the Lark has got in her nest," asked the Grasshopper. "Three pink eggs spotted with brown. I am sure she will show them to you with pleasure."
Off they set together; but what was their surprise to find the poor little brown Lark sitting on them with rumpled feathers, drooping head, and trembling limbs.
"Ah, my pretty eggs!" said the Lark, as soon as she could speak, "I am so miserable about them—they will be trodden on, they will certainly be found."
"What is the matter?" asked the Grasshopper. "Perhaps we can help you."
"Dear Grasshopper," said the Lark, "I have just heard the farmer and his son talking on the other side of the hedge, and the farmer said that to-morrow morning he should begin to cut this meadow."
"That is a great pity," said the Grasshopper. "What a sad thing it was that you laid your eggs on the ground!"
"Larks always do," said the poor little brown bird; "and I did not know how to make a fine nest such as those in the hedges. Oh, my pretty eggs!—my heart aches for them! I shall never hear my little nestlings chirp!"
So the poor Lark moaned and lamented, and neither the Grasshopper nor the Fairy could do anything to help her. At last her mate dropped down from the white cloud where he had been singing, and when he saw her drooping, and the Grasshopper and the Fairy sitting silently before her, he inquired in a great fright what the matter was.
So they told him, and at first he was very much shocked; but presently he lifted first one and then the other of his feet, and examined his long spurs.
"He does not sympathize much with his poor mate," whispered the Fairy; but the Grasshopper took no notice of the speech.
Still the Lark looked at his spurs, and seemed to be very deep in thought.
"If I had only laid my eggs on the other side of the hedge," sighed the poor mother, "among the corn, there would have been plenty of time to rear my birds before harvest time."
"My dear," answered her mate, "don't be unhappy." And so saying, he hopped up to the eggs, and laying one foot upon the prettiest, he clasped it with his long spurs. Strange to say, it exactly fitted them.
"Oh, my clever mate!" cried the poor little mother, reviving; "do you think you can carry them away for me?"
"To be sure I can," replied the Lark, beginning slowly and carefully to hop on with the egg in his right foot; "nothing more easy. I have often thought it was likely that our eggs would be disturbed in this meadow; but it never occurred to me till this moment that I could provide against this misfortune. I have often wondered what my spurs could be for, and now I see." So saying, he hopped gently on till he came to the hedge, and then got through it, still holding the egg, till he found a nice little hollow place in among the corn, and there he laid it and came back for the others.
"Hurrah!" cried the Grasshopper, "Larkspurs forever!"
The Fairy said nothing, but she felt heartily ashamed of herself. She sat looking on till the happy Lark had carried the last of his eggs to a safe place, and had called his mate to come and sit on them. Then, when he sprang up into the sky again, exulting and rejoicing and singing to his mate that now he was quite happy, because he knew what his long spurs were for, she stole gently away, saying to herself, "Well, I could not have believed such a thing. I thought he must be a quarrelsome bird as his spurs were so long; but it appears that I was wrong, after all."
Story DNA
Moral
Do not judge others based on appearances or preconceived notions, for what seems like a flaw may have a hidden purpose.
Plot Summary
A young Fairy, known for her judgmental nature, embarks on a journey where she encounters a Lark ashamed of his long, fierce-looking claws. The Fairy harshly judges him, believing his claws signify a quarrelsome nature, while a kind Grasshopper encourages the Lark to sing, helping him find a mate. Later, when the Larks' eggs are threatened by a farmer, the male Lark discovers his seemingly fearsome claws are perfectly designed to carry the eggs to safety. Witnessing this, the Fairy is deeply shamed and finally understands the folly of judging others based on superficial appearances.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jean Ingelow was a Victorian English poet and novelist, known for her children's stories which often contained strong moral messages.
Plot Beats (13)
- A young Fairy with a habit of judging others is advised by her mother to travel and become more charitable.
- The Fairy sets out, making new shoes, and then encounters a Lark who is unhappy because he believes his long, fierce claws make him too ugly to find a wife.
- The Fairy judges the Lark, asserting that his claws must mean he is quarrelsome and refuses to help him.
- A kind Grasshopper offers comfort to the Lark, promising to spread good words about him and encouraging him to sing.
- The Lark, encouraged, sings a beautiful song that attracts a pretty brown hen Lark.
- The male Lark, with the Grasshopper's help, courts and wins the female Lark, who accepts his spurs, and they build a nest.
