The Little Elder-Tree Mother Page #3

"The Little Elder-Tree Mother" is a charming fairy tale penned by Hans Christian Andersen. The story revolves around a little boy who falls sick and is cheered up by his grandmother with a warm mug of elderflower tea and a captivating story about the little Elder-Tree mother. This imaginative narrative transports readers into a magical realm where flowers turn into fairy folk, paints vivid landscapes straight out of dreams, and subtly imparts life lessons. Like other stories from the author, this too is a perfect blend of enchantment, alarm, wonder and morality.

• Children

								

the blue eyes and elder-blossoms in her hair was sitting high up in
the tree, and nodded to them, saying, "To-day is the golden
wedding!" And then she took two flowers out of her wreath and kissed
them. They glittered at first like silver, then like gold, and when
she placed them on the heads of the old people each flower became a
golden crown. There they both sat like a king and queen under the
sweet-smelling tree, which looked exactly like an elder-tree, and he
told his wife the story of the elder-tree mother as it had been told
him when he was a little boy. They were both of opinion that the story
contained many points like their own, and these similarities they
liked best.

"Yes, so it is," said the little girl in the tree. "Some call me
Little Elder-tree Mother; others a Dryad; but my real name is
'Remembrance.' It is I who sit in the tree which grows and grows. I
can remember things and tell stories! But let's see if you have
still got your flower."

And the old man opened his prayer-book; the elder-blossom was
still in it, and as fresh as if it had only just been put in.
Remembrance nodded, and the two old people, with the golden crowns
on their heads, sat in the glowing evening sun. They closed their eyes
and--and--

Well, now the story is ended! The little boy in bed did not know
whether he had dreamt it or heard it told; the teapot stood on the
table, but no elder-tree was growing out of it, and the old man who
had told the story was on the point of leaving the room, and he did go
out.

"How beautiful it was!" said the little boy. "Mother, I have
been to warm countries!"

"I believe you," said the mother; "if one takes two cups of hot
elder-tea it is quite natural that one gets into warm countries!"
And she covered him up well, so that he might not take cold. "You have
slept soundly while I was arguing with the old man whether it was a
story or a fairy tale!"

"And what has become of the little elder-tree mother?" asked the
boy.

"She is in the teapot," said the mother; "and there she may
remain."
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