The Child Who Lived in the Wood

The child who lived in the wood.

       “And now what shall we do with her?" they asked each other. "It is not fitting that she should live in the attic any longer." 

       "Certainly the children don't deserve to have her," said one of the mice. 

       "Listen!" said a swallow who had flown down among "In the cottage where my sister lives, at the edge of the wood, there is a little girl. She is alone all day, for her mother goes out to work. She is a kind child, for she saves crumbs for the birds, and when she gathers nuts in autumn she always leaves the squirrels their share. Let us take the little doll to her, and then they will both be happy." 

       So they took the little doll up, very carefully, and carried her down the path to the meadow, and across the wood, while the fireflies flew ahead with their torches to light the way; and at last they came to the cottage. There were no stairs to go up, for the cottage was of one room only. Through the open window the moonlight shone in on the bare floor; on a bed in the corner the little girl lay asleep. She had only a tiny, cotton shirt on, for the night was warm; her small face was brown and freckled with the sun, and her hair lay tossed on the pillow. They set the little doll on a chair by the bedside, and so carefully had they carried her that not one thread of her dress was spoiled. 

       Only the yellow thing round her neck, being heavy, had slipped off from the grass chain. Right into the long grass it rolled, and there a beggar found it next morning. He picked it up and bit it, and slipped it in his pocket. "Here is luck for the whole week!" he said, as he went on his way. 

       "Good-by, little doll!" said the mice. "Here you will be happy, and in winter, when the long, dark nights return, we shall come and visit you." 

       And the swallow and the spiders and the tiny moths cried, "Good-by, little doll! When the dusk falls and the stars shine out, think of us, for we shall always love you!" 

       "I shall never forget you," said the little doll, and she stretched out her arms. 

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