The Children in the Wood
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Long ago, some people lived. A father, a mother, and two small children. They lived in a big, happy home. The Father was sick. The Mother was sick too. They loved their Boy and Girl. They wanted their children's home. They wanted them safe.
The sick Father spoke to his brother. 'Please be kind to our children,' he said. The Mother asked too. 'Please keep them safe,' she said. The Uncle said, 'Yes, I will be kind. I will keep them safe.'
Soon, the parents went away. The Uncle took the children. But the Uncle was not kind. He wanted their big home. He wanted their money. He thought of a bad plan. He wanted to send them far away.
The Uncle called two rough men. 'Take the children,' he said. 'Go far into the forest. Leave them there.' He told his wife a new story.
The Boy and Girl were happy. They did not know the bad plan. They went with the men.
One rough man heard the children. He felt sad. He did not want to leave them. He did not want to be unkind.
The kind man spoke to the other man. 'I will not leave them,' he said. The other man was angry. He went away alone.
The kind man felt sad. He could not take them home. He left them in the big forest. 'I will bring food,' he said. But he did not come back.
The children walked and walked. They ate some berries. They got very tired. They got very sleepy. They lay down close. They closed their eyes. They slept for a very long time.
Little red birds came. They saw the sleeping children. They brought soft leaves. They covered the children gently.
The Uncle was not happy. He lost his home. He lost his money. He became very sad. He became very poor. His own children were not well.
A long time later, the kind man spoke. He told all the truth. He told what the Uncle did. He told about the children.
The Uncle was very sad. He was very alone. All knew he was not kind.
The little birds watched the children. Everyone learned kindness is best. Not kind? You will feel sad.
Original Story
The Children in the Wood
Now ponder well, you parents dear,
These words which I shall write;
A doleful story you shall hear,
In time brought forth to light.
A gentleman of good account,
In Norfolk dwelt of late,
Who did in honour far surmount
Most men of his estate.
Sore sick he was and like to die,
No help his life could save;
His wife by him as sick did lie,
And both possest one grave.
No love between these two was lost,
Each was to other kind;
In love they lived, in love they died,
And left two babes behind.
The one a fine and pretty boy
Not passing three years old,
The other a girl more young than he,
And framed in beauty's mould.
The father left his little son,
As plainly did appear,
When he to perfect age should come,
Three hundred pounds a year;
And to his little daughter Jane
Five hundred pounds in gold,
To be paid down on marriage-day,
Which might not be controlled.
But if the children chanced to die
Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possess their wealth;
For so the will did run.
"Now, brother," said the dying man,
"Look to my children dear;
Be good unto my boy and girl,
No friends else have they here;
To God and you I recommend
My children dear this day;
But little while be sure we have
Within this world to stay.
"You must be father and mother both,
And uncle, all in one;
God knows what will become of them
When I am dead and gone."
With that bespake their mother dear:
"O brother kind," quoth she,
"You are the man must bring our babes
To wealth or misery.
"And if you keep them carefully,
Then God will you reward;
But if you otherwise should deal,
God will your deeds regard."
With lips as cold as any stone,
They kissed their children small:
"God bless you both, my children dear!"
With that the tears did fall.
These speeches then their brother spake
To this sick couple there:
"The keeping of your little ones,
Sweet sister, do not fear;
God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children dear
When you are laid in grave!"
The parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes,
And brings them straight unto his house
Where much of them he makes.
He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemonth and a day,
But, for their wealth, he did devise
To make them both away.
He bargained with two ruffians strong,
Which were of furious mood,
That they should take these children young,
And slay them in a wood.
He told his wife an artful tale
He would the children send
To be brought up in London town
With one that was his friend.
Away then went those pretty babes,
Rejoicing at that tide,
Rejoicing with a merry mind
They should on cock-horse ride.
They prate and prattle pleasantly,
As they ride on the way,
To those that should their butchers be
And work their lives' decay:
So that the pretty speech they had
Made Murder's heart relent;
And they that undertook the deed
Full sore now did repent.
Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,
Because the wretch that hired him
Had paid him very large.
The other won't agree thereto,
So there they fall to strife;
With one another they did fight
About the children's life;
And he that was of mildest mood
Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood;
The babes did quake for fear!
He took the children by the hand,
Tears standing in their eye,
And bade them straightway follow him,
And look they did not cry;
And two long miles he led them on,
While they for food complain:
"Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread,
When I come back again."
These pretty babes, with hand in hand,
Went wandering up and down;
But never more could see the man
Approaching from the town.
Their pretty lips with blackberries
Were all besmeared and dyed;
And when they saw the darksome night,
They sat them down and cried.