- The Fairy continues her travels, still judging, and eventually returns to the same meadow.
- The Fairy again meets the Grasshopper and expresses her continued belief that the Lark is quarrelsome due to his spurs.
- The Grasshopper invites the Fairy to see the Larks' eggs, but they find the mother Lark distressed.
- The mother Lark reveals the farmer plans to cut the meadow the next day, endangering their ground-laid eggs.
- The male Lark, initially shocked, examines his spurs and realizes they are perfectly shaped to carry the eggs.
- The male Lark carefully transports all three eggs to a safe spot in the cornfield beyond the hedge.
- The Fairy, witnessing this, feels profound shame and realizes her judgment was wrong, learning the true purpose of the spurs.
Characters
The Young Fairy ★ protagonist
Tiny, delicate, and ethereal, with a slight build typical of a fairy. Her size is small enough to wear snapdragon flowers as shoes and sleep in a robin's nest. She has a generally graceful demeanor, though it can be marred by her critical expressions.
Attire: Initially wears a dress, but is advised by her mother to sew two tulip leaves together for a new, becoming dress. Later, she makes yellow slippers from snapdragon flowers. Her clothing is made from natural elements, suggesting a simple yet elegant style.
Wants: Initially driven by a desire to travel and perhaps a subconscious need to validate her own opinions. Later, her motivation shifts towards understanding and self-correction after witnessing the Lark's true nature.
Flaw: Her fatal flaw is her tendency to judge others harshly based on superficial appearances and preconceived notions, without seeking deeper understanding.
She begins as a highly judgmental character who misinterprets the Lark's physical traits. Through observing the Lark's actions and the Grasshopper's kindness, she learns that appearances can be deceiving and feels 'heartily ashamed of herself,' indicating a significant shift towards charity and understanding.
Judgmental, hasty, unkind (initially), curious, eventually reflective, and capable of shame. She is quick to find fault and assume the worst.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tiny young adult female fairy, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has delicate features, fair skin, and a slender build. Her hair is long, flowing, and a light, natural color, perhaps adorned with tiny blossoms. She wears a dress made of two vibrant green tulip leaves, sewn together, with a natural, flowing drape. On her feet are bright yellow slippers crafted from snapdragon flowers. Her expression is thoughtful, with a hint of recent introspection. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Lark ◆ supporting
A fine young Lark, described as 'poor brown' with unusually long, fierce-looking claws and spurs on his feet, which he is ashamed of. His feathers are rumpled when distressed.
Attire: Natural brown feathers, typical of a skylark. No artificial clothing.
Wants: To find a wife and build a nest, to protect his eggs and family, and to understand the purpose of his unique physical traits.
Flaw: His deep insecurity and shame regarding his long spurs, which makes him hesitant to pursue his desires.
He starts as a miserable, insecure bird ashamed of his spurs. Through the encouragement of the Grasshopper and the acceptance of his mate, he finds happiness. His arc culminates in a moment of ingenious problem-solving where he discovers the true, protective purpose of his spurs, transforming his weakness into a strength and bringing him complete joy.
Self-conscious, earnest, kind, persistent (in seeking a mate), clever, devoted to his family, and ultimately joyful. He is initially insecure about his appearance.
Image Prompt & Upload
A male skylark bird, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible head to toe. He has rich brown plumage with subtle darker streaks, a small head, and dark, intelligent eyes. His most distinctive feature is his unusually long, sharp spurs on his feet, which are clearly visible. His posture is alert and earnest, with a slight tilt of his head. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Grasshopper ◆ supporting
A typical grasshopper, likely green or brown, with long antennae and powerful jumping legs. He is small enough to converse easily with the Fairy and the Lark.
Attire: His natural exoskeleton, no artificial clothing.
Wants: To comfort and help his friends, particularly the Lark, and to spread positive reports about them.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; his greatest weakness might be his inability to physically solve the Lark's problem with the eggs, but he compensates with emotional support and clever thinking.
Remains consistently kind and supportive throughout the story, acting as a catalyst for the Lark's happiness and a foil to the Fairy's judgment. He does not undergo a significant personal change but facilitates change in others.
Kind, empathetic, supportive, optimistic, and loyal. He is a true friend who sees the best in others.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vibrant green grasshopper, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible head to toe. He has large, dark compound eyes, long segmented antennae, and a sturdy, segmented body. His powerful hind legs are clearly visible, poised as if ready to jump. His posture is alert and friendly. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Brown Lark (female) ◆ supporting
A pretty brown hen lark, similar in appearance to her mate, with soft brown plumage. When distressed, her feathers are rumpled, her head drooping, and limbs trembling.
