“KISSED IT SO THAT IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO LIVE UNDER WATER.”
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The Fairy Latchkey.
Now it had been told her that a draught of the elixir of death could alone release her, and that both the elixirs of death and of life were in the keeping of a mighty wizard, who lived in a great castle surrounded by a golden wall. In this wall was a golden gate which would open only to one who had no love for gold, while the little glass postern door that led into the castle would open only to him who had no love for lies, and across the doorway of the wizard’s chamber hung a silken curtain which could be drawn aside only by one who had never loved a woman. Now the pixie knew very well that it would be all but impossible for any man brought up among his kind to stand these three tests, so she resolved to rear a human child in the safe, secluded pool, and send it forth upon her quest. Already she had had three nurslings, who had grown to manhood and gone forth into the world, but not one of them had returned to bring her the elixir.
“Three generations have failed me,” said the pixie to herself, “but I will try yet once again.” So she cast a spell upon the woodcutter, and took his child and kissed it, so that it might be able to live under the water, and drew it down into the pool; and she gave it the name of Sorrel because of the bed of wood-sorrel upon which she had found it. Every night she sang to him his mother’s lullaby, and little Sorrel would look up through the crystal clear water at the mirrored moon, and would bid it good-night. Then when he grew older, the pixie taught him to play most sweetly upon a bulrush pipe, and many a wondrous story did she tell him of the early days before men lived upon the earth.
At last when Sorrel had grown to be a tall, strong youth, the pixie said to him; “The time has come, my son, when you should go forth into the upper world for my sake, and ask the elixir of death from a great wizard who lives far from here, for I am weary of my long, long life.”
At first Sorrel was much grieved at her words, for he loved the pixie dearly, as though she had been his own mother, but when he saw that it was indeed her heart’s desire, he promised that he would not rest till he had found the elixir. Then he bade her a tender farewell and set out, and as he walked through the great forest that was a new, strange world to him, he played a sweet air upon his bulrush pipe to keep up his spirits.
Beyond the forest lay a populous city which Sorrel reached at sundown, and as he wandered through it he gazed curiously at the many streets and houses, and at the fountains that played in the great squares. Now it happened that the king and queen of the country lived in that city, and as they sat together at one of the windows of their palace, they caught the strains of Sorrel’s pipe as he passed in the street below. So enchanted were they by its music, that they at once gave orders that he should be brought before them.
“Who taught you to play so melodiously upon a bulrush pipe?” asked the king.
“Sire, it was my mother,” replied Sorrel.
“Will you remain with us and be our court musician?” asked the queen.
“Madam, that I cannot,” returned Sorrel, “for my mother has sent me upon a very urgent quest. But I will gladly play to you now, it if so please you.” So Sorrel played to the king and queen, and after that they led him into the great banqueting-hall, where there was much feasting and merry-making.