~ The Magic Fountain ~

A folk tale Retold by Rose Williams

In a small village deep in the countryside of France there once lived two children. The boy was called Sylvain. he was tall and handsome with dark hair and deep-brown eyes. The girl was called Jocosa. She was slim and pretty, with blue eyes and curly blonde hair. The two children had been friends all their lives. Every day they looked after their flocks of sheep, and sat in the shade of a hawthorn bush, talking together

One day the Fairy of the Meadows saw the two children, sitting among the sheep. Jocosa was listening to Sylvain who was playing a pipe he had made from reeds. "What lovely children", she thought, "and they are so fond of each other. I will take them under my special protection and keep them from harm".

She decided she would leave small gifts of cakes or sweets where she knew the children would find them. If Sylvain found the food, he would immediately offer some to Jocosa. If Jocosa saw the food first she would call out to Sylvain, "Look at this cake lying under the hawthorn bush. I'll cut a piece for you".

The years passed by and the children grew into two young people who cared for each other more than for anyone else in the world. One fine spring morning, the Fairy of the Meadows decided it was time to show herself to them. Walking quietly across the grass, she stood in front of Sylvain and Jocosa. The leapt to their feet and stared in astonishment as the beautiful fairy, dressed all in green and wearing a crown of wild flowers on her head.

"Don't be afraid", the fairy said, "I am the fairy of the meadows and for many years I have protected you. I was the person who left you those gifts to find and enjoy. Now it is time for you to do something for me in return".

Sylvain bowed his head because he realized the Fairy was a queen in her own land. "Of course", he replied quickly and Jocosa nodded in agreement.

"You know that little fountain which bubbles up where the stream leaves the meadow and runs into the woods? I want you to promise that each morning at sunrise you will go there and clear away any leaves or twigs which have fallen on it. If you do this every day you will never be parted".

Sylvain and Jocosa happily gave their promise. Each morning they met at the fountain where they cleared away all the leaves and twigs. the fountain, with its clear water sparkling in the sunlight became the prettiest in the whole countryside. they kept their promise to the fairy for many months. but early one summer's morning, as the two hurried towards the fountain, they both noticed bright clusters of beautiful poppies and buttercups and forget-me-nots growing thickly in the field.

"I'll take a bunch to Sylvain", thought Jocosa.

"I'll make a garland for Jocosa", decided Sylvain.

They were so busy picking the flowers that they did not notice the sun rising above the horizon. Suddenly the first rays of light shone across the country and they both realized that they would be too late to tidy the fountain. Dropping their flowers in dismay, the ran towards it. As each stood on either side of the bank, they saw that the waters were already muddied and seething. The little stream had become a river, swollen by torrents of water which flowed and rushed between them.

"Wait for me Jocosa!" cried Sylvain. Desperately he jumped into the waters and tried to swim across, but in vain. the current was too strong and drove him back to the bank.

"I'll come to you!' called Jocosa. She tried to throw some branches across the water to make a bridge, but the current swept them away.

"Let's follow the river", Sylvain shouted across to Jocosa, "until we find a bridge or a boat further along".

So the two started walking along each bank but the river grew wider and wider until they could hardly see each other. Because they could not bear to be separated, they struggled on day and night, over mountains and through valleys, in the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

For three years they kept walking, always hoping that one day they would be together again. Finally they found themselves standing on towering cliffs where the river surged into the sea. They looked at each other across the great distance and despaired because they were further away from each other than ever. At this moment the Fairy of the Meadows, who had kept them safe on their long journeys, decided they had suffered enough. She used her magic powers and in an instant they found themselves on the golden sands.

"Oh Jocosa!" Sylvia cried out joyfully and they ran to hug each other.

Then Jocosa said, "We are to blame for our suffering because we did not keep our promise to the Fairy of the Meadows".

"Yes", Sylvain agreed sadly. "It was all our fault".

