The Stars in the Sky
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once, a little lassie lived. She was often sad. She wanted the stars. She wanted to play with them.
She wanted the stars. She decided to go find them. She left her home. She walked far.
She walked and walked. She saw a Mill-Dam. "Hello," she said. "I want the stars. Have you seen them?" The Mill-Dam said, "Yes, stars shine here. Look!"
The Lassie jumped in. She swam and swam. She looked for stars. She saw no stars there.
She walked on. She saw a Brooklet. "Hello," she said. "I want the stars. Have you seen them?" The Brooklet said, "Yes, stars glint here. Paddle!"
The Lassie paddled. She paddled and paddled. She looked for stars. She saw no stars there.
She walked again. She saw the Good Folk. "Hello," she said. "I want the stars. Have you seen them?" The Good Folk said, "Stars shine on grass. Dance!"
The Lassie danced. She danced and danced. She looked for stars. She saw no stars there. She sat down. She felt sad and cried.
The Good Folk spoke to her. "Go to Four Feet," they said. "Then go to No Feet. Then find the stairs without steps."
The Lassie walked. She saw a Horse. "Are you Four Feet?" she asked. "'The Good Folk sent me.' The Horse carried her."
The Horse left her. A big Fish came. "Are you No Feet?" she asked. The Fish said, "Yes." It carried her.
The Fish swam fast. They saw a big arch. It was red, blue, and green. It went up to the sky. "This is the stairs," said the Fish.
The Fish said, "Be careful now. These stairs are hard to climb." Then the Fish swam away.
The Lassie tried to climb. She tried and tried. The light was very bright. The water was cold. She felt herself fall down.
She was very tired. She let go. She slowly sank down. Down, down, down she went.
Suddenly, she was home. She sat in her own bed. She felt very tired. She cried a little. But she was safe.
Original Story
The Stars in the Sky
Once on a time and twice on a time, and all times together as ever I heard tell of, there was a tiny lassie who would weep all day to have the stars in the sky to play with; she wouldn't have this, and she wouldn't have that, but it was always the stars she would have. So one fine day off she went to find them. And she walked and she walked and she walked, till by-and-by she came to a mill-dam.
"Goode'en to ye," says she, "I'm seeking the stars in the sky to play with. Have you seen any?"
"Oh, yes, my bonnie lassie," said the mill-dam. "They shine in my own face o' nights till I can't sleep for them. Jump in and perhaps you'll find one."
So she jumped in, and swam about and swam about and swam about, but ne'er a one could she see. So she went on till she came to a brooklet.
"Goode'en to ye, Brooklet, Brooklet," says she; "I'm seeking the stars in the sky to play with. Have you seen any?"
"Yes, indeed, my bonny lassie," said the Brooklet. "They glint on my banks at night. Paddle about, and maybe you'll find one."
So she paddled and she paddled and she paddled, but ne'er a one did she find. So on she went till she came to the Good Folk.
"Goode'en to ye, Good Folk," says she; "I'm looking for the stars in the sky to play with. Have ye seen e'er a one?"
"Why, yes, my bonny lassie," said the Good Folk. "They shine on the grass here o' night. Dance with us, and maybe you'll find one."
And she danced and she danced and she danced, but ne'er a one did she see. So down she sate; I suppose she wept.
"Oh dearie me, oh dearie me," says she, "I've swam and I've paddled and I've danced, and if ye'll not help me I shall never find the stars in the sky to play with."
But the Good Folk whispered together, and one of them came up to her and took her by the hand and said, "If you won't go home to your mother, go forward, go forward; mind you take the right road. Ask Four Feet to carry you to No Feet at all, and tell No Feet at all to carry you to the stairs without steps, and if you can climb that—"
"Oh, shall I be among the stars in the sky then?" cried the lassie.
"If you'll not be, then you'll be elsewhere," said the Good Folk, and set to dancing again.
So on she went again with a light heart, and by-and-by she came to a saddled horse, tied to a tree.
"Goode'en to ye, Beast," said she; "I'm seeking the stars in the sky to play with. Will you give me a lift, for all my bones are an-aching."
"Nay," said the horse, "I know nought of the stars in the sky, and I'm here to do the bidding of the Good Folk, and not my own will."
"Well," said she, "it's from the Good Folk I come, and they bade me tell Four Feet to carry me to No Feet at all."
"That's another story," said he; "jump up and ride with me."
