In the green forest

Front matter

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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.

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Chapter II Red Cap Starts Out In The World

T HE next day was Red Cap’s birthday.

“To think,” said Mother Peaspod, “ that just a hundred years ago I held you in my arms for the first time, such a wee little thing, not larger than the grub of a bee.”

“ Did n’t look unlike one either,” Father Peaspod added.

But this the mother would not allow; “I don’t think so at all; such a fuzzy round head he had; such cunning little hands and feet, and finished off with the tiniest little nails.”

It made Red Cap feel very queer to be talked about that way; he hardly knew how to look.

His father and mother had given him, for his birthday gift, a new suit, all of green, and a new red cap coming up to a point. When he put it on he made one think of a green leaf that had just been tipped with red by the frost.

[ ii ]

“ A hundred years old! ” said old Grandaddy Dandelion. “And I promised you a talisman on your birthday, did n’t I ? ”

Red Cap had been thinking of that, though he had not liked to say anything about it. Now he watched his grandfather eagerly as the old fairy hobbled over to the fire-place. If Red Cap looked like a leaf just touched with frost, Grandaddy Dandelion looked like one that had been dried and withered by a long winter of sun and rain.

Beside the fire-place was a deep worm-hole, where Grandaddy had stored his most precious treasures. He stuck his hand in it and fumbled about for a while, drawing out one thing after another, none of which seemed to be the right one. At last he took out a little package carefully wrapped up in the silk of a milk-weed. He gave a little cluck of satisfaction as he saw it. Putting back the other things he proceeded to unwrap layer after layer of the silk, while Red Cap watched him breathlessly. At last from the heart of the wrappings he took out something and held it up for them all to see. They gave a cry of admiration.

Hanging by an exquisitely wrought chain of gold, no coarser than a strand of spider-web, was a round jewel; a jewel as clear as a dewdrop, and [ 12 ]

Red Cap Starts Out in the World

shining with changing lights of all colors. It was set in a circlet of gold, and as it swung from the chain it seemed to light up the hollow with its brightness.

The old fairy looked at it lovingly for a moment. Then stepping to Red Cap he put the chain over his head and let the jewel rest upon the boy’s breast. “ It is yours, my child,” he said. “ Guard it carefully; never part with it, for it is the talisman of which I spoke. As long as you wear it no evil thing can have any power over you except by your own will.”

“ But, grandfather, do you mean really to give it to me ? ” asked Red Cap. “ Don’t you want to keep it yourself?”

“ No, no; I have no need of it, and it is for you I have been hoarding it.”

Red Cap was so pleased he hardly knew how to thank the old fairy. He held the jewel in his hands for some time turning it this way and that to catch the play of colors. When at last he let it drop upon his breast and lifted his eyes he seemed somehow different. He looked less of a child and more of a youth. “And now, mother, and father, and grandfather too,” he said, “now that I have this talisman I am less afraid to tell [ 13 ]

you of what I have set my heart on.” He paused, and then in a moment he added, “ I want to go out in the world in search of some one to teach me magic.”

“Oh, no, no, my son,” cried Mother Peaspod, while his father looked grave.

“ I knew it was coming,” said the old grand¬ father. “ I knew the signs.”

“ Is your heart quite set on this, my son ? ” asked Peaspod.

“ Yes, father, it is.”

“And have you counted the cost? ”

“ Yes, I have done that, too. All last night I lay awake, thinking and thinking.”

Mother Peaspod began to cry softly to herself. “ Oh, my little Red Cap; my baby boy,” she la¬ mented ; “ how can you plan to leave us so; to fly out into the world away from mother and the dear home hollow ? ”

Red Cap hesitated, turning a pained look upon his mother, but Grandaddy Dandelion spoke up with authority. “ Hush, daughter,” he said. “ It is a brave thought of Red Cap’s. He is no longer a baby except in your love. I remember when I was his age you could no more have kept me from wandering than you can keep the down of my

Red Cap Starts Out in the JVorld

name-flower from blowing in the wind. The talis¬ man I gave him will keep him from all harm, and he will come back contented and ready to settle down. Let him go, I say.”

The old fairys word was still law in the hollow of the tree, so after that neither Father nor Mother Peaspod made any objections to Red Caps plan. Instead they began to talk of what the boy should take with him on his journey, and to wonder in what direction he ought to go.

