The Fairy

The Fairy

There was, once upon a time, a widow, who had two daughters. The

eldest was so much like her in the face and humour, that whoever

looked upon the daughter saw the mother. They were both so

disagreeable, and so proud, that there was no living with them. The

youngest, who was the very picture of her father, for courtesy and

sweetness of temper, was withal one of the most beautiful girls ever

seen. As people naturally love their own likeness, this mother even

doated on her eldest daughter, and at the same time had a horrible

aversion for the youngest. She made her eat in the kitchen, and work

continually.

Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to draw

water above a mile and a half off the house, and bring home a pitcher

full of it. One day, as she was at this fountain, there came to her a

poor woman, who begged of her to let her drink.

"O ay, with all my heart, Goody," said this pretty maid; and rinsing

immediately the pitcher, she took up some water from the clearest

place of the fountain, and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all

the while, that she might drink the easier.

The good woman having drank, said to her:

"You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so mannerly, that I

cannot help giving you a gift" (for this was a Fairy, who had taken

the form of a poor country-woman, to see how far the civility and

good manners of this pretty girl would go). "I will give you for

gift," continued the Fairy, "that at every word you speak, there shall

come out of your mouth either a flower, or a jewel."

When this pretty girl came home, her mother scolded at her for staying

so long at the fountain.

"I beg your pardon, mamma," said the poor girl, "for not making more

haste," and, in speaking these words, there came out of her mouth two

roses, two pearls, and two diamonds.

"What is this I see?" said her mother quite astonished, "I think I see

pearls and diamonds come out of the girl's mouth! How happens this,

child?" (This was the first time she ever called her child.)

The poor creature told her frankly all the matter, not without

dropping out infinite numbers of diamonds.

"In good faith," cried the mother, "I must send my child thither. Come

hither, Fanny, look what comes out of thy sister's mouth when she

speaks! Would'st not thou be glad, my dear, to have the same gift

given to thee? Thou hast nothing else to do but go and draw water out

of the fountain, and when a certain poor woman asks thee to let her

drink, to give it her very civilly."

"It would be a very fine sight indeed," said this ill-bred minx, "to

see me go draw water!"

"You shall go, hussey," said the mother, "and this minute."

[Illustration: "'AM I COME HITHER TO SERVE YOU WITH WATER, PRAY?'"]

So away she went, but grumbling all the way, taking with her the best

silver tankard in the house.

She was no sooner at the fountain, than she saw coming out of the wood

a lady most gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to

drink. This was, you must know, the very Fairy who appeared to her

sister, but had now taken the air and dress of a princess, to see how

far this girl's rudeness would go.

"Am I come hither," said the proud, saucy slut, "to serve you with

water, pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely for your

ladyship, was it? However, you may drink out of it, if you have a

fancy."

"You are not over and above mannerly," answered the Fairy, without

putting herself in a passion. "Well then, since you have so little

breeding, and are so disobliging, I give you for gift, that at every

word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad."

So soon as her mother saw her coming, she cried out: "Well, daughter?"

"Well, mother?" answered the pert hussey, throwing out of her mouth

two vipers and two toads.

"O mercy!" cried the mother, "what is it I see! O, it is that wretch

her sister who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it"; and

immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her and

went to hide herself in the forest, not far from thence.

The King's son, then on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing

her so very pretty, asked her what she did there alone, and why she

cried.

"Alas! sir, my mamma has turned me out of doors."

The King's son, who saw five or six pearls, and as many diamonds, come

out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened. She

thereupon told him the whole story; and so the King's son fell in love

with her; and, considering with himself that such a gift was worth

more than any marriage-portion whatsoever in another, conducted her to

the palace of the King his father, and there married her.

As for her sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother

turned her off; and the miserable wretch, having wandered about a good

while without finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner in the

wood and there died.

[Illustration]

The Moral

_Money and jewels still, we find,

Stamp strong impressions on the mind.

But sweet discourse more potent riches yields;

Of higher value is the pow'r it wields._

Another

  _Civil behaviour costs indeed some pains,

Requires of complaisance some little share;

  But soon or late its due reward it gains,

And meets it often when we're not aware._

Blue Beard

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "'WHAT, IS NOT THE KEY OF MY CLOSET AMONG

THE REST?'" (page 40)]