The Land of The Fire Fairies
Adapted from Anne Elizabeth Allen
This is a very old fairy story that children enjoy so very much. Again we can use our beautiful playsilks to dramatize this tale. A red silk
The Land of The Fire Fairies
Adapted from Anne Elizabeth Allen
This is a very old fairy story that children enjoy so very much. Again we can use our beautiful playsilks to dramatize this tale. A red silk bunched up can be placed on the floor ahead of time to symbolize the flames of the fire Ted falls asleep next to. If you have a small figure dressed in red to hide under the silk, this can be the fairy that comes out to tell Ted that the King has sent for him. Now take your red silk and lay it long and narrow for the 'road' that they travel. You can just tell the tale as you move your fairy down the road (or you can really take the time to set up beforehand and have small figures on each side for the other fairies working on logs, houses, etc.). Use a large figure for the King of the Fire Fairies and speak in a deep tone as you tell his part.
The east wind was blowing the falling snow into drifts against the house, fences, and trees. Colder and colder it grew, and little Ted, who had been out playing snowball, suddenly burst into his grandmother's room, crying: "Oh, I'm so cold"
He took off his coat, hat, muffler, and overshoes, stamped his feet and shook off the snow. A bright fire was roaring in the grate, and Ted lay down before it to warm himself. He began to watch the flames dancing up the chimney and disappearing into the darkness above. Picking up a stick, he lighted it and held it up the chimney, trying to see whether he could tell where the flame on the end of it went; and he was enjoying himself very much, when his grandmother called to him to put down the stick. "Why," said Ted, "I am just playing, and want to see what becomes of the flames when they go up the chimney."
"Yes," said Grandmother, "perhaps you do; but the fire king does not allow people to play with his fairies. They are meant to do work, not to play." "The fire king!" said Ted, as he dropped the stick into the fire; "who is he, Grandmother?" "I've never seen him," she answered; "but he lives in the land of the fairies."
With his toes turned toward the fire, lying on his back on the warm hearth, Ted soon dropped off to dreamland, the home of the pixies and fairies. No sooner had he reached that queer land than straight out of the roaring fire jumped a tiny little fairy clothed all in red, who said to Ted:
"The king of the fire fairies has sent for you. Will you come with me?"
Ted was up in a moment, and jumping into the fire, followed close behind the tiny little leader. The bright red road along which they traveled was very interesting. On either side was a fringe of gray moss-like ashes, and as they hurried along Ted saw the fire fairies at work by the hundreds. In one place they had a large log they were working with, which was sending up great flames and much smoke. All around the log were the blackened remains of the grass they had spoiled. In another place a beautiful house was being torn down and burned up by these little mischief-loving fellows. Again, he came to a large stove in which were many of them were helping a cook get dinner ready, and warming the cold fingers and toes of a little boy and girl.
The fairy who was leading Ted went so fast that he did not have a good look at any of these things, and very soon the fairy shouted at the top of his little voice, "Look!" Ted did look, and straight before him was a larger palace than he had ever supposed could be built. Flames were bursting out of doors and windows, and the roar made Ted hold his ears, it was so loud.
On either side of the great front door stood a large giant whom the little fairy said were the giants Heat and Light. Putting Ted safely on the top of a high wall, the fairy disappeared into the palace. And just at that moment a giant greater than either of the others came to the door. In a voice that sounded like thunder and shook everything around, the giant called:
"Where is the little boy I sent for?"
Ted knew then that this was the great fire king, and was frightened, but answered quickly, "Here I am!" Then the giant said: "I have sent for you to tell you that my fire fairies are not to be played with. They never hurt any one unless they are played with and taken away from their work; then they are sure to hurt the person who disturbs them."
How frightened little Ted was as he promised faithfully never again to play with fire! He was glad when the giant, satisfied with his promise, shut the great door and disappeared, and his little guide in the bright red suit came skipping toward him, and offered to take him back home.
On the way back he found things changed. The stove was black and cold, and the people who had been warming th