As to the direction, however, Grandaddy Dande¬ lion could tell them. That was easy enough. All the lad would have to do was to follow up the stream that flowed through their grove. When he came to its source he would find himself on the borders of the enchanted country; “ and in that country,” said the old fairy, “are those who can teach you magic. That much I know, but beyond that you will have to look out for yourself. I went to the edge of that land when I was young but I never crossed the border. No,” and the old fairy shook his head, “ I got that far and then I turned back. Maybe I would have been happier if I had gone on and learned the magic I longed to know, but I have had a good enough sort of life as it is.”

[ IS ]

“ I shall go on,” said Red Cap proudly.

The grandfather looked at him. “Yes, you will go on, but then you are a different sort of boy from what I was.”

News travels fast among the fairies. Before noon every wee creature in the grove knew that Red Cap was going to journey to the enchanted land to learn magic. When he went among them he found himself treated with a new sort of respect that was very pleasant.

Father Peaspod was worried fearing it might make the lad vain, but the old grandfather said wisely enough, “ Let him alone. Let the child enjoy it while he can. He will have hard enough knocks when he is once out in the world with none of his old friends round him.”

The next day, while Red Cap was standing under a fern leaf, Nightshade marched up to him followed lingeringly by Bluebell.

“ So,” said the elf, looking the fairy up and down, “ I hear you are going out into the world to learn magic.”

“ Yes, I am,” answered Red Cap with some reserve.

“ So I heard, but I hardly believed it. I did n’t know you had that much pluck in you.”

Red Cap Starts Out in the World

“ Did n’t you ? ”

“No, I didn’t; but I was glad to hear it, and now I’ve been thinking it over and I’ve a mind to join you and journey out into the world with you.”

“You!” cried Red Cap. “But you know magic already.”

“Yes, of course I know as much magic as there’s any use in knowing, but the fact is I’m getting a bit rusty; I would n’t mind brushing up my knowledge a little.”

“But Nightshade,” cried Bluebell, “you said you were going to teach me magic, and you have n’t. You have n’t shown me the least bit except that one trick.”

“ Pooh ! A girl fairy can’t learn magic,” said the elf scornfully.

Bluebell’s lip trembled. She looked so pitiful that Red Cap’s heart melted. “Never mind, Blue¬ bell,” he cried, “ I’m going to learn magic and I'll teach you.”

“ Oh, will you, dear Red Cap ? ” and the little fairy clasped her hands. “ You ’re so good. You ’re a great deal kinder than Nightshade; I liked you better all the time anyway.”

The elf made a face. “ I don’t care. I ’ll learn so much magic I won’t care whether you like me or not. Come on, Red Cap/’ and he linked his arm through the lad’s; “lets go plan about our journey, and when we’d better start.”

Red Cap was not particularly delighted at the idea of having Nightshade for a travelling com¬ panion, but he did not know very well how to get out of it. However, after the elf had talked to him for a while, he began to feel better pleased. Nightshade could make himself very pleasant and amusing when he chose, and Red Cap began to think he would make a very good comrade on the journey after all.

When the fairy told them about it at home, Mother Peaspod shook her head. “ I never did like that elf,” she said. “ I’m afraid he ’ll get you into trouble, my son.”

“ Well, if he lets an elf like that lead him astray he’s not fit to be travelling about the world, and he’d better turn his toes home again,” said the father. As for Grandaddy Dandelion, he had firm faith in the talisman. He had no fear of any harm coming to Red Cap as long as he had that along, so nothing more was said of the matter; only the good mother put up an extra amount of food in the scrip that the elf might have some too without Red Cap’s having to go the hungrier for it.

Red Cap Starts Out in the World

If Red Cap had been left to himself he would not have taken anything. He thought it would be fun to forage as he went. Then besides, his father had given him Buzzfuzz for his own; the fairy would have him along to gather bread for him, and no doubt Nightshade would take his bee, Gripper, though Red Cap did not care much about that, — Gripper was such an ugly, cross-looking bee.

That night Father Peaspod’s family stayed up late, long after the birds had sought their nests. The mother sat beside Red Cap holding his hand in hers. It seemed as though she could not bear to have this last evening come to an end.

But at last Father Peaspod arose. “ Well, mother,” he said, “ it’s time the boy was abed if he’s to make an early start. Kiss him good-night and let him go.”

At that Mother Peaspod threw her arms about the young fairy’s neck, holding him close to her. He felt a tear trickle down his neck and tickle him. “ Don’t cry, mother dear,” he whispered. “ When I come home knowing all about magic you ’ll be glad I went.”

“ Perhaps so,” wept the mother, “ but it’s hard to have my little son leave the old hollow.”

Then they all kissed the boy and separated for the night.

It was a long time though before Red Cap could get to sleep. He rolled and tossed in the walnutshell bed, thinking and thinking of how fine it would be to start out into the world for himself. He felt as though the morning would never come.

