THE BABY-FARMER
by Unknown · from Welsh Fairy-Tales and Other Stories
Adapted Version
Kaddy lived in a small house. She cared for many children.
One day, Kaddy went to the woods. She looked for sticks. She found a special, shiny coin. Kaddy took the coin home. She kept it a secret. She did not tell anyone. She wanted to keep it for herself.
Kaddy cared for many children. She gave two children new, nice clothes. They wore bright, pretty clothes. The other children wore old clothes. Their clothes were plain and worn. Kaddy did not like them much. This was not fair to them. Kaddy was not kind to all children.
One day, a kind man came. He knocked on Kaddy's door. He wanted to see the children. He wanted to say hello to them all. He was a friendly man. He waited calmly.
Kaddy did not want him to see. She sent two children away. They wore the nice clothes. They went to a special room. It was upstairs in the house. They waited there still. Kaddy closed the door. She told them to be still.
Kaddy brought out other children. They wore their old clothes. She told the kind man, "I have no good clothes. I cannot dress them better. I am very poor." She looked sad. She spoke in a quiet voice.
The kind man left Kaddy's house. Kaddy went to get the children. They were in the special room. It was upstairs. She wanted them back. She walked quickly to the room.
Kaddy opened the door. But the children were not there. The special room was empty. The children in nice clothes were gone. They were not here. Kaddy looked and looked. She called their names.
Kaddy never saw them again. The children went to a magic place. They went to a happy place. They were free and safe now. This was a sad day for Kaddy. She felt bad. She missed them very much. It is good to be kind. Be kind to all. All deserve kindness. This is a very good lesson for all.
Original Story
THE BABY-FARMER.
Old Kaddy was a baby-farmer, and one day she went to the woods to gather sticks for her fire, and whilst she was gathering the sticks she found a piece of gold, and took it home; but she never told anyone she had found the money, for she always pretended to be very poor.
But though she was so poor, she used to dress two of her children in fine clothes; but the others, whom she did not like, she kept in the filthiest rags.
One day a man knocked at her door, and asked to see the children.
He sat down in her little room, and she went and brought the ragged little boy and girl, saying she was very poor, and couldn’t afford to dress them better; for she had been careful to hide the well-dressed little boy and girl in a cockloft.
After the stranger had gone she went to the cockloft to look for her well-dressed favourites, but they had disappeared, and they were never seen afterwards, for they were turned into fairies.
Story DNA
Moral
Those who show favoritism and neglect the vulnerable, especially for selfish gain, may face unexpected consequences.
Plot Summary
Old Kaddy, a baby-farmer, secretly finds gold but continues to feign poverty, dressing two children finely while others are in rags. When a man comes to see the children, Kaddy hides her favorites and presents the neglected ones. After the man leaves, Kaddy discovers her well-dressed favorites have vanished from their hiding place, having been transformed into fairies as a form of supernatural justice.
Themes
Emotional Arc
deception to comeuppance
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Baby-farming was a practice, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, where women would take in infants, often illegitimate, for a fee. It was frequently associated with neglect, abuse, and high mortality rates, making Kaddy's profession inherently sinister to contemporary audiences.
Plot Beats (8)
- Old Kaddy, a baby-farmer, finds a piece of gold in the woods but keeps it secret, pretending to be poor.
- Despite her feigned poverty, she dresses two of the children in fine clothes while others are kept in rags.
- A man arrives at her door, requesting to see the children.
- Kaddy hides her two well-dressed favorites in a cockloft.
- She brings out the ragged children, telling the man she is too poor to dress them better.
- After the man departs, Kaddy goes to retrieve her favorites from the cockloft.
- She discovers the two well-dressed children have disappeared.
- The children are never seen again, having been turned into fairies.
Characters
Old Kaddy
A small, stooped woman with a gaunt frame, likely from a life of hardship and deceit. Her hands would be gnarled and calloused from manual labor like gathering sticks, and her face etched with lines of age and cunning. She moves with a deceptive frailty.
Attire: She wears worn, patched, and drab clothing, likely a dark grey or brown wool skirt and a simple, faded linen blouse, covered by a threadbare apron. Her clothes are practical for gathering sticks and maintaining her facade of poverty, showing signs of mending and age. She might wear sturdy, but scuffed, leather boots or wooden clogs.
Wants: To accumulate wealth and maintain a comfortable life through deceit, while avoiding any suspicion or responsibility for her actions.
Flaw: Her greed and favoritism. Her desire to hide her wealth and her favored children ultimately leads to their disappearance.
She experiences a loss of her favored children, which serves as a karmic consequence for her cruelty and deceit, though the story doesn't explicitly state if she learns from it.
