If Heaven Will It
by Unknown · from Tales of Laughter: A third fairy book
Adapted Version
Once there was a man named Pedro. He was going home. He was very happy. Pedro came from far away. He saw his village now. His home was very near. He smiled a big smile. He walked fast to his home.
A Traveler met Pedro. "Where are you going?" he asked. Pedro said, "To my home." Traveler said, "Say 'If God wants it'." "God helps us every day." "We must say 'If God wants it'." "Then good things happen."
Pedro saw his village. It was very close now. He did not listen. He felt very proud. He said, "I go home." "God wants it or not." "I will go home now." He did not say 'If God wants it'.
Pedro walked by the river. He fell into the water. Splash! He was wet. He changed into a frog. Pedro was a green frog.
Pedro lived as a frog. He lived there for three years. He was not happy. He felt very sad. It was a long time.
One day, another man came. His name was Juan. Juan walked by the river. He was going to his home. He was happy too.
A Traveler met Juan. "Where are you going?" he asked. Juan said, "I go to my home." "It is my village." He smiled at the man.
Pedro was in the water. He heard Juan speak. Pedro remembered the old words. He croaked, "If God wants it!" He said it very loud. His frog voice was small.
Then a magic happened. Pedro was not a frog. He was a man again! He stood by the river. He was very surprised.
Pedro felt very happy. He was also very humble. He walked to his village. He learned a big lesson. He would remember now.
Pedro met a new Traveler. "Where are you going?" he asked. Pedro said, "My home, if God wants it." "To see my wife, if God wants it." "To see my children, if God wants it." "To see my cow, if God wants it."
Pedro was humble now. He always said, "If God wants it." God helped Pedro much. His wife was very well. His children were happy. His cow had a baby. His farm grew good food. Pedro was very happy. It was good to be humble.
Original Story
If Heaven Will It
Once upon a time a Galician was returning to his home after having spent some time in Seville. When he was close to his abode, he met some one who inquired where he was going.
“To my native place,” replied the Galician.
“If Heaven will it,” answered the former.
“Whether Heaven will it or no,” added the Galician to himself, already seeing his village from afar, and being only separated from its outskirts by a river.
Scarcely had he muttered the words ere he fell into the water and was changed into a frog.
In this condition the poor man lived for three years, being in continual danger from his spiteful foes, bad boys, leeches, and storks. At the end of three years another Galician returning home happened to pass by there, and a wayfarer chancing to ask him whither he was going, replied:
“To my native place.”
“If Heaven will it,” croaked a frog that poked its head up out of the water.
And when it had said this, the frog, which was the first Galician of the tale, suddenly found itself once more a man.
He went on his way gayer than Easter, and having met with another traveler, who asked him whither he went, he answered him:
“To my own place, if Heaven will it; to see my wife, if Heaven will it; to see my children, if Heaven will it; to see my cow, if Heaven will it; to sow my land, if Heaven will it; so that I may get a good harvest from it, if Heaven will it.”
13And as he religiously added to everything, “If Heaven will it,” he was allowed to see his wishes accomplished. He found his wife and children well; his cow became the mother of a fine calf; he sowed his field, and reaped a good harvest, and all because Heaven willed it.
Story DNA
Moral
One should always acknowledge and submit to the will of Heaven, as human plans are subject to higher powers.
Plot Summary
A proud Galician man, nearing his home, dismisses the suggestion to add 'If Heaven will it' to his plans. For his arrogance, he is immediately transformed into a frog and suffers for three years. He regains his human form only after humbly uttering the forgotten phrase to another traveler. Humbled and wise, he meticulously adds 'If Heaven will it' to all his future desires, leading to the successful fulfillment of all his wishes.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility to gratitude
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects a common folk belief in many cultures about the importance of acknowledging a higher power's influence over human endeavors, often expressed through phrases like 'God willing' or 'Inshallah'.
Plot Beats (12)
- A Galician man is returning home to his village after spending time in Seville.
- He meets a traveler who suggests he add 'If Heaven will it' when stating his destination.
- The Galician, seeing his village, dismisses the advice, muttering 'Whether Heaven will it or no'.
- Immediately, he falls into a river and is transformed into a frog.
- He lives as a frog for three years, facing constant danger.
- Another Galician passes by the same spot, also returning home.
- A wayfarer asks the second Galician where he is going, and he replies, 'To my native place'.
- The first Galician, still a frog, croaks 'If Heaven will it' from the water.
- Upon saying this, the frog is instantly changed back into a man.
- The man, now joyful and humbled, continues his journey.
- He meets another traveler and, when asked his destination, adds 'If Heaven will it' to every single one of his future desires and plans.
- Because of his newfound humility and acknowledgment of divine will, all his wishes are fulfilled: his family is well, his cow calves, and his harvest is bountiful.
Characters
The First Galician
A man of average height and build, likely weathered by travel and farm work, with a sturdy, practical physique typical of a Galician farmer or laborer.
Attire: Simple, durable clothing suitable for travel and farm life in 19th-century Galicia. Likely a coarse linen or wool tunic, sturdy breeches, and practical leather boots. Perhaps a simple, wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun.
Wants: To return home to his family and farm, and to live a prosperous life.
Flaw: Hubris and a lack of humility, believing he could control his own destiny without divine will.
Transforms from a stubborn, overconfident man into a humble and devout individual who acknowledges the role of divine will in his life, leading to the fulfillment of his wishes.
Stubborn, initially overconfident, practical, eventually humble, devout, grateful.
The Second Galician
A man of similar appearance to the first Galician, perhaps slightly younger or older, but sharing the common traits of a Galician traveler or farmer.
Attire: Simple, durable clothing similar to the first Galician – coarse linen or wool garments, practical trousers, and sturdy footwear.
Wants: To return to his native place.
Flaw: None explicitly shown; he serves as a catalyst.
Remains unchanged; serves as a narrative device.
Unassuming, practical, polite in his interactions.
The Wayfarer
An anonymous traveler, likely of average build and height, dressed for a journey.
Attire: Generic traveling clothes, likely practical and somewhat worn, suitable for the Galician countryside.
Wants: To make conversation or gather information about the road ahead.
Flaw: None shown.
Remains unchanged; serves as a plot device to elicit dialogue.
Curious, polite.
Locations
Riverbank near Galician Village
A muddy riverbank on the outskirts of a Galician village, with the village visible in the distance. The river itself is likely murky and slow-moving, typical of a rural waterway.
Mood: Initially confident, then suddenly ominous and transformative
The first Galician is transformed into a frog after uttering defiant words, and later, the second Galician's humble reply triggers the first Galician's transformation back into a man.
The Galician's Home and Farm
A humble Galician farmstead, likely consisting of a stone or timber house with a tiled roof, a small barn or stable, and an adjacent field for sowing crops. The area would be surrounded by the typical green, rolling landscape of Galicia.
Mood: Peaceful, prosperous, blessed
The first Galician returns home after his ordeal, and through his newfound humility, finds his family well, his cow with a calf, and reaps a bountiful harvest.