Fairytale 5. Fairies of the Magic Apple Tree

     In an old cottage at the edge of a large garden, there lived a silver-bearded old man. He had a golden bell. Travelers who passed by his house claimed they saw the old man walk onto a path at sunrise and ring the bell three times. Then, a wind would rise over the garden, and strange birds would come to him. These birds were the size of swallows, with wings like those of butterflies. Some even said they shimmered like precious stones and sang songs of incomparable beauty.

     News of this reached the local King, who immediately wished to have such birds in his own garden to boast of them to his guests. So, he ordered one of his servants to go to the silver-bearded old man and buy the bell, at any price.

     The servant arrived at the garden near the old man’s house just as the sun was setting. Crickets, forest birds, and frogs in the lake were singing so loudly that at first, the servant’s ears rang. But through the noise, he thought he heard a thin, clear melody�"perhaps from a bird or a maiden.

     The servant listened intently but couldn’t hear the song again. At that moment, the old man emerged from the garden with a basket of berries and asked,

     "What do you need, young man?"

     "I was sent by our King. He commanded me to buy your golden bell, at any price."

     The old man smiled.

     "But the bell isn’t mine. The fairies gave it to me as thanks for healing people with herbs. At first, they offered me gold and jewels, but why would I need such things? Then they gave me another gift. Whenever I feel sorrow or my strength wanes, I ring the bell, and the fairies come to me. Their songs fill me with life once more. I’ve lived for two hundred years. And a gift isn’t something I can sell. How would I continue helping people then?"

     The servant felt disheartened, knowing he would likely lose his head if he returned without the bell. The old man read his thoughts and said,

     "Tell our King to come here himself. He can tell the fairies about his accomplishments; maybe they’ll gift him a bell too."

     The servant returned to the city and relayed all the old man’s words to the King. By the next sunrise, the King himself, eager and proud, came to the silver-bearded old man. He was especially excited by the thought that the bell not only summoned magical birds but also granted long life.

     The old man welcomed the King and led him to the garden, where a large apple tree grew near the lake. The old man rang the bell three times, and from the tree’s branches flew three fairies, followed by tiny, colorful birds. The garden filled with a beautiful melody.

     The King was amazed and already imagined the envy of neighboring rulers when they saw such wonders in his own garden.

     "What does the King desire?" asked the three fairies in unison.

     "I desire that all these birds go to my garden this instant, and that you follow them there. And bring me the gold and jewels you once offered this old man. You’ve lived in my kingdom long enough. Haven’t you ever paid tribute?"

     In that moment, the birds vanished. The fairies began laughing as they flew in circles around the King.

     "A greedy King has come to us. A miser and a fool. He’ll make a fine toad�"an end to all sorrows. He’ll make a fine toad�"an end to all sorrows. He’ll make a fine toad�"an end to all sorrows."

     And on the third chant, the King disappeared, leaving a large green toad on the grass in his place.

     Whether this tale is true or not, even today travelers say that there’s a strange toad in the pond near the old garden. It walks on its hind legs, wears a burdock leaf like a coat, and when it sings, all the frogs cover their ears with their little hands.