EVA’S LUCK
by Unknown · from Welsh Fairy-Tales and Other Stories
Adapted Version
Eva liked to walk. One day, she saw a snake. It was a big snake. Eva was scared. She ran home fast. She told her Mother. "I saw a big snake!" she said. Eva was very scared.
Mother listened to Eva. Mother was kind. She said, "Next time you see it." "Give the snake your scarf." "It will be a good thing." Eva heard her Mother. She would try.
Next day, Eva walked. She was scared. She was also brave. She saw The Snake again. The Snake came from bushes. Eva threw her scarf. She threw it to The Snake. She was very brave.
The Snake took the scarf. It used its mouth. Its eyes looked bright. The Snake moved away. It went to an old ruin. Eva followed The Snake. She was curious. She walked behind it.
They came to the ruin. The Snake went inside. It went into a dark hole. The Snake was gone. Eva looked at the hole. She was surprised. Where did it go? It was a mystery.
Eva went home fast. She told Mother. "The Snake is gone," she said. "It went into a hole." Mother listened well. She was happy.
Next day, Eva went back. Father went with her. They went to the ruin. Eva showed the hole. Father looked inside. He was strong.
Father looked in the hole. The Snake was not there. It was a mystery. The Snake was gone. It did not come out. He saw nothing.
The Snake was a guide. It showed Eva the way. It led her to this place. Now it was gone. It helped them.
Father started to dig. He dug in the hole. He dug with a tool. Eva watched him. He found the scarf. It was Eva's scarf. She gave it to The Snake. It was a good sign.
Father dug more. He found a hollow space. Inside was much gold. It was a big surprise. Eva and Father were happy. Very happy. They found treasure. It was shiny.
The family was very happy. Eva was brave. She helped her family find a big treasure. What a good girl!
Original Story
EVA’S LUCK.
As black-eyed, black-haired Eva Sauvet was walking one day in Jersey she saw a lozenge-marked snake, whereupon she ran away frightened.
When she got home and told her mother, the old woman said:
“Well, child, next time you see the snake give it your handkerchief.”
The next day Eva went out with beating heart, and ere long she saw the snake come gliding out from the bushes, so she threw down her handkerchief, for she was too frightened to hand it to the snake.
The snake’s eyes gleamed and twinkled, and taking the handkerchief into his fangs, he made off to an old ruin, whither Eva followed.
But when they got to the ruin the snake disappeared, and Eva ran home to tell her mother.
Next day, Père Sauvet and some men went to the ruin, where Eva showed the hole where the snake had disappeared.
Old Père Sauvet lit a fire, and smoked the snake out, killing it with a stick as it glided over the stones.
After that they dug out the hole, when they found the handkerchief. Digging still further along, they came upon a hollow place, at the bottom of which they found a lot of gold.
Story DNA
Moral
Sometimes, facing your fears or following unusual advice can lead to unexpected rewards.
Plot Summary
Eva Sauvet is frightened by a snake, but her mother advises her to give it her handkerchief if she sees it again. Eva obeys, and the snake leads her to an old ruin before disappearing into a hole. Her father and other men investigate, kill the snake, and upon digging into its hole, discover a large amount of hidden gold, bringing the family unexpected fortune.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to relief to fortune
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jersey folklore often features tales of hidden treasures, sometimes guarded by animals or spirits, and the importance of following seemingly strange advice.
Plot Beats (11)
- Eva Sauvet, a young woman, is frightened by a lozenge-marked snake she sees while walking in Jersey.
- She tells her mother about the encounter, who advises her to give the snake her handkerchief if she sees it again.
- The next day, Eva, with a beating heart, sees the snake again and throws her handkerchief towards it.
- The snake takes the handkerchief in its fangs and glides off towards an old ruin, with Eva following.
- At the ruin, the snake disappears into a hole.
- Eva returns home and tells her mother what happened.
- The following day, Eva, her father (Père Sauvet), and some men go to the ruin.
- Père Sauvet lights a fire to smoke the snake out of its hole.
- As the snake emerges, Père Sauvet kills it with a stick.
- They dig into the hole and first find the handkerchief.
