The Blue Bird for Children

ttage on the edge of a large and ancient forest. They had two

know something of their character; for, if they had not been so sweet and brave and

-was ten years old; and Mytyl,

the bright look in his eyes; but, best of all, he had the ways of a bold and fearless little man, which showed the noble qualities of his heart. When, early in the morning, he trotted along the forest-road by the

rge timid eyes were blue as the forget-me-nots in the fields. Anything was enough to frighten her and she would cry at the least thing; but her little child soul already held the highest wo

ine went off into the world one night in searc

dows of the cottage you could see what went on inside the Hall when the dining-room and drawing-rooms were lit up in the evening. And, in the daytime, you saw the little chi

he forest; and so she had no money to buy presents with which to fill Tyltyl and Mytyl's stockings. The Children soon fell asleep, everything was still and silent and not a sound was heard but the purring of the cat, the snoring of the dog and the ticking of the

yt

yl?" was t

you a

e y

w can I be asleep, whe

Christmas Day?"

. But Father Christmas won't

y n

ouldn't go to town to tell hi

t year

e boy. "But he will come to

all

den. "Mummy's forgotten to put

ha

s get

said Mytyl, who

ne about!... Do yo

bright th

ts of the part

t pa

. It's the Christmas-tree.

asked Myty

one to stop us.... Do you hear

on the stool in front of it and threw back the shutters. A br

everything!"

le Mytyl, who could hardl

yl. "There are two carria

ng out!" said Mytyl, who was doing

!... They're li

t knickerbo

et!... And

things there, hangi

said Tyltyl. "Swords, gun

hat, all roun

fruit and c

ildren are!" cried Myt

ughing and laughing

ttle ones d

's dance too!"

egan to stamp their fe

fun!" sa

an touch them!... They're eating, they're eating,

to count ima

e twel

ve!" said Tyltyl. "But

ly, there came a loud knocking at the door. The startled Children ceased their romp and dared not move a limb. Then the big wooden latch lifted of itself, with a loud creak; the door opened slowly; and in crept a

Children and asked,

here that sings or t

Tyltyl, trembling all over his

s a bird,"

because it's mine," the l

that a capi

big, round glasses an

's for my little girl, who is very ill.... Do you know what the Blue Bird stands

er to her long, pointed nose, and

st be happy in order to get well. That is why I now command you to go out into the world

they had never seen a fairy before; and they felt a little

ke our neighbor, M

elf help

paper. Goody Berlingot had a nose that was quite as ugly as the Fairy's; she was old also; and, like the Fairy, she walked doubled up in two; but she was very kind and she had a dear little girl who used to play on Sundays with the woodcutter's Children. Unfortunately, the poor little pretty, fair-haired thing was always suffe

fairy and able to change her appearance, from one moment to the next, as she pleased. That evening, she happened to

e asked Tyltyl. "Am I pre

dness of the little boy. He turned away his head and dar

e Fairy

ered Tyltyl, who, by this ti

ll in their night-shirts, she told them to get dressed.

your Father

pointing to the door on t

Grandad an

re dea

others and sisters.

little brother

tle sisters,"

they?" aske

ad, too," an

like to see

once!... Show

see them when you go through the Land of Memory. It's on the way to the Blue Bird

g at eating cak

cakes?... Wher

ch children.... Come an

gged the Fairy

ers who are eatin

an see them ea

ou cross

at

I think it's very wrong o

ich!... I say, isn't i

ame here, only y

ery good eyes. I can see the time on

suddenly g

at you can't s

. As though it mattered about se

people live and die without enjoying the happiness that lies all around them. Still, as she was a fairy, she was all-powerful; and so she decided to give him a little hat adorned with a magic diamond that would possess

middle of it. Tyltyl was beside himself with delight. The Fairy explained to him how the diamond worked. By pressing the top, you saw the so

anced for joy; and then he at once be

ake it from m

ne can see it as long as it's o

the Children, cl

princess, dressed all in silk and covered with sparkling jewels; the walls of the cottage became transparent and gleamed like precious st

, how lovely!"

