Contents
Barrels, Nuts and a Photograph
The Portrait of the Mist Fairy
Prolog
This is what it said on the final pages of a little yellowed book:
In days gone by, so long ago,
The forest lay there deep and dark.
What happened then we do not know.
A secret that has left its mark.
A Crescent Moon, so slim and bright,
Cast its glow on the dark night.
The valley, too, and all the hills
Bathed in silver. And the rills
Gleamed and twinkled, flashed and shone.
The forest dark, it slumbered on.
But what was this? So suddenly
Tree and flower, land and sea
Fell silent. From the forest floor
Arose a mist and then before
They knew it, all the grass turned pale.
The mist, it then became a veil.
Those years ago, on that dark night
In the clear glow of the starlight
A white dress from the mist arose
And then some hair, and then a nose:
A fairy bright, who must have been
More beautiful than any seen.
Through tears, the wispy fairy fine
Saw the light of the moon shine.
She loved this moon, though it was fain
To give her always naught but pain
Of every sort. How hot it burned,
And still her face she to it turned.
Full moons, they caused her so much pain –
She only danced when it was plain
That nought would be there that night present
Except the slender little crescent.
And so she dancéd in its light
And never thought of taking flight.
But in the darkness, hiding there,
A stranger watched her. O beware!
The south wind cried. Alas, alack!
The fairy never lookéd back
To see the man with dev’lish frown.
Sheer evil with an icy crown.
The dawn broke then, and the dark night
Turned into a morn so bright.
The veil of mist vanished anew
And landed on the grass as dew.
Soft and distant came the sound
Of sobbing, deep and so profound.
The next night fell – but o, so strange!
New Moon was due – but what a change!
The crescent’s rays felt very cold;
They shone into the forest old.
The fairy dancéd, full of glee,
“The rays – they are not hurting me!”
The south wind cried: “Look out! Now run!”
The fairy turned – but it was done
Too late. A clap of thunder filled the land.
An evil laugh. An icy hand
Took