Chapter III The Elf And The Fairy Meet With An Adventure

I N spite of its having been so late before he went to sleep, Red Cap was awake the next day at the very earliest peep of dawn. Not earlier than his mother, however. He could hear her speaking softly to Father Peaspod, and reminding him that their boy was to set off on his travels that day, and that he must get up if he would say good-bye to the lad.

The forest was still hazy with the dawning as the fairies appeared at the knot-hole. Red Cap had his scrip hung over his shoulder. It was heavy with the good things his mother had packed up for him. Upon his breast the talisman glittered in the early light.

His mother threw her arms about him and kissed him. The father too kissed him upon the forehead. Old Grandaddy Dandelion was still asleep, so Red Cap left his good-bye for him. Then with a last smile for his mother, he sprang lightly from the knot-hole and flew away through the greenness of the forest with Buzzfuzz at his heels.

His first flight, however, was not far; only to the hickory tree where the elf lived.

Alighting there, Red Cap called loudly, “Night¬ shade, Nightshade! Are you still asleep? ”

He heard a stir and rustling within the tree and then a sleepy voice answered, “ Who are you ? What do you want?”

“ It’s Red Cap. Have you forgotten that we are to start on our journey to-day?”

“ Oh, Red Cap ! but it’s too early to start yet.”

“ Not a bit of it. Waken up lazy-bones. We ought to have been off before this.”

Presently Nightshade appeared rubbing the sleep from his eyes and still grumbling. “ What ’syour hurry, anyway ? There ’s no need of our starting off in the middle of the night, when we have a whole season before us.” Gripper, following close to his master, looked just as cross and sleepy as the elf.

“Never mind,” answered Red Cap. “When I ’m going anywhere I believe in starting early, but if you don’t want to come now you can follow when you choose.”

That brought Nightshade to his senses. “ Oh, all right. It does n’t make any difference to me. I can start just as early as you. Just wait a minute.” He plunged his hands into a large drop of dew on a leaf near by, and after washing his face he seemed wide awake and in a better humor.

“ Where away first ? ” he asked.

“ Oh, to the stream ; ” and Red Cap told Night¬ shade the directions he had received from his grandfather.

“ All right, I ’m ready,” the elf responded.

It had been decided the day before, when the elf and the fairy had talked over the journey, that it would be better to begin by flying, only walking when their wings grew too tired to carry them further.

Now as they launched themselves out into the cool morning air, Red Cap felt so fresh and happy that he turned three somersaults without stopping. Coming up a little dizzy he hung lightly in the air, his wings making a quiver about him like the wings of a humming-bird. “ That’s right,” grumbled Nightshade. “Tire yourself all out before we start.”

Red Cap, however, only laughed merrily, and darted away toward the brook so swiftly that the elf had much ado to keep up with him.

Early as it was when they reached the edge of the stream, they found some busy housewife from a neighboring tree had already been there. On a spider-web line, stretched from an ironweed to a Solomon’s-seal, was hung a row of tiny clothes she had been washing in the brook. Nobody was in sight, however; perhaps she was already at breakfast, early as it was.

Nightshade, who was a greedy elf, would have liked to stop and see, and perhaps get invited to join her at her meal, but Red Cap reminded him that they had planned to eat their breakfasts at a grassy open some distance up the stream ; an open well known to them, where the fairies went sometimes to dance in fairy rings.

When they reached that spot they found the grass spread thickly all about with what looked like spiders-webs, but the two companions knew it to be fairy linen spread out there to bleach in the dew and moonlight of the night before. Everything was drenched with dew and there was still a chill in the early air.

The two travellers looked about until they found where a leaf had fallen. They caught it by its edges and shoved it aside, and the ground under it was dry. There they snuggled down and made ready to break their fast.

Red Cap unslung the bag he had been carrying at his back, and set out the food his mother had packed for him. Nightshades eyes sparkled as he saw all the good things. There were tender slices cut from a cold grasshoppers thigh; there was some wal¬ nut powder to eat with it, and a bottle full of honey milk, milked the night be¬ fore from Fa¬ ther Peaspod’s herd of aph¬ ides, and put up for the re-

f reshment O f “ se * out th* f ooc t tits mother had

packed for him ."

the travellers.

Besides this, fast as they had flown, Buzzfuzz had managed to gather a supply of bee bread, so they had that too.

They made a fine breakfast while the sky above the forest slowly brightened, and the chill faded from the air.