Attire: Natural brown feathers, typical of a skylark. No artificial clothing.
Wants: To find a mate, build a nest, lay and protect her eggs, and raise her nestlings.
Flaw: Her vulnerability and helplessness when her eggs are in danger, as she cannot move them herself.
She finds a mate and builds a nest, then faces a crisis when her eggs are threatened. Her arc highlights the vulnerability of nature and the importance of family, and she experiences relief and joy when her mate saves their eggs.
Accepting, kind, loving, anxious (when her eggs are threatened), and devoted to her family.
Image Prompt & Upload
A female skylark bird, sitting on a nest, facing forward, full body visible head to toe. She has soft brown plumage with subtle lighter markings, a small head, and gentle, dark eyes. Her feathers are slightly rumpled, and her head is slightly drooped, conveying anxiety. She is sitting protectively over three small, pink eggs spotted with brown. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Mother Fairy ○ minor
Likely similar in delicate build to her daughter, but with an air of wisdom and experience. Her appearance would suggest a gentle but firm nature.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but would be made of natural elements, perhaps more elaborate or mature than her daughter's, reflecting her wisdom and status.
Wants: To teach her daughter charity and broaden her perspective on the world.
Flaw: None apparent in the story.
A static character who provides the initial impetus for the protagonist's journey. She does not change within the story.
Wise, charitable, observant, and a good mentor. She recognizes her daughter's flaw and guides her towards improvement.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wise adult female fairy, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible head to toe. She has a delicate build, fair skin, and a serene, knowing expression. Her hair is long, flowing, and a soft, natural color, perhaps adorned with subtle, glowing flora. She wears a flowing gown made of iridescent green leaves and delicate flower petals, suggesting natural elegance. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Large Meadow with Oak-trees and River
A vast, open meadow with a clear river flowing along one side and several tall, ancient oak-trees on the other. The ground is covered in long, green grass, and a hawthorn hedge borders the meadow, containing snapdragon flowers.
Mood: Initially peaceful and expansive, later becomes a place of anxiety and then relief.
The Fairy first arrives and meets the unhappy Lark; later, the Lark's nest is discovered here, threatened by the farmer's scythe.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, sun-drenched meadow stretches towards a winding, clear river reflecting the blue sky. On the opposite bank, several ancient, gnarled oak-trees stand majestically, their branches heavy with leaves. A hawthorn hedge, dotted with small white blossoms and yellow snapdragon flowers, runs along the edge of the meadow, casting dappled shadows on the long, verdant grass. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Lark's Nest in the Meadow
A simple, small nest built directly on the ground within the long grass of the meadow, containing three pink eggs spotted with brown. It is vulnerable and easily overlooked.
Mood: Initially a place of hope and new life, quickly turns to despair and fear, then to ingenious triumph.
The Lark's eggs are discovered here, threatened by the farmer's impending harvest, leading to the revelation of the male Lark's spurs' true purpose.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, carefully woven bird's nest sits hidden deep within a patch of tall, emerald-green meadow grass, the blades gently swaying. Inside, three delicate pink eggs, speckled with tiny brown spots, rest on a soft lining. The ground beneath is a rich, dark soil, partially obscured by fallen grass stems. Soft, diffused sunlight filters through the dense grass, creating a sense of secluded intimacy. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Hollow Place Among the Corn
A safe, secluded hollow nestled within a field of tall, green corn stalks, located on the other side of the hawthorn hedge from the meadow.
Mood: A sanctuary, a place of safety and relief.
The male Lark transports his eggs one by one to this secure location, saving them from the farmer's scythe.
Image Prompt & Upload
A secluded, shallow hollow is carved into the rich, dark earth, surrounded by a dense thicket of tall, vibrant green corn stalks. The corn leaves rustle gently, creating a natural, protective canopy. Beyond the corn, the faint outline of a hawthorn hedge can be seen, marking the boundary. Warm, late afternoon sunlight casts long, soft shadows through the corn, highlighting the earthy tones of the hollow. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
![THE OUPHE[\[1\]](#Footnote11) of THE WOOD](/library-files/english/jean_ingelow/wonder_box_tales/the_ouphe_1_footnote11_of_the_wood/images/cover/cover.png?w=150)