So they rode and they rode and they rode, till they got out of the forest and found themselves at the edge of the sea. And on the water in front of them was a wide glistening path running straight out towards a beautiful thing that rose out of the water and went up into the sky, and was all the colours in the world, blue and red and green, and wonderful to look at.
"Now get you down," said the horse; "I've brought ye to the end of the land, and that's as much as Four Feet can do. I must away home to my own folk."
"But," said the lassie, "where's No Feet at all, and where's the stair without steps?"
"I know not," said the horse, "it's none of my business neither. So goode'en to ye, my bonny lassie;" and off he went.
So the lassie stood still and looked at the water, till a strange kind of fish came swimming up to her feet.
"Goode'en to ye, big Fish," says she, "I'm looking for the stars in the sky, and for the stairs that climb up to them. Will ye show me the way?"
"Nay," said the Fish, "I can't unless you bring me word from the Good Folk."
"Yes, indeed," said she. "They said Four Feet would bring me to No Feet at all, and No Feet at all would carry me to the stairs without steps."
"Ah, well," said the Fish; "that's all right then. Get on my back and hold fast."
And off he went—Kerplash!—into the water, along the silver path, towards the bright arch. And the nearer they came the brighter the sheen of it, till she had to shade her eyes from the light of it.
And as they came to the foot of it, she saw it was a broad bright road, sloping up and away into the sky, and at the far, far end of it she could see wee shining things dancing about.
"Now," said the Fish, "here you are, and yon's the stair; climb up, if you can, but hold on fast. I'll warrant you find the stair easier at home than by such a way; 't was ne'er meant for lassies' feet to travel;" and off he splashed through the water.
So she clomb and she clomb and she clomb, but ne'er a step higher did she get: the light was before her and around her, and the water behind her, and the more she struggled the more she was forced down into the dark and the cold, and the more she clomb the deeper she fell.
But she clomb and she clomb, till she got dizzy in the light and shivered with the cold, and dazed with the fear; but still she clomb, till at last, quite dazed and silly-like, she let clean go, and sank down—down—down.
And bang she came on to the hard boards, and found herself sitting, weeping and wailing, by the bedside at home all alone.
Story DNA
Moral
Sometimes, what we seek far away can only be truly appreciated or found in the comfort and safety of home.
Plot Summary
A young lassie desperately wishes to play with the stars and sets out to find them. She consults a mill-dam, a brooklet, and the Good Folk, who give her cryptic instructions. Following their advice, she rides a horse ('Four Feet') to the sea and then a fish ('No Feet at all') to a magnificent, rainbow-colored arch ('the stairs without steps') rising into the sky. She attempts to climb the illusory stairs but only falls deeper into cold and darkness, eventually finding herself back in her own bed at home, having seemingly returned from her quest.
Themes
Emotional Arc
longing to frustration to wonder to fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale reflects a common motif in folklore where a character embarks on a seemingly impossible quest, often guided by cryptic advice from magical beings, and ultimately learns a lesson about the nature of their desires or the value of home.
Plot Beats (16)
- A young lassie is inconsolable, constantly wishing to play with the stars in the sky.
- She decides to leave home to find the stars herself.
- She first asks a mill-dam, which tells her the stars shine in its face and suggests she jump in.
- She jumps in and swims but finds no stars.
- She then asks a brooklet, which says the stars glint on its banks and suggests she paddle.
- She paddles but finds no stars.
- She next asks the Good Folk, who say the stars shine on the grass and suggest she dance with them.
- She dances but finds no stars, and sits down weeping in frustration.
- The Good Folk give her cryptic instructions: 'Four Feet' to 'No Feet at all,' then to 'the stairs without steps.'
- She finds a saddled horse (Four Feet) who, after hearing she comes from the Good Folk, carries her to the edge of the sea.
- The horse leaves her, and she then encounters a large fish (No Feet at all) who, after hearing the Good Folk's message, carries her across the water.
- The fish takes her to a magnificent, bright, rainbow-colored arch rising from the water into the sky, which is the 'stairs without steps.'
- The fish warns her the stair is not meant for lassies' feet and leaves.
- She attempts to climb the bright, sloping arch, but the more she struggles, the more she feels herself falling into cold and darkness.
- Dazed and fearful, she eventually lets go and sinks down.
- She suddenly finds herself sitting by her own bedside at home, weeping and wailing.
Characters
The Lassie
A tiny, small-statured girl, likely slender from her young age. Her exact height and build are not specified but implied to be delicate.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a child in a rural setting, likely made of homespun linen or wool. Perhaps a plain, long-sleeved dress in muted colors like grey, brown, or cream, possibly with a simple apron over it. Sturdy, comfortable shoes for walking.