The good meal made them lazy, and they decided

[ 25 1 to rest awhile before journeying further. They stretched themselves at ease, blinking up at the grass-blades that arched over them, and at the great branches beyond, and as they rested they talked of all the wonderful things they would do, and be, after they had learned everything about magic.

This open was the furthest place Red Cap had ever journeyed to; Nightshade had never come far in this direction, either, and so after a while, when they had packed the remainder of the feast in the bag and resumed their journey, it was through an unknown country that they flew.

When they had gone some distance, and the morning had slipped well on towards noon, they saw a cardinal bird flash through the leaves before them like a scarlet flame. “ We must be near some human beings’ houses,” said Nightshade.

“Why? What makes you think that?”

“ Because you hardly ever see one of those big red birds except near houses.”

“ I Ve always wished I could see a human being. Father Peaspod’s seen lots of ’em. He says they look just like us only they’re big; as big as bushes.”

“ Bigger than that. You come with me and I ’ll show you some.”

“ They won’t hurt us, will they ? ” asked Red Cap, hanging back a little.

“No ; they won’t hurt us, but we’ve got to keep out of sight. You can easily do that, though, they ’re so stupid about seeing things. Can’t you smell their fires and cooking now?”

“ Yes ; I did n’t know what the smell was. I don’t like it.”

“No, they’re big, coarse things, but come on.”

The fairies flew on and presently found them¬ selves on the edge of a clearing. Two or three houses were there, and the smoke from them rose thin and gray against the trees.

“ Are those the human beings ? ” asked Red Cap, staring at the houses with all his eyes.

“No, stupid, of course not; but there are two right now.” The elf pointed as he spoke toward the door of a house at which had appeared a little girl leading a smaller child by the hand.

“ My ! are n’t they big?” cried the fairy.

“Big! Why those are only little ones. I’ve seen some more than twice as big as those. Look! there’s one just coming out.” The mother of the children had appeared behind them in the door-way.

“ That is big! But I like the little ones best. They ’re coming this way. I wish I could see them closer.”

“ Well you can, only be sure they don’t see you.”

The children were picking flowers as they came: daisies, buttercups, clovers, and other summer flowers that grew in the clearing. They were com¬ ing over towards where the fairies were. “ Don’t go out of sight, children,” called the mother, and the little girl called back, “No, ma’am.”

They came nearer and nearer. “ We’d better hide now,” whispered Nightshade, and so he and his bee slipped down into one flower, while Red Cap and Buzzfuzz hid in another. Red Cap was so much interested in the children, however, that he could not help peeping out over the edge to see what they would do. The little girl was talking to the baby as they came.

“Look, baby; see all the pretty flowers. Shall sister make baby a pretty wreath ? ”

“ Ess,” said baby.

“ So many pretty flowers,” and the busy sister caught hold of the very branch of fox-gloves in one of which Nightshade and his bee were hiding. Red Cap gave a gasp. At the same moment

Gripper shot forth from the flower and struck against the child’s hand. “ Oh! ” she cried, and threw the flower from her, fearing she would be stung.

Red Cap was so excited that he quite forgot himself, and raised himself half out of the flower to see what was going to become of the elf.

At the same moment the eyes of the little girl fell upon him, and she gave a cry, this time of wonder. Suddenly the fairy recollected himself and dropped down into the flower and out of sight. As he did so the little girl nipped the opening of the flower together and held it so that Red Cap was shut in. Then she broke it from the stalk. “ Oh, baby, baby,” she shrieked in her excitement, “ Sister’s caught one.”

“What Sister taught? ” asked the little one.

“ A fairy ! A real live fairy! Oh, baby, baby! ” and the little girl ran toward her home as fast as she could.

Meanwhile the frightened fairy cuddled deep down in the flower, wondering what was going to happen to him now. He squeezed so far down that Buzzfuzz was forced up above him toward the opening of the blossom.

Red Cap was shaken up and down and then

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came a big jolt. That was when the little girl went up the step into the house. “ Mother! Mother!” she shrieked in such excitement that the mother came running, fearing her little daughter was hurt.

“ What is it, my child? What s the matter? ”

“ Oh, I Ve caught a fairy.”

“ A fairy ! What nonsense is this ? I thought you were hurt.”

“No, it is a fairy. I saw him in the flower and I caught him. I know it s a fairy. I can feel him moving inside.”

“It was a bee, child, or a grasshopper; your mind is always running on fairies. How often have I told you that there are no such things.”

But the little girl knew she had seen it. Then the mother took the flower from her and very care¬ fully opened it just a crack. What she saw was only the head of Buzzfuzz poked up close to the crack. “ Now you see,” she said, “ it is only a bee.”

