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Chapter 3. The land of memory.
The fairy Baralun had told the children that theland of memory was not far off, but to reach ityou had to go through a forest that was so denseand so old that your eyes could not see the topsof the trees.
It was always shrouded in a heavy mist, and thechildren would certainly have lost their way, ifthe fairy had not said to them beforehand.
It is straight ahead, and there is only one road.The ground was carpeted with flowers which wereall alike,
they were snow-white pansies and very pretty, but,as they never saw the sun, they had no scent.
Those little flowers comforted the children, whofelt extremely lonely. A great mysterious silence
surrounded them, and they trembled a little with avery pleasant sense of fear which they had never
felt before. Let's take granny a bunch of flowers,said Maitel. That's a good idea. She will bepleased,
cried Tavel. And, as they walked along, thechildren gathered a beautiful white nose-gay.
The dear little things did not know that everypansy, which means a thought, that they picked
brought them nearer to their grandparents, andthey soon saw before them a large oak with anotice-board
nailed to it. Here we are, cried the boy intriumph, as, climbing up on a root, he read.
The land of memory. They had arrived, but theyturned to every side without seeing a thing.
I can see nothing at all. whimpered Maitel. I'mcold. I'm tired. I don't want to travel any more.
Tavel, who was wholly wrapped up in his errand,lost his temper.
Come, don't keep on crying just like water. Youought to be ashamed of yourself, he said.
There! look! look! the fog is lifting. And, sureenough, the mist parted before their eyes,
like veils torn by an invisible hand, the bigtrees faded away, everything vanished and,instead,
there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage,covered with creepers and standing in a little
garden filled with flowers and with trees all overfruit. Everything vanished and, instead,
there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage.The children at once knew the deer-cow in the
orchard, the watchdog at the door, the blackbirdin his wicker cage, and everything was steeped in
a pale light and a warm and balmy air. Tavel and Maitel stood amazed. So that was the land of
memory. What lovely weather it was! and how niceit felt to be there. They at once made up their
minds to come back often, now that they knew theway. But how great was their happiness when the
last veil disappeared and they saw, at a few stepsfrom them, Grandad and Granny sitting on a
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bench, sound asleep. They clapped their hands andcalled out gleefully. It's Grandad! It's Granny!
There they are! There they are! But they were alittle scared by this great piece of magic and
dared not move from behind the tree, and theystood looking at the dear old couple, who woke
up gently and slowly under their eyes. Then theyheard Granny Till's trembling voice say.
I have a notion that our grandchildren who arestill alive are coming to see us today.
And Gaffer Till answered. They are certainlythinking of us, for I feel queer and I have
pins and needles in my legs. I think they must bequite near, said Granny, for I see
tears of joy dancing before my eyes and. Grannyhad not time to finish her sentence.
The children were in her arms. What joy! What wildkisses and huggings! What a wonderful surprise!
The happiness was too great for words. Theylaughed and tried to speak and kept on looking
at one another with delighted eyes, it was soglorious and so unexpected to meet again like
this. When the first excitement was over, they allbegan to talk at once.
How tall and strong you've grown, Toddle, saidGranny. And Grandad cried.
And Midal! Just look at her! What pretty hair,what pretty eyes! And the children danced and
clapped their hands and flung themselves by turnsinto the arms of one or the other.
At last, they quieted down a little, and, with Midal nestling against Grandad's chest
and Toddle comfortably perched on Granny's knees,they began to talk of family affairs.
How are Daddy and Mummy tall? asked Granny.
Quite well, Granny, said Toddle. They were asleepwhen we went out. Granny gave them fresh
kisses and said. My word, how pretty they are andhow nice and clean! Why don't you come to
see us oftener? It is months and months now thatyou have forgotten us and that we have seen
nobody. We couldn't, Granny, said Toddle, andtoday it's only because of the fairy.
We are always here, said Granny Tall, waiting fora visit from those who are alive. The last
time you were here was on All Hallows. All Hallows? We didn't go out that day, for we both
had colds. But you thought of us. And, every timeyou think of us, we wake up and see you again.
Toddle remembered that the fairy had told himthis. He had not thought it possible then,
but now, with his head on the heart of the dearGranny whom he had missed so much,
he began to understand things and he felt that hisgrandparents had not left him altogether.
