The Blue Bird for Children

Children, Tyltyl and Mytyl, were still asleep in their little beds. Mummy Tyl stood looking a

g till mid-day," she said. "Com

em: they kept on falling back upon their pillows, with their noses pointing at

ntle thump in the ribs, Tylty

here are you?... No,

it's light.... Has been for ever so long!... What's

id Tyltyl, rubbing hi

u stare at me in that way?... Is my n

the question. He was beside himself with delight! It was ages and

he was suddenly talking of a long journey in the company of the Fairy and Water and Milk

de herself with fright. "I put you to bed last night and here you are thi

that I went away a year ago, on Christmas Eve!... You're not angr

to take comfort. "You've been dreaming!... Get up

ot my shirt on

d and began to dress, while his mother k

le boy r

... We saw Grandad and Granny ... yes, in the Land of Memory ... it was

her in describing their visit to the grandparents and the fu

of the cottage and called with all her might to her

I shall lose them as I lost the ot

d to his wife's lamentations, while the two Children told the story of t

"They have lost their heads, something will

a trifle. He kissed the little ones, calmly lit his pipe and

little old woman leaning on a stick and very much like the Fairy Bérylune. The Child

e Fairy

rd of hearing, paid no attention t

my Christmas stew.... It's very chilly t

see the old Fairy again; but what would she say when she heard that he had

I could not find

" asked the neighbo

my Tyl began

don't you know

yl, looking the neighbor up and

at?" asked t

answered Tyl

the neighbor. "Y

ut by her positive way of

s you please, ma'am, but

eginning to hav

his," he said. "I will g

ittle fit of dreaming; they must have been sleeping in the moonb

or a moment and asked after the healt

. The doctor says it's her nerves.... I know what would cure her, for all tha

d at Tyltyl with a sigh and a

o? It's a fan

ant. Her little girl had long been saying that she would get well if Tyltyl would o

give your bird to that poor little thing? She

y. "My bird!" he repeated. "That's true, I was forgetting about him!... And the cage!... Mytyl, do you se

e Bird we wer

miles and m

here all

e took a chair, put it under the cag

ive him to her, of

opped, in

my dove, just the same, but he

from the chair and bega

e all the time!... He was here, at home!... Oh, but how wonderful!... Mytyl, do you see the bi

Tyl threw herself into her

. He's taken bad again.

her and mumbled her thanks. When Tyltyl gave her the bird, she could hardly be

straight away and for nothing?... Goodness, how happy she will be!

aid Tyltyl, "for some of

r. Then he turned round on the threshold, looked at the walls

o the house?" he asked. "It's just

h other in bewilderment;

and polished.... And look at the forest outside the window!... How big and fine it is!

t you, my dear little readers, who have followed Tyltyl and Mytyl through their beautifu

hat had developed his courage; while pursuing the Blue Bird, the Bird of Happiness that was to bring happiness to the Fairy's little girl, he had become open-handed and so good-natu

utiful, for, to his richer and purer understanding, ev

bread-pan to speak a kind word to the Loaves; he rushed at Tyl?, who was sleeping i

ke Tylette, who was snoozi

know me, I see, but you

t his hand up

d-morning, sir! He'll be crackling to make Water angry!" He ran to the tap, turned it on and bent down over the water. "Good-morning, Water,

so am I!"

k each other's hands and bega

ll of life and spirits. Besides, Daddy Tyl was so cal

e playing at bein

had taught his little children not to play at being happy, but

"You can see her over there, through the trees of the forest. To-night, she will be i

nt an ear. They heard laughter and me

cried Tyltyl. "Let

the little girl, with her

oy. "She can run, she can dance, she can fly! It's a mirac

eg to the other at the risk of fallin

ed their hands and

iddle of the kitchen, a little surprised to find herself on her feet after

st at the child a

she's very like

h smaller,"

id Tyltyl. "But s

wn the Bird's beak, while the parents began to feel

at it was joy and happiness that decked him with a magnificent bright blue plumage in our hero's eyes. No matter! Tyltyl, with

reamed, the parents threw up their arms and rushed to the open door:

ird!" sobbed t

to run to the staircase a

't cry! He is still in the hous

ittle girl, who was already

catch him again, wo

friend, confidentially.

Light revealed nothing to the woodcutter's Children, but she showed them

eginning of this story

, in the humble cottage, in the wicker cage, w

ould never hav

, in the cottage? With Daddy and Mummy? Oh, I say! There are no toys at home and it's awfully boring

the most certain truths are good for nothing if we do not put them to the test ourselves. It only takes a moment to tell a child all t

ndergo many a cruel disappointment before he learns to become happy by appreciating th

E

riber'

in spelling e.

r have been left