Thus wandered these poor innocents,
Till death did end their grief;
In one another's arms they died,
As wanting due relief:
No burial this pretty pair
From any man receives,
Till Robin Redbreast piously
Did cover them with leaves.
And now the heavy wrath of God
Upon their uncle fell;
Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house,
His conscience felt an hell:
His barns were fired, his goods consumed,
His lands were barren made,
His cattle died within the field,
And nothing with him stayed.
And in a voyage to Portugal
Two of his sons did die;
And to conclude, himself was brought
To want and misery:
He pawned and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven years came about.
And now at last this wicked act
Did by this means come out,
The fellow that did take in hand
These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judged to die,
Such was God's blessèd will:
Who did confess the very truth,
As here hath been displayed:
The uncle having died in jail,
Where he for debt was laid.
You that executors be made,
And overseers eke,
Of children that be fatherless,
And infants mild and meek,
Take you example by this thing,
And yield to each his right,
Lest God with suchlike misery
Your wicked minds requite.
Story DNA
Moral
Those who betray the trust of the innocent for personal gain will face divine retribution and earthly suffering.
Plot Summary
A dying wealthy couple entrusts their two young children and their inheritance to the husband's brother. Driven by greed, the uncle hires two ruffians to murder the children in a wood. One ruffian's conscience is stirred, leading to a fight where he kills his partner, then abandons the children, who subsequently die of exposure and starvation. Divine wrath falls upon the wicked uncle, leading to his ruin and the death of his own children. Years later, the surviving ruffian confesses the crime, exposing the uncle's treachery, though the uncle himself has already died in jail.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to tragedy | betrayal to justice
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This ballad, dating back to at least the late 16th century, reflects common anxieties about orphans' vulnerability and the moral consequences of greed in a society with less formal social welfare.
Plot Beats (13)
- A wealthy couple, on their deathbed, bequeath their estate to their two young children, with the condition that their uncle inherits if the children die before coming of age.
- The dying parents implore the uncle to care for their children, and the uncle solemnly promises to do so.
- After the parents' death, the uncle takes the children in but, within a year, plots to kill them to gain their inheritance.
- He hires two ruffians to take the children into a wood and murder them, telling his wife he's sending them to London.
- The children, unaware of their fate, happily ride with the ruffians.
- The children's innocent chatter softens the heart of one ruffian, who refuses to carry out the murder.
- The two ruffians fight over the children's lives, and the more compassionate one kills the other.
- The surviving ruffian, unable to kill the children, abandons them deep in the wood, promising to return with food.
- The children wander, eating berries, but the ruffian never returns, and they eventually die of starvation and exposure.
- Robin Redbreasts piously cover the children's bodies with leaves.
- Divine retribution falls upon the uncle: his property is destroyed, his cattle die, his sons perish, and he is reduced to poverty.
- Years later, the surviving ruffian, facing execution for another crime, confesses the truth about the children's murder.
- The uncle, having died in jail for debt, is posthumously exposed as the perpetrator of the wicked act.
Characters
The Gentleman (Father)
A man of good account, likely of average height and build for a gentleman of his era in Norfolk, England. His illness would have made him appear frail and pale in his final days.
Attire: During his illness, he would be dressed in fine linen nightclothes, perhaps a nightshirt and cap, appropriate for a wealthy gentleman of Norfolk in the late 16th or early 17th century.
Wants: To ensure his children's future and well-being after his death.
Flaw: His trust in his brother, and his inability to protect his children after his death.
Dies at the beginning of the story, leaving his children to the care of his brother.
Loving, responsible, concerned for his children's welfare, trusting.
The Mother (Wife)
Like her husband, she is described as being 'sore sick' and 'like to die,' suggesting a frail and weakened physical state. She would likely be of a slender build.
Attire: Confined to bed, she would be dressed in a fine linen nightgown and a simple cap, appropriate for a gentlewoman of Norfolk in the late 16th or early 17th century.
Wants: To ensure her children's safety and prosperity after her death.
Flaw: Her illness and her trust in her brother-in-law.
Dies at the beginning of the story, entrusting her children to her brother-in-law.
Loving, concerned, pious, trusting.
The Uncle
Likely a man of average build, perhaps appearing outwardly respectable, masking his inner greed. No specific physical descriptors are given, so he would fit the general appearance of a gentleman of the period, perhaps slightly portly from a life of ease.
Attire: Dressed in the respectable, though not overly opulent, clothing of a gentleman of the late 16th or early 17th century in Norfolk, England. This would include a doublet, breeches, hose, and a ruff, likely in muted, practical colors like browns, greens, or grays, made of wool or sturdy linen.