Wants: To play with the stars in the sky; a deep, childlike longing for something beautiful and seemingly unattainable.
Flaw: Naivety and a lack of understanding of the true nature of her quest; she takes literal advice too literally and struggles with abstract concepts.
She embarks on a journey driven by a childish fantasy, experiences the futility of her literal interpretations, and ultimately learns that some desires are unattainable in the way she imagines, leading to a return to her mundane reality, perhaps with a newfound understanding of limits.
Persistent, determined, naive, easily swayed by promises, prone to weeping when frustrated, imaginative.
The Mill-Dam
A large, still body of water, reflecting the sky. Its surface would appear dark and deep, with occasional ripples. The banks would be earthy and possibly overgrown with reeds.
Attire: Not applicable.
Wants: To exist as a mill-dam, perhaps to reflect the stars as it naturally does.
Flaw: Cannot truly offer the stars, only their reflection.
No arc, remains a static element of the landscape.
Helpful, somewhat misleading (unintentionally), calm, reflective.
The Brooklet
A small, flowing stream of clear water, perhaps with a pebbly bed. Its banks would be gentle and green.
Attire: Not applicable.
Wants: To flow and glint as it naturally does.
Flaw: Cannot truly offer the stars, only their fleeting reflections.
No arc, remains a static element of the landscape.
Helpful, somewhat misleading (unintentionally), lively, glinting.
The Good Folk
Small, ethereal beings, perhaps with delicate features and a shimmering quality to their forms. Their exact appearance is left to the imagination, but they are implied to be numerous and capable of dancing.
Attire: Light, flowing garments made of natural materials like leaves, petals, or gossamer, in soft, earthy tones or shimmering, iridescent colors. They might wear wreaths of flowers or tiny bells.
Wants: To dance, to exist in their magical way, and perhaps to offer cryptic guidance to mortals who seek them.
Flaw: Their cryptic nature can be confusing; they don't offer direct solutions.
No arc, remains a static element of the magical world.
Playful, cryptic, helpful in a roundabout way, mischievous, elusive.
The Horse
A sturdy, saddled horse, implying it is a working animal, perhaps a draft horse or a strong riding horse. Its coat color is not specified, but a common, earthy tone like bay, brown, or black would be appropriate for a working animal. Well-muscled and capable of carrying a rider for a long distance.
Attire: A functional saddle and bridle, likely made of worn leather, possibly with some simple metal buckles.
Wants: To fulfill the bidding of the Good Folk and return to its own kind.
Flaw: Bound by the will of others; cannot act on its own initiative regarding the stars.
No arc, serves its purpose and departs.
Obedient (to the Good Folk), practical, direct, somewhat gruff but ultimately helpful.
The Fish
A 'strange kind of fish,' implying it is unusual or large. It could have iridescent scales, unusual fins, or a unique shape. Given its role, it might be a large, powerful fish capable of carrying a human. Perhaps a deep-sea fish or a mythical aquatic creature.
Attire: Not applicable.
Wants: To fulfill the bidding of the Good Folk and return to its watery domain.
Flaw: Bound by the will of others; cannot act on its own initiative regarding the stars.
No arc, serves its purpose and departs.
Cautious, wise, powerful, direct, somewhat gruff but ultimately helpful.
Locations
Mill-dam
A body of water, likely still and reflective, associated with a mill, where the stars are said to shine on its surface at night.
Mood: Initially hopeful, then disappointing
The lassie's first attempt to find stars by jumping into the water.
Brooklet
A small, flowing stream with banks where stars are said to 'glint' at night.
Mood: Hopeful, then disappointing
The lassie's second attempt to find stars by paddling in the stream.
Good Folk's Glade/Meadow
A grassy area where the 'Good Folk' (fairies) reside and dance, and where stars are said to shine on the grass at night.
Mood: Magical, enchanting, slightly mysterious, then frustrating
The lassie's encounter with the Good Folk and her attempt to find stars by dancing with them, receiving cryptic instructions.
Edge of the Sea with Rainbow Arch
The boundary where land meets a vast sea, featuring a wide, glistening path on the water leading towards a 'beautiful thing' that rises into the sky, all the colours of the world, described as a broad, bright road sloping upwards.
Mood: Awe-inspiring, magical, full of wonder and promise
The lassie reaches the final stage of her journey, seeing the 'stairs without steps' and the destination of the stars.