Deceptive, cruel, greedy, manipulative, neglectful. She prioritizes her own comfort and wealth over the well-being of the children in her care, showing clear favoritism.
The Ragged Boy
A small, thin boy, likely appearing younger than his actual age due to malnourishment. His limbs are spindly, and his skin is pale and dirty, possibly with smudges of grime on his face and hands. His hair is unkempt and dull.
Attire: Dressed in the 'filthiest rags' — likely a tattered, oversized, and stained linen shirt and trousers, made of coarse, undyed fabric. The clothes are ill-fitting, torn in places, and show signs of extreme wear and neglect, possibly patched with different scraps of fabric.
Wants: To find comfort and escape his harsh living conditions, though he may not actively pursue it.
Flaw: His vulnerability and powerlessness in his situation.
Remains in his neglected state within the story, serving as a contrast to the favored children.
Subdued, fearful, neglected, possibly hopeful for kindness, but resigned to his circumstances.
The Ragged Girl
A small, delicate girl, appearing frail and underdeveloped for her age due to poor care. Her skin is pale and often smudged with dirt. Her hair is dull and tangled.
Attire: Dressed in the 'filthiest rags' — likely a torn, dirty, and ill-fitting smock or dress made of coarse, undyed linen, possibly patched with different scraps of fabric. The garment is stained and shows significant wear and tear, reflecting her neglect.
Wants: To find safety and comfort, though she may not actively seek it out.
Flaw: Her vulnerability and lack of agency in her situation.
Remains in her neglected state within the story, serving as a contrast to the favored children.
Timid, quiet, neglected, observant, possibly withdrawn due to her circumstances.
The Well-Dressed Boy
A healthy, well-fed boy, with clean skin and bright eyes, reflecting the care he receives. He would appear robust and lively, a stark contrast to the ragged children.
Attire: Dressed in 'fine clothes' — likely a well-made, clean tunic of blue or green wool, with contrasting trim, over a crisp white linen shirt. He would wear tailored breeches and polished leather shoes, perhaps with small silver buckles. His clothes are clearly new and well-maintained, indicating his favored status.
Wants: To play and enjoy his childhood, unaware of the darker aspects of his guardian's life.
Flaw: His innocence and vulnerability to Kaddy's manipulative nature.
Transforms into a fairy, signifying a magical escape from his human predicament and a symbolic justice for Kaddy's actions.
Lively, curious, well-cared for, innocent, perhaps a little spoiled by Kaddy's favoritism.
The Well-Dressed Girl
A healthy, vibrant girl, with clear skin and sparkling eyes, showing no signs of neglect. She would appear cheerful and well-nourished.
Attire: Dressed in 'fine clothes' — likely a clean, well-made dress of soft red or green wool, with delicate embroidery on the bodice or hem, over a white linen chemise. She would wear a clean white apron and polished leather slippers. Her clothes are clearly new and well-maintained, indicating her favored status.
Wants: To play and experience the joys of childhood, unaware of the darker aspects of her guardian's life.
Flaw: Her innocence and vulnerability to Kaddy's manipulative nature.
Transforms into a fairy, signifying a magical escape from her human predicament and a symbolic justice for Kaddy's actions.
Sweet, innocent, cheerful, well-cared for, perhaps a little naive.
The Stranger
A man of average build and height, appearing respectable and observant. His clothing would be clean and practical, suggesting a professional or official capacity.
Attire: He wears practical, clean, and respectable clothing, such as a dark wool coat over a simple shirt and trousers, perhaps with a waistcoat. His attire suggests he is a man of some standing or purpose, but not ostentatious, fitting for someone visiting a baby-farmer.
Wants: To assess the children and Kaddy's care, possibly on behalf of someone else or as part of an official duty, though his true purpose is left ambiguous.
Flaw: Not applicable, as he is a catalyst for the plot rather than a character with a personal arc.
Serves as a catalyst for the disappearance of the favored children, bringing about a form of justice.
Observant, discerning, quiet, purposeful. He doesn't reveal his intentions but clearly sees through Kaddy's deception.
Locations
The Woods
A typical European forest, likely deciduous, where Kaddy gathers firewood.
Mood: ordinary, then subtly mysterious with the discovery of gold
Old Kaddy finds a piece of gold while gathering sticks.
Old Kaddy's Cottage Interior
A small, humble room within a traditional German half-timbered cottage, likely sparsely furnished and showing signs of poverty, yet with a hidden area.
Mood: deceptive, poor on the surface but with hidden secrets
Kaddy receives a visitor, hides her favored children, and later discovers they have disappeared.