Green Fairy and the Chestnut Tree

Once Upon a Time

Once, many years ago, there was a beautiful chestnut tree that grew in the middle of a meadow. The children who lived nearby used to come and dance around the tree, singing and laughing gaily while the sun shone on its leaves. The children would play beside the tree for hours, and eventually, exhausted from all the play and laughter, they would lie down beneath its vast branches and fall fast asleep.

The Chestnut Tree’s Longing

However, despite being loved so much, the chestnut tree was not happy. Like all other trees and plants, it too wanted to grow and bear delicious fruits. Each spring, the tree saw how other trees were covered with blossoms and how, in autumn, they bore fruit. The children flocked around these trees to pick the fruit and play. The poor chestnut tree desired more than anything else in the world to have fruit and blossoms on its branches. Because it did not have any at all, it often became very depressed and sad.

A Wish Granted

One bright summer’s day, the Green Fairy, the friend of all plants and trees, happened to be passing through the meadow. The great chestnut tree saw her coming and called out hopefully, “Oh, sweet Green Fairy, could I please have some fruit on my branches, like all the other trees and plants?”

The Green Fairy, floating along on a cloud of blue and green stars, responded, “Very well, you shall have your wish, but you must wait until next year for it to happen.”

The tree thanked her, and with a puff of orange smoke, the Green Fairy continued on her way.

A Timid Visitor

One afternoon, when the chestnut tree was again feeling sad and depressed, it heard a quiet and timid voice. Looking down, it saw a hedgehog standing at its roots, gazing up. “Please, kind tree, can you give shelter to my two sons, my wife, and myself in your big branches? We are being chased by some dogs, and if they catch us, I am afraid we might be eaten,” said the little hedgehog.

“Dry your tears,” said the tree, “you can hide in my branches with your family at once.”

The hedgehog and his family scrambled up into the tree and stayed there until the danger had passed. Then, thanking the great tree very much, they scrambled back down and ran home.

A Reward for Kindness

A few days later, the chestnut tree saw the Green Fairy floating on her cloud of blue and green stars. She stopped by the tree and said, “Dear chestnut tree, a little hedgehog has told me how you helped him and his family escape when they were in danger. Is this story true?”

“Well, yes, it is, as a matter of fact,” replied the chestnut tree, rather shyly. “Then you shall be rewarded for your kindness,” said the Green Fairy. “From this moment on, you shall have fruit on your branches.”

Sure enough, as the great tree looked at its branches, green, prickly chestnut jackets appeared, revealing lovely brown chestnuts inside them.

“This is how your goodness and kindness to others is rewarded,” said the Fairy, and with another puff of orange smoke, she vanished.

Happiness at Last

From that day on, the great tree was no longer sad; in fact, it became the happiest and loveliest tree on Earth. It was thrilled to have fruits as prickly as a hedgehog on the outside, but filled with lovely chestnuts inside.