He asked. So you were not really dead? The oldcouple burst out laughing. When they exchanged
their life on earth for another and a much nicerand more beautiful life, they had forgotten the
word dead. What does that word dead mean? asked Gaffer Tall. Why, it means that one's no longer
alive, said Toddle. Grandad and Granny only shrugged their shoulders. How stupid the living
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are, when they speak of the others. Was all theysaid. And they went over their memories again,
rejoicing in being able to chat. All old peoplelove discussing old times. The future is finished,
as far as they are concerned, and so they delightin the present and the past. But we are growing
impatient, like Toddle, and, instead of listeningto them, we will follow our little friend's
movements. He had jumped off Granny's knees andwas poking about in every corner, delighted at
finding all sorts of things which he knew andremembered. Nothing is changed, everything is
in its old place, he cried. And, as he had notbeen to the old people's home for so long,
everything struck him as much nicer, and he added,in the voice of one who knows,
only everything is prettier. Hello, there's theclock with the big hand which I broke the
point off and the hole which I made in the door,the day I found Grandad's gimlet.
Yes, you've done some damage in your time, saidGrandad. And there's the plum tree which you were
so fond of climbing, when I wasn't looking. Meantime, Toddle was not forgetting his errand.
You haven't the blue bird here by chance, Isuppose?
At the same moment, Midle, lifting her head, saw acage.
Hello, there's the old blackbird. Does he stillsing?
As she spoke, the blackbird woke up and began tosing at the top of his voice.
You see, said Granny, as soon as one thinks ofhim. Toddle was simply amazed at what he saw.
But he's blue, he shouted. Why, that's the bird,the blue bird. He's blue, blue,
blue as a blue-glass marble. Will you give him tome? The grandparents gladly consented,
and, full of triumph, Toddle went and fetched thecage which he had left by the tree. He took hold
of the precious bird with the greatest of care,and it began to hop about in its new home.
How pleased the fairy will be, said the boy, rejoicing at his conquest. And light too.
Come along, said the grandparents. Come and lookat the cow and the bees.
As the old couple were beginning to toddle acrossthe garden, the children suddenly asked if their
little dead brothers and sisters were there too.At the same moment, seven little children, who,
up to then, had been sleeping in the house, cametearing like mad into the garden. Toddle and
Midle ran up to them. They all hustled and huggedone another and danced and whirled about in
uttered screams of joy. Here they are, here theyare, said Granny. As soon as you speak of them,
they are there, the imps. Toddle caught a littleone by the hair.
Hello, Pierrot. So we're going to fight again, asin the old days. And Robert. I say, Jane,
what's become of your top? Madeleine and Pierretteand Pauline. And here's Rickette.
Midle laughed. Rickette still crawling on all fours. Toddle noticed a little dog yapping
around them. There's Kiki, whose tail I cut offwith Pauline's scissors. He hasn't changed either.
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No, said Gaffertel, in a voice of greatimportance, nothing changes here. But, suddenly,
amid the general rejoicings, the old peoplestopped spellbound, they had heard the small
voice at the clock indoors strike eight. Thegrandparents and grandchildren sat down to
supper. How's this? they asked. It never strikesnowadays. That's because we no longer think of
the time, said Granny. Was anyone thinking of thetime? Yes, I was, said Tidletal. So it's eight
o'clock? Then I'm off, for I promised Light to beback before nine. He was going for the cage,
but the others were too happy to let him run awayso soon, it would be horrid to say goodbye
like that. Granny had a good idea, she knew what alittle glutton Toddle was. It was just
suppertime and, as luck would have it, there wassome capital cabbage soup and a beautiful plum
tart. Well, said our hero, as I've got the bluebird. And cabbage soup is a thing you don't have
every day. They all hurried and carried the tableoutside and laid it with a nice white table cloth
and put a plate for each, and, lastly, Grannybrought out the steaming soup to rein in state.
The lamp was lit and the grandparents andgrandchildren sat down to supper,
jostling and elbowing one another and laughing andshouting with pleasure.
Then, for a time, nothing was heard but the soundof the wooden spoons noisily clattering
against the soup plates. How good it is! Oh, howgood it is, shouted Tidletal, who was eating
greedily. I want some more. More. More. More.Come, come, a little more quiet, said Grandad.
You're just as ill-behaved as ever, and you'llbreak your plate. Toddle took no notice of the
remark, stood up on his stool, caught hold of theterrine and dragged it towards him and upset it,
and the hot soup trickled all over the table anddown upon everybody's lap. The children
yelled and screamed with pain. Granny was quitescared, and Grandad was furious. He dealt our
friend Toddle a tremendous box on the ear. Toddlewas staggered for a moment, and then he put his
hand to his cheek with a look of rapture and exclaimed. Grandad, how good, how jolly! It was
just like the slaps you used to give me when youwere alive. I must give you a kiss for it.
