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Voices of Spencer Creek Valley
Fairy
Fables
Sunny Side of Spencer Butte
Writer and historian
Lois Barton
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A Tale of The Old Man and The Fairies
by Lois Barton
An old man walked in the forest, seeking a place of solitude
where he could enter his deeper self. He was guided through the trees to a glade
where there was a fairy ring beside a fallen log. As he seated himself on the log,
the king of the fairies came to sit beside him. The man was delighted to have such
company, even though he expected it would delay his deeper search.
To his surprise the fairy began to question him. "Old man, why are you here?"
"I've come to find myself. I've been lost in the logical world too long."
"What self do you think is missing?"
"My real self. The one that came into birth with an assignment. My days are
numbered, and my work isn't finished."
"What makes you think you have more work to do?"
"There is this unsatisfied place deep inside me that comes to my attention as
I fall asleep. It never is quite clear to me, but if I can get in there while I am
awake, I believe I will understand what is still to be done.."
"Have you asked another for help?"
"You must be here with me for a reason."
"Bring out your loving child. We will play together to fill your heart with
joy."
"My loving child?"
"Have you forgotten the child who dwells in your heart?"
"Oh, sir, it's been so long since I knew of this child. How can I find something
that's been lost for so long?"
"Your child has been calling to you every time you approach slumber. Give me
your hand. Put the other over your heart and repeat after me, 'Dear child of my heart,
come dance with the fairies.'"
And the old man did as he was bid. Great tears of joy brimmed
from his eyes. His heart burned and swelled within him as he watched there in the
sunny glade a circle of fairies surrounding a laughing, chubby, blond boy of 4. As
the fairies skipped in a circle, the boy turned somersaults in the grass and chased
around inside the ring, gleefully clapping his hands and laughing merrily.
After a time the figures before the man faded. He rubbed his
eyes with bewilderment and yawned and stretched himself, then rose to his feet. He
noticed the ring of toadstools seemed trampled and broken up, even though he hadn't
noticed any action in the area as far as he remembered.
Somehow his mind and spirit felt serene and at peace as he wended his way back through
the forest to his home.
Copyright © 1997 by Lois Barton
This tale was first printed in the Quaker journal, Friendly Woman.
It is included in Through
My Window, More Autobiographical Sketches by Lois
Barton, Spencer Butte Press, 1997
See Lois's other story in this issue
See Mary DeDanan's Faery
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Buy books by Lois Barton Online!
History and stories of the peoples of the Northwest.
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