Once upon a time there lived a fairy whose name was Dindonette. She was
the best creature in the world, with the kindest heart; but she had
not much sense, and was always doing things, to benefit people, which
generally ended in causing pain and distress to everybody concerned. No
one knew this better than the inhabitants of an island far off in the
midst of the sea, which, according to the laws of fairyland, she had
taken under her special protection, thinking day and night of what she
could do to make the isle the pleasantest place in the whole world, as
it was the most beautiful.
Now what happened was this:
As the fairy went about, unseen, from house to house, she heard
everywhere children longing for the time when they would be 'grown-up,'
and able, they thought, to do as they liked; and old people talking
about the past, and sighing to be young again.
'Is there no way of satisfying these poor things?' she thought. And
then one night an idea occurred to her. 'Oh, yes, of course! It has been
tried before; but I will manage better than the rest, with their old
Fountain of Youth, which, after all, only made people young again. I
will enchant the spring that bubbles up in the middle of the orchard,
and the children that drink of it shall at once become grown men and
women, and the old people return to the days of their childhood.'
And without stopping to consult one single other fairy, who might have
given her good advice, off rushed Dindonette, to cast her spell over the
fountain.
It was the only spring of fresh water in the island, and at dawn was
crowded with people of all ages, come to drink at its source. Delighted
at her plan for making them all happy, the fairy hid herself behind a
thicket of roses, and peeped out whenever footsteps came that way.
It was not long before she had ample proof of the success of her
enchantments. Almost before her eyes the children put on the size
and strength of adults, while the old men and women instantly became
helpless, tiny babies. Indeed, so pleased was she with the result of
her work, that she could no longer remain hidden, and went about telling
everybody what she had done, and enjoying their gratitude and thanks.
But after the first outburst of delight at their wishes being granted,
people began to be a little frightened at the rapid effects of the magic
water. It was delicious to feel yourself at the height of your power and
beauty, but you would wish to keep so always! Now this was exactly what
the fairy had been in too much of a hurry to arrange, and no sooner had
the children become grown up, and the men and women become babies, than
they all rushed on to old age at an appalling rate! The fairy only found
out her mistake when it was too late to set it right.
When the inhabitants of the island saw what had befallen them, they were
filled with despair, and did everything they could think of to escape
from such a dreadful fate. They dug wells in their places, so that they
should no longer need to drink from the magic spring; but the sandy soil
yielded no water, and the rainy season was already past. They stored up
the dew that fell, and the juice of fruits and of herbs, but all this
was as a drop in the ocean of their wants. Some threw themselves
into the sea, trusting that the current might carry them to other
shores--they had no boats--and a few, still more impatient, put
themselves to death on the spot. The rest submitted blindly to their
destiny.
Perhaps the worst part of the enchantment was, that the change from
one age to another was so rapid that the person had no time to prepare
himself for it. It would not have mattered so much if the man who stood
up in the assembly of the nation, to give his advice as to peace or war,
had looked like a baby, as long as he spoke with the knowledge and sense
of a full-grown man. But, alas! with the outward form of an infant, he
had taken on its helplessness and foolishness, and there was no one who
could train him to better things. The end of it all was, that before a
month had passed the population had died out, and the fairy Dindonette,
ashamed and grieved at the effects of her folly, had left the island for
ever.
Many centuries after, the fairy Selnozoura, who had fallen into bad
health, was ordered by her doctors to make the tour of the world twice
a week for change of air, and in one of these journeys she found herself
at Fountain Island. Selnozoura never made these trips alone, but always
took with her two children, of whom she was very fond--Cornichon, a boy
of fourteen, bought in his childhood at a slave-market, and Toupette, a
few months younger, who had been entrusted to the care of the fairy by
her guardian, the genius Kristopo. Cornichon and Toupette were intended
by Selnozoura to become husband and wife, as soon as they were old
enough. Meanwhile, they travelled with her in a little vessel, whose
speed through the air was just a thousand nine hundred and fifty times
greater than that of the swiftest of our ships.