Wants: To acquire the children's inheritance for himself.
Flaw: Overwhelming greed, leading to his downfall.
Begins as a seemingly trustworthy guardian, transforms into a murderer for greed, and ultimately suffers divine retribution, losing his wealth, family, and freedom, dying in jail.
Greedy, deceitful, cruel, manipulative, untrustworthy, ultimately remorseful (due to divine punishment).
The Boy
A 'fine and pretty boy' not passing three years old, implying a small, delicate build typical of a toddler. He would have soft, childlike features.
Attire: Dressed in the simple but well-made clothing of a young child from a wealthy family in late 16th/early 17th century England. This would include a linen smock or gown, perhaps with a small doublet over it, and soft leather shoes. Colors would be practical and light, like cream, pale blue, or muted green.
Wants: To find food and safety, to stay with his sister.
Flaw: His extreme youth and vulnerability.
Begins as a joyful, innocent child, becomes a frightened, starving wanderer, and ultimately dies in the arms of his sister.
Innocent, trusting, playful, easily frightened, dependent.
Girl Jane
A girl 'more young than he' (the boy, who is not passing three), and 'framed in beauty's mould,' suggesting a very young, delicate, and naturally beautiful infant or toddler. She would be smaller than her brother.
Attire: Dressed in the simple but well-made clothing of a very young child from a wealthy family in late 16th/early 17th century England. This would include a long linen gown or smock, perhaps with a small bodice, and soft leather shoes. Colors would be practical and light, like cream, pale pink, or muted yellow.
Wants: To stay with her brother, to find comfort and safety.
Flaw: Her extreme youth and vulnerability.
Begins as a beautiful, innocent infant/toddler, becomes a frightened, starving wanderer, and ultimately dies in the arms of her brother.
Innocent, trusting, dependent, easily frightened.
The Mild Ruffian
A 'strong' man, implying a robust, muscular build. Despite his profession, he possesses a 'mildest mood,' suggesting a less hardened appearance than his partner, perhaps with softer features or a less menacing demeanor.
Attire: Practical, sturdy, and somewhat worn clothing of a common laborer or mercenary in late 16th/early 17th century England. This would include a coarse wool tunic or jerkin, breeches, hose, and sturdy leather boots. Colors would be drab and functional, like browns, grays, or dark greens.
Wants: Initially, money. Later, remorse and a desire to save the children's lives.
Flaw: His initial willingness to commit murder for money.
Begins as a hired killer, but is moved by the children's innocence, kills his partner to save them, and then abandons them, eventually confessing his crime before his own execution.
Initially complicit, but possesses a conscience, repentant, protective (of the children), decisive (in killing his partner).
The Hard-Hearted Ruffian
A 'strong' man, implying a robust, muscular build. He is described as 'more hard of heart,' suggesting a stern, unyielding, and possibly menacing appearance.
Attire: Practical, sturdy, and somewhat worn clothing of a common laborer or mercenary in late 16th/early 17th century England. This would include a coarse wool tunic or jerkin, breeches, hose, and sturdy leather boots. Colors would be drab and functional, like browns, grays, or dark greens.
Wants: To fulfill his contract and receive his large payment from the Uncle.
Flaw: His lack of empathy and his unwavering commitment to his wicked task.
Remains committed to his wicked task despite his partner's change of heart, leading to his death at the hands of his partner.
Cruel, ruthless, greedy, unrepentant, determined.
Robin Redbreast
A small, plump bird with a distinctive bright orange-red breast, brown back, and light underside, typical of a European robin.
Attire: Natural plumage of a European robin.
Wants: To provide a symbolic burial for the innocent children.
Flaw: None, as a symbolic figure.
Appears at the end to perform a final act of kindness for the deceased children.
Pious, compassionate, observant.
Locations
The Gentleman's Estate in Norfolk
A gentleman's house in Norfolk, likely a substantial dwelling of the gentry, where the parents lie sick and make their will.
Mood: Somber, sorrowful, as the parents are dying and making their final arrangements.
The parents die, entrusting their children and their inheritance to the uncle.
The Uncle's House
The uncle's residence where the children are initially taken in after their parents' death, before he devises his wicked plan.
Mood: Initially seemingly welcoming, but quickly turns sinister as the uncle plots.
The children are brought here, and the uncle begins to plot their demise for their inheritance.
Unfrequented Wood
A dense, secluded English woodland where the children are led to be murdered, and where they eventually die of exposure.
Mood: Initially innocent and playful, quickly becomes terrifying, then desolate and tragic.
The children are abandoned here, witness a murder, wander, and eventually die. Robin Redbreast covers them with leaves.