THE HEART
by Oliver Herford
Cupid and the Magic Kindness Stick
I saw little Cupid flying. He looked like he had a secret! He flew very fast. Where did he go? What was his game? He looked so good. But I knew he liked fun. He liked to play tricks. He had a happy smile. I watched him fly.
Cupid had no arrows. His small arrow bag was empty. Where were his golden arrows? Did they break? Did he drop them? He did not have his bow. His tools were all gone. This was very strange. I looked at him hard.
"What are you hiding, Cupid?" I asked. "Tell me your secret now. Do not play games with me. I want to know all. What is in your small hand? Show it to me, please. Be a good boy. Tell me the truth. You have a new thing. I see it, little one."
Cupid looked shyly at me. He showed me a small tool. "This helps cold hearts," he said. "It makes them feel warm. It is for a very special heart. Maybe you know this heart. It needs to feel happy. It needs to feel love. This tool can help."
"What is this tool called?" I asked him. Cupid held it up high. "It is a magic kindness stick," he said. "It is very good. It makes hearts kind. It makes them happy. This stick is new. It is very strong. It helps hearts grow. It is for all."
I looked at the stick. I gladly agreed with little Cupid. "Yes, this is very good!" I said. "This magic stick is perfect. It will make a cold heart happy. It will make it feel warm. This is a very good idea. Go, Cupid, go fast! Do not wait now. You can do it."
"Fly, Cupid, fly fast!" I told him. "Use your new stick. Make hearts warm and happy. I know you can do it. Good luck, little one. Make the heart feel good. Go and share your kindness. This is a very good plan. Kindness helps cold hearts. New ideas help too. Hearts can feel warm. Hearts can feel happy. Go now!"
Original Story
THE HEART
OF ICE
Now whither are you flying
And on what game intent,
Cupid? There’s no denying
On mischief you are bent.
What is the use of trying
To look so innocent?
What means your empty quiver?
Did heart of some coquette
Your golden arrows shiver?
Or did you, boy, upset
Your darts in Lethe’s river,
Or break them in a pet?
What is it you’re concealing,
My patience to annoy?
A heart you have been stealing,
Or some such foolish toy?
Come, now—no double-dealing!
Out with it—Cupid, boy!
“I have,” quoth Cupid, shyly,
“A thing wherewith to hew
Cold hearts” (he hinted slyly
That such a heart I knew).
“’Tis recommended highly—
An ice-pick—what say you?”
Gravely I shake my finger
At Cupid—“’Tis indeed
The very thing to bring her
To reason, boy, so speed!
Fly, Cupid! Do not linger—
Jove grant you may succeed!”
---
*THE JUDGEMENT OF ST. VALENTINE*
Moral of the Story
Sometimes, traditional methods are insufficient to overcome extreme emotional coldness; a more direct and unconventional approach may be necessary.
Characters
Cupid ★ protagonist
A small, plump boy with cherubic features, often depicted with rosy cheeks and a mischievous glint in his eyes. He is light and agile, capable of flight.
Attire: Often depicted nude or wearing only a simple sash, sometimes with small, white feathered wings attached to his back. In this context, he is likely unadorned, emphasizing his childlike innocence and magical nature.
Wants: To fulfill his role as the god of love, which often involves influencing hearts, even cold ones, and perhaps to prove his effectiveness with new tools.
Flaw: Can be easily flustered or caught off guard when his intentions are questioned, and perhaps a bit too eager to try new, unconventional methods.
In this short piece, he demonstrates a shift from his traditional methods (arrows) to a more direct, almost violent approach (ice-pick) for 'cold hearts,' showing an evolution in his strategy.
Mischievous, shy (when caught), cunning, playful, and determined.
The Narrator/Poet ◆ supporting
Implied to be an older, perhaps scholarly or philosophical man, given his grave tone and advice to Cupid. He is likely of average height and build, with a thoughtful demeanor.
Attire: Likely wears formal, educated attire of the late 19th or early 20th century, such as a tailored suit, perhaps a waistcoat, in dark, respectable colors like charcoal or navy, made of wool or tweed. A crisp white shirt and a tie would complete the look.
Wants: To understand Cupid's actions and to offer guidance, particularly regarding a specific 'cold heart' he seems to know.
Flaw: Perhaps a bit too quick to judge or advise, and possibly holds a personal grudge or frustration regarding a 'cold heart.'
He shifts from questioning Cupid's mischief to actively endorsing a new, more aggressive approach to love, showing a pragmatic and somewhat jaded view of romance.
Observant, questioning, grave, advising, and somewhat cynical about love (especially 'cold hearts').
Locations
Mythological Realm/Olympus
An ethereal, classical setting where Cupid, the god of desire, is found. Implied to be a place of divine interaction and judgment.
Mood: playful, divine, slightly mischievous
The initial encounter between the narrator and Cupid, where Cupid reveals his new tool and plan.
The Coquette's Domain (Implied)
The implied location of the 'cold heart' Cupid intends to 'hew'. This would be a place where a coquette resides, likely a lavish, perhaps overly ornate, private chamber.
Mood: cold, unyielding, yet potentially vulnerable
The target location for Cupid's mission, where the 'cold heart' needs to be 'brought to reason'.
Story DNA
Moral
Sometimes, traditional methods are insufficient to overcome extreme emotional coldness; a more direct and unconventional approach may be necessary.
Plot Summary
The narrator confronts Cupid, who appears to be up to mischief with an empty quiver. After much prodding, Cupid shyly reveals he is concealing an 'ice-pick,' a tool he believes is highly recommended for 'hewing cold hearts,' hinting at a specific person known to the narrator. The narrator, understanding the implication, gravely approves of this unconventional method, urging Cupid to act swiftly and wishing him success in melting the cold heart.
Themes
Emotional Arc
frustration to hopeful anticipation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Oliver Herford was an English writer and illustrator known for his whimsical verse and drawings, often playing with classical figures in modern or humorous contexts.
Plot Beats (7)
- The narrator observes Cupid flying, clearly up to mischief, and questions his innocent facade.
- The narrator notices Cupid's empty quiver and wonders if his arrows were broken or lost, perhaps by a 'coquette'.
- The narrator demands to know what Cupid is concealing, suspecting he has stolen a heart.
- Cupid shyly reveals he has a tool for 'hewing cold hearts', hinting the narrator knows someone with such a heart.
- Cupid identifies the tool as an 'ice-pick'.
- The narrator gravely approves of the ice-pick, believing it to be the perfect instrument to 'bring her to reason'.
- The narrator encourages Cupid to act swiftly and wishes him success in his endeavor.