Struck with the beauty of the island, Selnozoura ran the vessel to
ground, and leaving it in the care of the dragon which lived in the hold
during the voyage, stepped on shore with her two companions. Surprised
at the sight of a large town whose streets and houses were absolutely
desolate, the fairy resolved to put her magic arts in practice to
find out the cause. While she was thus engaged, Cornichon and Toupette
wandered away by themselves, and by-and-by arrived at the fountain,
whose bubbling waters looked cool and delicious on such a hot day.
Scarcely had they each drunk a deep draught, when the fairy, who by this
time had discovered all she wished to know, hastened to the spot.
'Oh, beware! beware!' she cried, the moment she saw them. 'If you drink
that deadly poison you will be ruined for ever!'
'Poison?' answered Toupette. 'It is the most refreshing water I have
ever tasted, and Cornichon will say so too!'
'Unhappy children, then I am too late! Why did you leave me? Listen,
and I will tell you what has befallen the wretched inhabitants of this
island, and what will befall you too. The power of fairies is great,'
she added, when she had finished her story, 'but they cannot destroy the
work of another fairy. Very shortly you will pass into the weakness and
silliness of extreme old age, and all I can do for you is to make it as
easy to you as possible, and to preserve you from the death that others
have suffered, from having no one to look after them. But the charm is
working already! Cornichon is taller and more manly than he was an hour
ago, and Toupette no longer looks like a little girl.'
It was true; but this fact did not seem to render the young people as
miserable as it did Selnozoura.
'Do not pity us,' said Cornichon. 'If we are fated to grow old so soon,
let us no longer delay our marriage. What matter if we anticipate our
decay, if we only anticipate our happiness too?'
The fairy felt that Cornichon had reason on his side, and seeing by a
glance at Toupette's face that there was no opposition to be feared from
her, she answered, 'Let it be so, then. But not in this dreadful place.
We will return at once to Bagota, and the festivities shall be the most
brilliant ever seen.'
They all returned to the vessel, and in a few hours the four thousand
five hundred miles that lay between the island and Bagota were passed.
Everyone was surprised to see the change which the short absence had
made in the young people, but as the fairy had promised absolute silence
about the adventure, they were none the wiser, and busied themselves in
preparing their dresses for the marriage, which was fixed for the next
night.
Early on the following morning the genius Kristopo arrived at the Court,
on one of the visits he was in the habit of paying his ward from time to
time. Like the rest, he was astonished at the sudden improvement in the
child. He had always been fond of her, and in a moment he fell violently
in love. Hastily demanding an audience of the fairy, he laid his
proposals before her, never doubting that she would give her consent to
so brilliant a match. But Selnozoura refused to listen, and even
hinted that in his own interest Kristopo had better turn his thoughts
elsewhere. The genius pretended to agree, but, instead, he went straight
to Toupette's room, and flew away with her through the window, at the
very instant that the bridegroom was awaiting her below.
When the fairy discovered what had happened, she was furious, and sent
messenger after messenger to the genius in his palace at Ratibouf,
commanding him to restore Toupette without delay, and threatening to
make war in case of refusal.
Kristopo gave no direct answer to the fairy's envoys, but kept Toupette
closely guarded in a tower, where the poor girl used all her powers of
persuasion to induce him to put off their marriage. All would, however,
have been quite vain if, in the course of a few days, sorrow, joined
to the spell of the magic water, had not altered her appearance so
completely that Kristopo was quite alarmed, and declared that she needed
amusement and fresh air, and that, as his presence seemed to distress
her, she should be left her own mistress. But one thing he declined to
do, and that was to send her back to Bagota.
