There
was once a woman who wished very much to have a little child, but she
could not obtain her wish. At last she went to a fairy, and said, "I
should so very much like to have a little child; can you tell me where I can find one?"
"Oh, that can be easily managed," said the fairy. "Here is a barleycorn
of a different kind to those which grow in the farmer's fields, and
which the chickens eat; put it into a flower-pot, and see what will
happen."
"Thank you," said the woman, and she gave the fairy twelve shillings,
which was the price of the barleycorn. Then she went home and planted
it, and immediately there grew up a large handsome flower, something
like a tulip in appearance, but with its leaves tightly closed as if it
were still a bud.
"It is a beautiful flower,"
said the woman, and she kissed the red and golden-colored leaves, and
while she did so the flower opened, and she could see that it was a real
tulip. Within the flower, upon the green velvet stamens, sat a very
delicate and graceful little maiden. She was scarcely half as long as a
thumb, and they gave her the name of "Thumbelina," or Tiny, because she was so small.
A walnut-shell, elegantly polished, served her for a cradle; her bed
was formed of blue violet-leaves, with a rose-leaf for a counterpane.
Here she slept at night, but during the day she amused herself on a
table, where the woman had placed a plateful of water. Round this plate
were wreaths of flowers with their stems in the water, and upon it
floated a large tulip-leaf, which served Tiny for a boat. Here the
little maiden sat and rowed herself from side to side, with two oars
made of white horse-hair. It really was a very pretty sight. Tiny could,
also, sing so softly and sweetly that nothing like her singing had ever
before been heard.