she was, stood spell-bound before th

life, talk and behave like everybody else? Lo and behold, suddenly the door of the grandfather's clock opened, the silence was fil

urs of your life

g with admiration at those pretty creatures,

of liberty to go for a little walk on earth! He looked like a stout, comical old gentleman; his face was puffed out with dough; and his large hands, at the end of his thick arms, were not able to meet, when he laid them on his great, round stomach. He

wed after and began to frisk about with the Hours, without giving a thought to the flour

ed up and down on the dresser, at the risk of falling off and smashing to pieces; the glasses in the cupboard clinked together, to drink th

when the romp was at its height, an enormous flame darted out of the chimney and filled the room with a great red glow, as though the house were

s come to join in your fun. He is a good sort, but y

r fears. He was dressed in scarlet tights and spangles; from his shoulders hung silk scarves that were just like flames when he waved them with his long

ling of a spring. Her long hair, which fell to her feet, might have been made of sea-weed. She had nothing on but her bed-gown; but the water that streamed over her clothed her in shimmering colours. She hesitated at first and gave a glance around her; then, catching sight of Fire still whirling about like a great madcap, she made an a

ng crockery made them look round towards the table. What a surprise! The milk-jug lay on the floor, smashed into a thousand fragments, and f

very fond of her, he gave her a good kiss. She was as fresh and pretty as a little dai

thout any result. But at last a long thin arm was seen to come out, followed by a peaked head, which split the paper, and by another arm and two long legs that seemed never to end!... Oh, you should have s

is pockets are crammed with sugar and

made of sugar, off whom you can bit

!... At last, at last we can talk!... Bark and wag my tail a

the air with the two others, making gestures like a clumsy little man. He has not changed: he still has his smooth, mustard-coloured coat and his jolly bull-dog head, with the black muzzle, but he is much bigger and then he talks! He talks as fast as he can, as though he wanted in one moment to avenge his whole race, which has been doomed to silence for centuries. He talks of everything, now that he is at last able to explain himself; and it i

when he saw Tylette, the Cat, coming to life in her turn and being petted and kissed by the Children, just as he had been! Oh, how he hated the Cat! To bear the sight of her beside him, to see her always sharing in the affection of the family: that was the great sacrifice which fate demanded of him. He accepted it, however, without a word, because it pleased his little gods; and he went so far as to leave her alone. But he had had many a crime on his consci

on earth!" was his bitter thou

washing herself and polishing her claws,

ed it for once! How could you fail to be attracted by Tylette's eyes, which were like topaz set in emeralds? How could you resist the

king in well-chosen lan

!... How well you l

en patted her

the Cat from the ot

k as ink!" And he could not help growling between his teeth. "She's also like the village chimney-sweep," he went on, "whom I loathe and detest and whom I sha

mself, he flew at the Cat and shouted, wi

righten Tylette

stinies. She considered that the time had come to raise a tall barrier between herself and the Dog, who

don't kn

very proud of those two pale blotches which gave a special touch to her dark beauty); and then, arching her back and sticking u

hat moment, a great thing had not happened. At eleven o'clock in the evening, in the middle of that win

ittle boy, who no longer knew what to

yltyl understood; and, full of wonderment, he knel

surpassing loveliness! Gleaming veils covered her figure without hiding its beauty; her bare arms, stretched in the

Queen!" sa

!" cried Mytyl, kneeli

," said the Fair

she, never before held captive, living in space and bestowing her bounty upon all alike, consented to be confined, for a brief spell, within a human shape, so as to l

nimals; and, as they all loved her, they bega

they pictured so amusing and so pretty a part

the wall, loud enough to throw the house down! It was Daddy Tyl, who had bee

nd!" cried the

besides, his hand shook at the thought that his father was co

you've turned it too briskly: they will not have time to

ood moaning in front of his torn wrapper; and Bread, the biggest of the loaves, was unable to squeeze into his pan, in which the other loaves had jumped higgledy-piggledy, taking up all the room. As for the Dog, he h

tting an example of calmness to the others, who

ppen?" they asked. "

ou the truth: all those who accompany the two

maining human as long as possible and who had already taken his stand next t

ame a knocking even mor

ltyl. "He's getting up, this t

don't tease the Cat; you, Water, try not to run all over the place; and you, Sugar, stop crying, unless you want to melt. Bread shall carry the cage

r which the window resumed its usual shape. And so it came about that, on Christmas Night, in the clear light of the moon, while the be