- Continuing to dig, they discover a hollow place containing a large amount of gold.
Characters
Eva Sauvet
Of average height and slender build, with a youthful, perhaps slightly timid, posture. Her movements are quick when startled, but she possesses a quiet determination.
Attire: A practical, modest dress suitable for walking in the Jersey countryside in the late 19th or early 20th century. This would likely be a long-sleeved, high-necked dress made of sturdy cotton or linen in a muted color like grey, brown, or dark blue, possibly with a simple apron over it. She would wear sturdy walking boots.
Wants: To follow her mother's advice, to understand the mystery of the snake, and ultimately, to find luck or fortune.
Flaw: Her initial fear and timidity, which almost prevent her from following her mother's instructions.
She begins as a frightened girl but gains courage by following her mother's advice, leading her family to a significant discovery.
Frightened, obedient, curious, brave (in her own way), observant.
Eva's Mother
An older woman, likely of average height and build, with the practical appearance of a woman who has lived a life of work in a rural setting. Her posture would be upright and steady.
Attire: A traditional, practical dress of a Jersey woman of her age and era, likely made of sturdy wool or cotton in dark, muted colors. She might wear a shawl over her shoulders and a simple cap or bonnet on her head. Her clothing would be well-maintained but not ornate.
Wants: To guide her daughter and perhaps to bring good fortune to her family through traditional folk beliefs.
Flaw: Her reliance on traditional beliefs might be seen as a weakness by some, but in this story, it proves to be a strength.
She remains a steady source of wisdom and guidance, her character unchanging but pivotal to the plot.
Wise, calm, traditional, superstitious (in a folk-wisdom sense), encouraging.
The Lozenge-Marked Snake
A snake of significant size, with a distinctive pattern of diamond-shaped (lozenge) markings along its back. Its scales would be a mix of earthy tones—perhaps brown, grey, and black—allowing it to blend into the Jersey landscape. Its body is sleek and capable of rapid, silent movement.
Attire: N/A (its skin is its 'wardrobe')
Wants: To lead Eva to the hidden gold, possibly as a test or a reward for her courage.
Flaw: Vulnerable to human intervention and fire, as it is ultimately killed.
It acts as a catalyst, leading Eva to the treasure, and then is killed, fulfilling its purpose.
Mysterious, purposeful, perhaps a guardian or a magical entity, as suggested by its actions and the gleam in its eyes.
Père Sauvet
An older man, likely robust and strong from a lifetime of physical labor, typical of a rural father. His build would be sturdy, and his hands calloused.
Attire: Practical, sturdy working clothes of a Jersey farmer or laborer from the late 19th or early 20th century. This would include a heavy wool or canvas jacket, a simple shirt, sturdy trousers, and work boots. He might wear a flat cap.
Wants: To protect his family from potential danger (the snake) and to investigate the mystery his daughter uncovered, ultimately seeking the fortune.
Flaw: His direct, forceful approach, while effective, lacks the subtle wisdom of his wife.
He acts as the enabler of the discovery, providing the physical means to unearth the treasure, his character remaining consistent.
Practical, decisive, protective, resourceful, brave.
Locations
Rural Path in Jersey
A winding path through the rural landscape of Jersey, likely bordered by dense bushes and wild vegetation, under a clear sky.
Mood: Initially peaceful, then tense and fearful due to the snake's appearance.
Eva first encounters the lozenge-marked snake and is frightened.
Eva's Home (Jersey Farmhouse)
A simple, cozy interior of a traditional Jersey farmhouse, likely with stone walls and a hearth, where Eva discusses her encounter with her mother.
Mood: Warm, safe, and comforting, a place for familial advice.
Eva tells her mother about the snake, and receives advice to give it her handkerchief.
Old Ruin in Jersey
The weathered remains of an old stone structure, possibly a dolmen or a medieval ruin common in Jersey, with crumbling walls and overgrown vegetation. A hidden hole is present where the snake disappears.
Mood: Mysterious, ancient, and later, a site of discovery and danger.
The snake leads Eva to the ruin and disappears into a hole; later, the snake is killed, and gold is discovered.