Everybody laughed. There's more where that camefrom, if you like them, said Grandad,
grumpily. But he was touched, all the same, andturned to wipe a tear from his eyes.
Goodness, cried Toddle, starting up. There's half-past eight striking.
Midal, we've only just got time. Granny in vainimplored them to stay a few minutes longer.
No, we can't possibly, said Toddle firmly, Ipromised light.
And he hurried to take up the precious cage.
Good-bye, Grandad. Good-bye, Granny. Good-bye,brothers and sisters,
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Pierrot, Robert, Pauline, Madeleine, Riquette andyou, too, Kiki. We can't stay. Don't cry,
Granny, we will come back often. Poor old Grandadwas very much upset and complained lustily.
Gracious me, how tiresome the living are, with alltheir fuss and excitement.
Toddle tried to console him and again promised tocome back very often.
Come back every day, said Granny. It is our onlypleasure, and it's such a treat for us when
your thoughts pay us a visit. Good-bye. Good-bye,cried the brothers and sisters in chorus.
Come back very soon. Bring us some barley sugar.
There were more kisses, all waved their handkerchiefs, all shouted a last good-bye.
But the figures began to fade away, the littlevoices could no longer be heard,
the two children were once more wrapped in mist,and the old forest covered them with its great
dark mantle. I'm so frightened! whimpered Midal.Give me your hand, little brother. I'm sofrightened.
Toddle was shaking too, but it was his duty to tryand comfort and console his sister.
Hush, he said. Remember that we are bringing backthe blue bird.
As he spoke, a thin ray of light pierced the gloom, and the little boy hurried towards it.
He was holding his cage tight in his arms, and thefirst thing he did was to look at his bird.
Alas and alack, what a disappointment awaited him!The beautiful blue bird of the land of
memory had turned quite black. Stare at it as hardas Toddle might, the bird was black.
Oh, how well he knew the old black bird that usedto sing in its wicker prison,
in the old days, at the door of the house! Whathad happened! How painful it was!
And how cruel life seemed to him just then! He hadstarted on his journey with such zest and
delight that he had not thought for a moment ofthe difficulties and dangers. Full of confidence,
pluck and kindness, he had marched off, certain offinding the beautiful blue bird which would
bring happiness to the fairy's little girl. Andnow all his hopes were shattered. For the first
time, our poor friend understood the trials, thevexations and the obstacles that awaited him.
Alas, was he attempting an impossible thing? Wasthe fairy making fun of him? Would he ever find
the blue bird? All his courage seemed to beleaving him. To add to his misfortunes, he could
not find the straight road by which he had come.There was not a single white pansy on the ground,
and he began to cry. Luckily, our little friendswere not to remain in trouble long.
The fairy had promised that light would watch overthem. The first trial was over,
and, just as outside the old people's house alittle while ago, the mist now suddenly lifted.
But, instead of disclosing a peaceful picture, agentle, homely scene, it revealed a marvelous
temple, with a blinding glare streaming from it.On the threshold stood light, fair and beautiful
in her diamond-colored dress. She smiled when Tidal told her of his first failure.
She knew what the little ones were seeking, sheknew everything. For light surrounds all mortals
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with her love, though none of them is fond enoughof her ever to receive her thoroughly
and thus to learn all the secrets of truth. Now,for the first time, thanks to the diamond which
the fairy had given to the boy, she was going totry and conquer a human soul.
Do not be sad, she said to the children. Are younot pleased to have seen your grandparents?
Is that not enough happiness for one day? Are younot glad to have restored the old black
bird to life? Listen to him singing. For the oldblack bird was singing with might and mane,
and his little yellow eyes sparkled with pleasureas he hopped about his big cage.
As you look for the blue bird, dear children, accustom yourselves to love the gray birds
which you find on your way. She nodded her fairhead gravely, and it was quite clear that she
knew where the blue bird was. But life is oftenfull of beautiful mysteries, which we must
respect, lest we should destroy them, and, iflight had told the children where the blue bird
was, well, they would never have found him. I willtell you why at the end of this story.
And now let us leave our little friends to sleepon beautiful white clouds under
light's watchful care.
Google Play, Amazon Audible, or else.
Google Play, Amazon Audible, or else.