In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and
Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while
Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces. But before
war was actually declared, Toupette's parents, who had been summoned
by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf. They had never seen their daughter
since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers
to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty. What was their
amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a
middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact,
older than themselves. Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were
at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of
his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady
in her place. Bursting with rage, he sent instantly for all the servants
and guards of the town, and inquired who had the insolence to play him
such a trick, and what had become of their prisoner. They replied that
since Toupette had been in their charge she had never left her rooms
unveiled, and that during her walks in the surrounding gardens, her food
had been brought in and placed on her table; as she preferred to eat
alone no one had ever seen her face, or knew what she was like.
The servants were clearly speaking the truth, and Kristopo was obliged
to believe them. 'But,' thought he, 'if they have not had a hand in
this, it must be the work of the fairy,' and in his anger he ordered the
army to be ready to march.
On her side, Selnozoura of course knew what the genius had to expect,
but was deeply offended when she heard of the base trick which she
was believed to have invented. Her first desire was to give battle to
Kristopo at once, but with great difficulty her ministers induced her to
pause, and to send an ambassador to Kristopo to try to arrange matters.
So the Prince Zeprady departed for the court of Ratibouf, and on his way
he met Cornichon, who was encamped with his army just outside the gates
of Bagota. The prince showed him the fairy's written order that for the
present peace must still be kept, and Cornichon, filled with longing to
see Toupette once more, begged to be allowed to accompany Zeprady on his
mission to Ratibouf.
By this time the genius's passion for Toupette, which had caused all
these troubles, had died out, and he willingly accepted the terms of
peace offered by Zeprady, though he informed the prince that he still
believed the fairy to be guilty of the dreadful change in the girl. To
this the prince only replied that on that point he had a witness who
could prove, better than anyone else, if it was Toupette or not, and
desired that Cornichon should be sent for.
When Toupette was told that she was to see her old lover again, her
heart leapt with joy; but soon the recollection came to her of all that
had happened, and she remembered that Cornichon would be changed as well
as she. The moment of their meeting was not all happiness, especially
on the part of Toupette, who could not forget her lost beauty, and the
genius, who was present, was at last convinced that he had not been
deceived, and went out to sign the treaty of peace, followed by his
attendants.
'Ah, Toupette: my dear Toupette!' cried Cornichon, as soon as they were
left alone; 'now that we are once more united, let our past troubles be
forgotten.'
'Our past troubles!' answered she, 'and what do you call our lost beauty
and the dreadful future before us? You are looking fifty years older
than when I saw you last, and I know too well that fate has treated me
no better!'
'Ah, do not say that,' replied Cornichon, clasping her hand. 'You are
different, it is true; but every age has its graces, and surely no woman
of sixty was ever handsomer than you! If your eyes had been as bright as
of yore they would have matched badly with your faded skin. The wrinkles
which I notice on your forehead explain the increased fulness of your
cheeks, and your throat in withering is elegant in decay. Thus the
harmony shown by your features, even as they grow old, is the best proof
of their former beauty.'
'Oh, monster!' cried Toupette, bursting into tears, 'is that all the
comfort you can give me?'
'But, Toupette,' answered Cornichon, 'you used to declare that you did
not care for beauty, as long as you had my heart.'
'Yes, I know,' said she, 'but how can you go on caring for a person who
is as old and plain as I?'
'Toupette, Toupette,' replied Cornichon, 'you are only talking nonsense.
My heart is as much yours as ever it was, and nothing in the world can
make any difference.'
At this point of the conversation the Prince Zeprady entered the room,
with the news that the genius, full of regret for his behaviour, had
given Cornichon full permission to depart for Bagota as soon as he
liked, and to take Toupette with him; adding that, though he begged they
would excuse his taking leave of them before they went, he hoped, before
long, to visit them at Bagota.
Neither of the lovers slept that night--Cornichon from joy at returning
home, Toupette from dread of the blow to her vanity which awaited her at
Bagota. It was hopeless for Cornichon to try to console her during the
journey with the reasons he had given the day before. She only grew
worse and worse, and when they reached the palace went straight to her
old apartments, entreating the fairy to allow both herself and Cornichon
to remain concealed, and to see no one.
