[Editor: This short story for children, by Eva Oakley, was published in Real Australian Fairy Stories, version 2 (1950).]
The jealous Giant visits Fairyland
Right away in the beautiful Australian Bush, where the lovely, little Bush Fairies lived, and spent a great deal of their time up in the big gum trees, talking to the Gum Nut Babies, and then, when they had returned home, after doing their good deeds every evening, danced and played and supped with the Pixies, or the Gnomes, or Elves, and sometimes, with the Bunnies, and indeed, sometimes, with all of them together, there lived also a very naughty, big, big Giant.
Now it was jealousy that made this Giant behave in a dreadful way, for he wanted to be tiny and dainty like the Fairies, who were so very beautiful. Well, you know, that was very wrong, for, if he had not scowled and made himself look ugly, through being jealous, he would have been very handsome, and, what is more, he could reach up to the fruit on the trees or, if he wished to go a journey, he could get to the place he wanted to visit in just a few strides. He had very elegant clothes too; but still, he was so jealous of the Fairies; he just was not thankful for all he had himself, so there he stayed about, grumbling.
Now, if he had only let the Fairies alone, and taken three or four big strides into the neighbouring part of the Bush, he would have found the home of another Giant and Giantess, who had a lovely daughter, with glorious, golden hair and such a beautiful, smiling face, and they would have welcomed him, and he could have married their daughter, and taken her to his grand castle, and they would have made a very fine-looking couple, for, as I told you before, he was really very handsome; but no, there he stayed.
Then, one day, when the Fairies were dancing all over the green round about the Fairy King and Queen’s palace, along came this stupid Giant, making himself look so ugly through his jealousy. Up he crept, quietly as a mouse, taking tiny steps, and glaring at the Fairies; but they were so happy they did not notice him, especially as he tried to keep himself hidden by the big trees.
However, the old Witch, who loved the good Fairies, but was very cross with the Giant, on account of his naughtiness, saw him, and decided that she would soon stop him from hurting the Fairies. Well! The old Witch sat astride her broomstick, and, away it went up in the air, and carried her off till she was quite close to the Giant, and, as she came near him, she sang this song:—
“Right through the thicket, and right through the trees,
Speed along quickly, oh, mightiest breeze,
And carry that Giant right up, off his feet,
For he means to catch all those Fairies, to eat.”
Then a huge whirlwind caught him, and, ever so soon, he was carried right up to the man in the moon. The Giant then had to live with the man in the moon, who told him just how foolish he had been, and made him realise how thankful he should be that he was really handsome, and had all those beautiful clothes, good food and a stately castle. Then the man in the moon told him about the beautiful, young Giantess, and, after all that, the Giant felt very ashamed, and longed to go back and be good, and so enjoy all the lovely things he should have been so happy about in the first place.
The man in the moon then said, “Yes! I think you have learnt a lesson, so, as soon as there is a rainbow in the sky I shall place you upon it, and you may slide back to the earth.” The Giant did this (for a rainbow appeared almost immediately) and he landed just outside his own castle door, and the man in the moon smiled, and so did the old Witch, who knew all about it.
Well, he was no longer the jealous Giant, for he realised now all he had, and, as soon as he had enjoyed a meal at home, he paid a visit to the neighbouring Giant, and was welcomed and invited to stay at his home for a while, and as he was now contented and very much in love, he asked the Giant’s daughter to marry him, which she did, and he returned home with her.
Now, she loved the Fairies and, would you believe it? Very soon, there were beautiful Fairies dancing in and out of the Giant’s castle, and all sorts of wonderful things happened every time the Fairies came. Soon the Giant and Giantess had a baby son, and the Fairies loved him, and came every evening to whisper pretty things to him, so that he smiled as he slept, and he grew up to love the dainty, little Fairies very dearly, and everybody was happy ever after.
Source:
Eva Oakley, Real Australian Fairy Stories (version 2), Melbourne: Austral Printing & Publishing Company, [1950], pp. 12-15
Editor’s notes:
green = an area of grassy public land (a common or park), especially one located in the centre of a village or a small town (often known as the village green)
sup = to eat or drink; imbibe drink or food by drinking or eating in small amounts (small mouthfuls, sips, or spoonfuls), especially liquid foods (such as soup); drink; have supper, eat an evening meal
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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