The Blue Bird for Children

ugh a forest that was so dense and so old that your eyes could not see the tops of the trees. It was always shrouded

head; and there i

alike: they were snow-white pansies and very prett

. A great mysterious silence surrounded them; and they trembled a litt

y a bunch of flow

a! She will be ple

gs did not know that every pansy (which means "a thought") that they picked brought them nearer

boy in triumph, as, climb

nd of

hey turned to every sid

ed Mytyl. "I'm cold!... I'm tired!.

y wrapped up in his e

.. You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" he s

ees faded away, everything vanished and, instead, there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage, c

stead, there appeared a pre

tch-dog at the door, the blackbird in his wicker cage; and ev

made up their minds to come back often, now that they knew the way. But how great was their happiness when the last veil disappeared and t

ranny!... There they

m behind the tree; and they stood looking at the dear old couple, who woke up gen

ndchildren who are still aliv

er Tyl a

us, for I feel queer and I hav

said Granny, "for I see tears of

l surprise! The happiness was too great for words. They laughed and tried to speak and kept on looking at one another with delighted e

ng you've grown, T

andad

at her! What pretty ha

heir hands and flung themselves by tu

ling against Grandad's chest and Tyltyl comfortably perch

and Mummy Tyl

aid Tyltyl. "They were

hem fresh kis

don't you come to see us oftener? It is months and months now

Tyltyl, "and to-day it's o

ng for a visit from those who are alive. The

't go out that day, f

every time you think of us, w

t now, with his head on the heart of the dear Granny whom he had missed so much, he began t

e not real

their life on earth for another and a much nicer and

ord 'dead' mean?"

t one's no longer

ny only shrugged

, when they speak of the O

memories again, rejoici

erned; and so they delight in the present and the past. But we are growing impatient, lik

about in every corner, delighted at finding al

rything struck him as much nicer; and he added, in the voice of one who knows, "Only everything is prettier!... Hullo, there's th

Grandad. "And there's the plum-tree which you we

l was not forge

lue Bird here by c

, Mytyl, lifting h

old blackbird!...

d woke up and began to sin

nny, "as soon as on

mply amazed a

rd, the Blue Bird!... He's blue, blue, blue as a

etched the cage which he had left by the tree. He took hold of the preciou

!" said the boy, rejoicing at

andparents. "Come and loo

there too. At the same moment, seven little children, who, up to then, had been sleeping in the house, came tearing like mad into the g

id Granny. "As soon as you speak o

a little one

ys!... And Robert!... I say, Jean, what's become of your top?...

l la

till crawling

little dog yapp

off with Pauline's scissors...

a voice of great importanc

old people stopped spell-bound: they had heard t

and grandchildren

asked. "It never st

nk of the time," said Granny. "W

ght o'clock?... Then I'm off, for I pr

to say good-bye like that! Granny had a good idea: she knew what a little glutton Tyltyl was. It was ju

he Blue Bird!... And cabbage-soup is

e steaming soup-tureen in state. The lamp was lit and the grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper, jostling and elbowing one another and la

shouted Tyltyl, who was eating greedil

Grandad. "You're just as ill-behaved a

upset it; and the hot soup trickled all over the table and down upon everybody's lap. The children yelled and screame

nd then he put his hand to his cheek

ke the slaps you used to give me when you wer

ody la

ame from, if you like them

the same, and turned to

"There's half- past eight striking!..

ored them to stay a

y," said Tyltyl firml

to take up th

sters, Pierrot, Robert, Pauline, Madeleine, Riquette and you, too, Ki

very much upset and

the Living are, with all

him and again promised

our only pleasure; and it's such a treat

rs and sisters in chorus. "Come back v

e figures began to fade away; the little voices could no longer be heard; the two Children

Mytyl. "Give me your hand, litt

it was his duty to try and c

mber that we are bring

las and alack, what a disappointment awaited him! The beautiful Blue Bird of the Land of Memory had turned quite black! Stare at it as hard as Tyltyl might, the bird was black! Oh, how well

f finding the beautiful Blue Bird which would bring happiness to the Fairy's little girl. And now all his hopes were shattered! For the first time, our poor friend understood the trials, the vexat

raight road by which he had come. There was not a s

st trial was over; and, just as outside the old people's house a little while ago, the mist now suddenly lifted. But, instead of

were seeking; she knew everything. For Light surrounds all mortals with her love, though none of them is fond enough of her ever to receive her thoroughly and thus

en your grandparents? Is that not enough happiness for one day? Are you no

and main; and his little yellow eyes sparkled

ildren, accustom yourselves to love the

full of beautiful mysteries, which we must respect, lest we should destroy them; and, if Light had told the Chil

iends to sleep on beautiful white