For some time after their arrival the fairy was taken up with the
preparations for the rejoicings which were to celebrate the peace, and
with the reception of the genius, who was determined to do all in his
power to regain Selnozoura's lost friendship. Cornichon and Toupette
were therefore left entirely to themselves, and though this was only
what they wanted, still, they began to feel a little neglected.
At length, one morning, they saw from the windows that the fairy and
the genius were approaching, in state, with all their courtiers in
attendance. Toupette instantly hid herself in the darkest corner of
the room, but Cornichon, forgetting that he was now no longer a boy of
fourteen, ran to meet them. In so doing he tripped and fell, bruising
one of his eyes severely. At the sight of her lover lying helpless on
the floor, Toupette hastened to his side; but her feeble legs gave way
under her, and she fell almost on top of him, knocking out three of her
loosened teeth against his forehead. The fairy, who entered the room at
this moment, burst into tears, and listened in silence to the genius,
who hinted that by-and-by everything would be put right.
'At the last assembly of the fairies,' he said, 'when the doings of each
fairy were examined and discussed, a proposal was made to lessen, as
far as possible, the mischief caused by Dindonette by enchanting
the fountain. And it was decided that, as she had meant nothing but
kindness, she should have the power of undoing one half of the spell. Of
course she might always have destroyed the fatal fountain, which would
have been best of all; but this she never thought of. Yet, in spite of
this, her heart is so good, that I am sure that the moment she hears
that she is wanted she will fly to help. Only, before she comes, it is
for you, Madam, to make up your mind which of the two shall regain their
former strength and beauty.'
At these words the fairy's soul sank. Both Cornichon and Toupette were
equally dear to her, and how could she favour one at the cost of the
other? As to the courtiers, none of the men were able to understand why
she hesitated a second to declare for Toupette; while the ladies were
equally strong on the side of Cornichon.
But, however undecided the fairy might be, it was quite different with
Cornichon and Toupette.
'Ah, my love,' exclaimed Cornichon, 'at length I shall be able to
give you the best proof of my devotion by showing you how I value the
beauties of your mind above those of your body! While the most charming
women of the court will fall victims to my youth and strength, I shall
think of nothing but how to lay them at your feet, and pay heart-felt
homage to your age and wrinkles.'
'Not so fast,' interrupted Toupette, 'I don't see why you should have it
all. Why do you heap such humiliations upon me? But I will trust to the
justice of the fairy, who will not treat me so.'
Then she entered her own rooms, and refused to leave them, in spite of
the prayers of Cornichon, who begged her to let him explain.
No one at the court thought or spoke of any other subject during the few
days before the arrival of Dindonette, whom everybody expected to set
things right in a moment. But, alas! she had no idea herself what was
best to be done, and always adopted the opinion of the person she was
talking to. At length a thought struck her, which seemed the only way
of satisfying both parties, and she asked the fairy to call together all
the court and the people to hear her decision.
'Happy is he,' she began, 'who can repair the evil he has caused, but
happier he who has never caused any.'
As nobody contradicted this remark, she continued:
'To me it is only allowed to undo one half of the mischief I have
wrought. I could restore you your youth,' she said to Cornichon, 'or
your beauty,' turning to Toupette. 'I will do both; and I will do
neither.'
A murmur of curiosity arose from the crowd, while Cornichon and Toupette
trembled with astonishment.
'No,' went on Dindonette, 'never should I have the cruelty to leave one
of you to decay, while the other enjoys the glory of youth. And as I
cannot restore you both at once to what you were, one half of each of
your bodies shall become young again, while the other half goes on
its way to decay. I will leave it to you to choose which half it shall
be--if I shall draw a line round the waist, or a line straight down the
middle of the body.'
She looked about her proudly, expecting applause for her clever idea.
