The luck of the bean-rows, a fairy tale — John Shaqi
The luck of the bean-rows, a fairy taleNodier, Charles
General
The luck of the bean-rows, a fairy tale
Nodier, Charles
Fairy tales
Luck of the Bean-rows knew nothing of Lavater or Gall or Spurzheim, he
had never heard of phrenology, but within him he felt the natural
instinct which teaches every living creature to sense an enemy from
afar. At a glance he recognised in the leader of this horde of wolves
the wheedling coward who had tricked him, with his talk of enlightenment
and self-control, out of his last measure of beans.
“Master Wolf has lost no time in setting his lambs on my track,” said
Luck of the Bean-rows; “but by what magic have they overtaken me, every
one of them, if these ruffians too have not travelled by chick pea? It
is possible,” he added with a sigh, “that the secrets of science are not
unknown to scoundrels, and I dare not be sworn, when I think of it, that
it is not they who have invented them so as to persuade simple souls the
more easily to take part in their hateful schemes.”
Though the Luck was cautious in doing, he was quick in planning. He drew
the hold-all hastily from his wallet, untied the second pea-casket,
opened it as he had done the first, and planted the contents in the sand
at point of his weeding-hook.
“Come of this what must come!” said he; “but to-night I do badly want a
strong wall, were it no thicker than a cabin wall, and a close hedge if
only as strong as my wattle fence, to save me from my good friends the
wolves.”
In a twinkle walls arose, not cabin walls, but walls of a palace; hedges
sprung up before the porches, not wattle fences, but a high lordly
railing of blue steel with gilded shafts and spear-heads that never a
wolf, badger or fox could have tried to clear without bruising himself
or pricking his pointed muzzle. With the art of warfare at the stage it
had then reached among the wolves there was nothing to be done. After
testing several points the invaders retired in confusion. Thankful for
this relief, the Luck returned to his pavilion. But now he passed on
over marble pavements, along pillared walks lit up as if for a wedding,
up staircases which seemed to ascend for ever and through galleries that
were endless. He was overjoyed to come upon his pavilion of pea-blossom
in the midst of a vast garden, green and blooming, which he had never
seen before, and to find his bed of humming-birds’ feathers, where, I
take it, he slept happier than a king—and I never exaggerate.
[Illustration: [Castle]]
Next day the first thing he did was to explore the gorgeous dwelling
which had sprung out of a little pea. The beauty of the most trifling
things in it filled him with astonishment; for the furnishing of it was
admirably in keeping with its outward appearance.
[Illustration: [Parrots]]
He examined, one after another, his gallery of pictures, his cabinet of
antiques, his collections of medals, insects, shells, his library, each
of them a wonder and a delight quite new to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account