The Three Riddles
It was a fine day, sunny and bright. Little Annie, a ribboned hat on her head, a lovely frilled dress on her sweet person, and a basket in her hand happily romped over the hills and dales. Flowers and red ripe berries were all that she went to gather from the neighboring glen. "What a cute rabbit and it is wearing a red coat too!" exclaimed Annie as the little creature joyfully nibbled at the fresh cabbage leaves. She ran towards it and the rabbit ran away. There followed a long long chase. Down the hill and up they went, hopped and skipped over streamlets when suddenly the rabbit disappeared under a thicket. Annie stealthily peeped into it and saw no rabbit but a small opening in the ground. "Surely it is hiding in there," she said and squeezed herself into the hedge and lying flat on her belly looked through the hole. A strange sight met her eyes! Far below, there was a large and beautiful hall and little stars twinkled in it. In the flickering light of a thousand candles wee fairies, their wings folded, lay in deep slumber. And the rabbit in the red coat? Well, it was striding to and fro, hands behind the back, as if in deep contemplation.
Meanwhile, the ant clan trooped into Annie's nostrils that were almost grazing the ground, taking them to be caves interesting enough for exploration. There followed a series of sneezes. The sound woke up the winged beings. They vanished instantly. All of them. The fairies, the rabbit, the candles, the stars. There was only darkness. Annie ran back home as fast as her little legs could carry her. "Daddy! Daddy!" she exclaimed with bated breath. "Today, beyond that yonder hill, I saw fairies! No, not in my dreams, but real ones. They had little wings, a wand in each one's hand, and stars shone over their heads." A silence fell. A look of anxiety appeared on the faces of the farmer couple. "Alas, what have you done, my dear daughter? You've unwittingly spied on the fairies! For whosoever does so is bound to invite their wrath," said Annie's mother with a tear trickling down her cheek. "What should we do now?" asked the dismayed farmer. "The good old witch lives in the trunk of the great oak tree. Carry seven plum cakes, a big round pumpkin, a jar of fresh milk, and fourteen brown eggs for her and seek her advice," said his wife. The farmer at once set out on his mission. It was not difficult for him to locate his destination. For the great Oak towered over all other trees. When the good old witch heard what the farmer had to say, she remained quiet for a moment and then started in a cackling voice.
"At midnight, when the moon shines over your hamlet, the fairies will come to fetch your daughter. For they are not going to spare any mortal spying on them. But I can brew a spell that will prevent them from entering, provided your farmhouse is completely quiet. Mind you, even the yawn of a mouse or a twitch of its tail, even the slightest of the faintest sound will break the spell and your daughter would be lost to you." Thanking the farmer for his generous gifts, she then closed the oval door of her treehouse. The farmer hurried back home. The cats were locked, along with the cows, in the barn, the horses in the stable and the watchdog were drugged to sleep soundly. The fire was raked out of the hearth so that the burning logs do not cackle. All the clocks were stopped, for there should be no ticking to break the silence. The moon shone brightly in the sky and the church bell struck twelve. There was a distant hooting of the owl and the gentle lapping of the river nearby. The farmer and his wife who sat in the darkness of their kitchen heard the swishing of wings. The fairies had come to take away their daughter. But they only buzzed around, unable to enter the farmhouse, against the magical spell of complete silence that protected it. The farmer and his wife were unaware that Annie had smuggled her pet spaniel to sleep with her under the quilt. When he heard the angry whisperings and mutterings of the fairies outside, he jumped out of the bed and began to bark furiously. The spell was at once broken and Annie's bed lay empty. The little dog still barked frantically but in vain.