When the fairy heard how sorry they were, she appeared in front of them. Jocosa and Sylvain begged her to forgive them. She smiled and touched them lightly on their shoulders.

"Don't be unhappy anymore", she said, "for now it is time for you to return to your home". Using her magic powers once more, the Fairy whisked Sylvain and Jocosa through the air. The next moment they were standing beside their precious fountain, which once more sparkled pure and clear. Their parents gladly agreed to the marriage of their children. a little cottage was prepared for them near to the magic fountain. The wedding day was arranged and the Fairy of the Meadows was to be the guest of honor. Before the wedding, while they were waiting for the other guests to arrive, the Fairy of the Meadows called Sylvain and Jocosa to her. The three of them sat down in the rose-covered porch of the cottage and the Fairy said, "I want you to listen to this story which I am now going to tell you".

"Once upon a time, there was a greedy sultan. He neglected his people and yearned for things he could not have. Although his palace was the finest in the land, the sultan longed for more riches. The fairies and spirits, who saw the suffering of his people, decided to teach him a lesson. One of the fairies disguised herself as a beautiful golden bird and flew to the palace gardens. Then, a servant caught the bird and offered it to the sultan. The sultan took the beautiful bird into his hands and admired the gleam of its wings. He noticed that under one wing were the words, "he who eats my head will rule a land", and under the other wing the words, "He who eats my heard will find a hundred gold pieces under his pillow every morning". The sultan gave the bird back to the servant.

"Get your wife to cook this bird at once", he ordered. "Let me know when the food is ready. And don't tell anyone about this".

The servant ran home to his wife and, in spit of the Sultan's orders, he told her about the strange words written under the wings of the golden bird. The wife immediately made a stew out of the bird and decided to feet the head and hard to her own children so they would be rich and powerful. But as soon as the bird went into the pot, the fairy disguised within it slipped away and she flew back to her own land. There, everyone waited to see what would happen next.

Meantime, the impatient sultan came storming into the servants home.

"Give me that stew!" he demanded and, grabbing the dish, he began looking for the head and the heart of the golden bird! When he found that these two parts were missing, he thought the servant and his wife had eaten the pieces themselves. In a terrible fury, he vowed to punish the whole family before sundown.

As soon as the sultan had left, the wife told her husband what she had done. The couple decided that they must send their sons away immediately to escape the sultan's anger. They embraced the two boys and sent them off into the world to seek their fortunes.

The younger brother, who had eaten the heart of the golden bird, discovered that the words written under its wing were quite true. Every morning he found a hundred gold pieces under his pillow. but instead of doing good for others with all this money, he spent it all on himself. People soon learnt of his great wealth and one day he was attacked and killed by robbers who then stole his hoard of gold.

The elder brother, who had eaten the bird's head, also found out that the words under its wing were true. he traveled far and wide until he reached a mighty city in Asia. It happened that the people of this city were choosing a new Emir to rule over them, but disagreed over who would be the best man. While they were squabbling, the elder brother strode into the city. As he walked, a snow-white pigeon flew down from the city walls and settled on his head.

Someone in the crowd cried out, "It's an omen! It's an omen! he must be the new Emir!".

Everybody agreed that the young man should be their new ruler. As so it was. The elder brother was declared Emir, but he knew nothing about governing people and he grew cruel with his new powers. he treated his subjects very badly, and became a tyrant. Eventually his people rebelled and killed him.

"And so", finished the Fairy of the Meadows, "you see how wealth and power did not bring happiness to the Sultan or the two brothers. You will lack for nothing if you lead a contented life and do not seek riches and power of which you have no need. If you always keep your promises and live peacefully in this little cottage, I will watch over and protect you from harm".

Sylvain and Jocosa readily gave their promise for they remembered what had happened to them when they broke their promise as children. Their families and friends fathered for their wedding and afterwards the young couple lived in peace and great contentment in their little cottage by the magic fountain. The Fairy of the Meadows also kept her promise. With her protection, Sylvain and Jocosa lived for many years.