She held it so the little girl could see. As the child peered in, the joyous excitement faded from her face; her lip trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. “ I did think it was a fairy,” she said. “ I saw it I ’m sure. Maybe it changed itself into a bee.”

The mother smiled. “ Shall we let the bee fairy go? ” she asked. “ I think he would like to get out.”

“ Oh, yes ; he might as well go,” said the child sadly.

The mother took away her fingers and the flower opened. Away flew Buzzfuzz, booming as he went, and away after him shot Red Cap like a flash of light. “ Oh, mother, mother,” he heard the child cry, “ it was a fairy,” and then he was out of hear¬ ing, nor did he stop until he found himself deep in the forest again, and out of sight of the clearing.

*

Chapter IV How Red Cap And Nightshade Saved The Eggs

“ "W* WT "TTELL you’re a pretty one,” cried ^ / Nightshade who had been watch-

ing for Red Cap from the edge " * of the open, and had followed him

into the woods. “What made you stand up in the flower that way, so the human could see you ? ”

“ I did n’t know what was going to happen to you when she threw the flower away,” said the fairy.

“Well, if you ’re going to act that way we might as well turn back right now, for we ’ll be sure to get caught.”

Red Cap promised that he would not be so thoughtless again, so they continued their journey, Nightshade still grumbling to himself.

Almost the whole day they flew, for they found the walking slow and rough work, and both feet and wings were weary by the time they reached an open glade. As the light was failing they decided to camp there for the night.

They were almost too tired to eat, though Buzzfuzz brought them some delicious bee-bread quite different from anything they had tasted before. He must have found some new variety of flower.

“ I don’t think your Gripper is of much use/’ said Red Cap. “ He never seems to bring you anything.”

“ Yes he does, too,” answered Nightshade. “ Just you wait until to-morrow and I ’ll have him catch us a dinner.”

“ Catch /” cried Red Cap. “ How do you mean catch ? ”

“ Oh, wait and you ’ll see.”

Red Cap was really too tired to feel very curious, so the two travellers crawled under a large leaf that made a convenient tent close by, and were soon fast asleep.

Just as he was dozing off, Red Cap felt Buzzfuzz snuggle down close beside him ; he rested his cheek against the bee’s soft fur, and it felt homey and comfortable. He thought of the hollow in the old white oak and wondered dreamily whether Father Peaspod had caught a new bee, and then in a moment he thought of nothing at all, for he was fast asleep.

The travellers slept late the next morning. Red

3 [ 33 ]

Cap awoke first, disturbed by a confused sense that some one was scolding at him. As he became wider awake he knew that the sound he heard was not a scolding voice, but the crying of some bird outside. He could tell by the sound that it was not only in distress, but in fear and anger as well.

He leaned over and shook Nightshade, who was still asleep. “ Let me alone,” cried the elf, without opening his eyes. “ Let me alone. I ’m going to tie it by the tail.”

“Nightshade! Nightshade!” cried Red Cap.

Then the elf sat up and looked about him. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “ I thought I’d caught a long green caterpillar and you wanted me to tie it by the head, but it had teeth and was going to bite me.”

“ Listen,” said Red Cap. “ There’s some bird in trouble out there. Let’s go and see what it is.”

“What for? it’s none of our business.”

“ But maybe we could help it.”

Red Cap crawled out from under the leaf, followed after a moment by Nightshade.

As they came from the shadow of their tent, into the brightness of the morning outside and looked about them, they very soon saw what the trouble was.

In a bush high overhead a warbler had built its nest and laid its eggs. A small sized snake was looping and writhing up toward this nest, thinking no doubt, to make a fine breakfast on what it would find there. The frightened mother and father birds were fluttering wildly about, now striking at the snake with their wings, now darting away as it shot out its forked tongue at them.

Though the snake was small, it looked as big as a dragon to the fairy and the elf.

On the top of the leaf tent, Gripper was calmly sitting and watching the fight.

“ Oh, those poor birds,” cried Red Cap. “What trouble they ’re in.”

“Well, it’s none of our business,” Nightshade repeated.

“ But it is our business, for maybe we can help them.”

“Why should we do that? We might get into trouble.”

“ I’m going to see what I can do, anyway.”

Red Cap spread his wings (they were still some¬ what stiff from his travels of the day before) and flew swiftly up to the edge of the nest.

As he alighted there and looked down into the great round hollow he saw it held four beautifully [ 35 ]

shaped, speckled eggs. It seemed, indeed, a pity that such pretty things should serve no better purpose than to be a breakfast for a snake.