But Cornichon and Toupette were shaking with rage and disappointment,
and everyone else broke into shouts of laughter. In pity for the unhappy
lovers, Selnozoura came forward.
'Do you not think,' she said, 'that instead of what you propose, it
would be better to let them take it in turns to enjoy their former youth
and beauty for a fixed time? I am sure you could easily manage that.'
'What an excellent notion!' cried Dindonette. 'Oh, yes, of course that
is best! Which of you shall I touch first?'
'Touch her,' replied Cornichon, who was always ready to give way to
Toupette. 'I know her heart too well to fear any change.'
So the fairy bent forward and touched her with her magic ring, and in
one instant the old woman was a girl again. The whole court wept with
joy at the sight, and Toupette ran up to Cornichon, who had fallen down
in his surprise, promising to pay him long visits, and tell him of all
her balls and water parties.
The two fairies went to their own apartments, where the genius followed
them to take his leave.
'Oh, dear!' suddenly cried Dindonette, breaking in to the farewell
speech of the genius. 'I quite forgot to fix the time when Cornichon
should in his turn grow young. How stupid of me! And now I fear it is
too late, for I ought to have declared it before I touched Toupette with
the ring. Oh, dear! oh, dear! why did nobody warn me?'
'You were so quick,' replied Selnozoura, who had long been aware of
the mischief the fairy had again done, 'and we can only wait now till
Cornichon shall have reached the utmost limits of his decay, when he
will drink of the water, and become a baby once more, so that Toupette
will have to spend her life as a nurse, a wife, and a caretaker.'
After the anxiety of mind and the weakness of body to which for so long
Toupette had been a prey, it seemed as if she could not amuse herself
enough, and it was seldom indeed that she found time to visit poor
Cornichon, though she did not cease to be fond of him, or to be kind to
him. Still, she was perfectly happy without him, and this the poor man
did not fail to see, almost blind and deaf from age though he was.
But it was left to Kristopo to undo at last the work of Dindonette, and
give Cornichon back the youth he had lost, and this the genius did all
the more gladly, as he discovered, quite by accident, that Cornichon was
in fact his son. It was on this plea that he attended the great yearly
meeting of the fairies, and prayed that, in consideration of his
services to so many of the members, this one boon might be granted
him. Such a request had never before been heard in fairyland, and
was objected to by some of the older fairies; but both Kristopo and
Selnozoura were held in such high honour that the murmurs of disgust
were set aside, and the latest victim to the enchanted fountain was
pronounced to be free of the spell. All that the genius asked in return
was that he might accompany the fairy back to Bagota, and be present
when his son assumed his proper shape.
They made up their minds they would just tell Toupette that they
had found a husband for her, and give her a pleasant surprise at her
wedding, which was fixed for the following night. She heard the news
with astonishment, and many pangs for the grief which Cornichon would
certainly feel at his place being taken by another; but she did not
dream of disobeying the fairy, and spent the whole day wondering who the
bridegroom could be.
At the appointed hour, a large crowd assembled at the fairy's palace,
which was decorated with the sweetest flowers, known only to fairyland.
Toupette had taken her place, but where was the bridegroom?
'Fetch Cornichon!' said the fairy to her chamberlain.
But Toupette interposed: 'Oh, Madam, spare him, I entreat you, this
bitter pain, and let him remain hidden and in peace.'
'It is necessary that he should be here,' answered the fairy, 'and he
will not regret it.'
And, as she spoke, Cornichon was led in, smiling with the foolishness of
extreme old age at the sight of the gay crowd.
'Bring him here,' commanded the fairy, waving her hand towards Toupette,
who started back from surprise and horror.
Selnozoura then took the hand of the poor old man, and the genius came
forward and touched him three times with his ring, when Cornichon was
transformed into a handsome young man.
'May you live long,' the genius said, 'to enjoy happiness with your
wife, and to love your father.'
And that was the end of the mischief wrought by the fairy Dindonette!
