Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rudyard Kipling
‘She said, “He who has done a God-like thing must bear Norton Pit. The children heard the sheep-bells and Young
himself like a God. I see no way out of it. The people are now jim’s busy bark above them, and they scrambled up the slope
your sheep till you die. You cannot drive them off.” to the level.
‘I said, “This is a heavier sheep than I can lift.” She said, “In ‘We let you have your sleep out,’ said Mr Dudeney, as the
time it will grow easy. In time perhaps you will not lay it flock scattered before them. ‘It’s making for tea-time now.’
down for any maiden anywhere. Be wise—be very wise, my ‘Look what I’ve found, said Dan, and held up a little blue
son, for nothing is left you except the words, and the songs, flint arrow-head as fresh as though it had been chipped that
and the worship of a God.”
very day.
‘Oh, poor God!’ said Puck. ‘But those are not altogether ‘Oh,’ said Mr Dudeney, ‘the closeter you be to the turf the
bad things.’
more you’re apt to see things. I’ve found ‘em often. Some
‘I know they are not; but I would sell them all—all—all says the fairies made ‘em, but I says they was made by folks
for one small child of my own, smearing himself with the like ourselves—only a goodish time back. They’re lucky to
ashes of our own house-fire.’
keep. Now, you couldn’t ever have slept—not to any profit—
He wrenched his knife from the turf, thrust it into his belt among your father’s trees same as you’ve laid out on Naked
and stood up.
Chalk—could you?’
‘And yet, what else could I have done?’ he said. ‘The sheep ‘One doesn’t want to sleep in the woods,’ said Una.
are the people.’
‘Then what’s the good of ‘em?’ said Mr Dudeney. ‘Might
‘It is a very old tale,’ Puck answered. ‘I have heard the like as well set in the barn all day. Fetch ‘em ‘long, Jim boy!’
of it not only on the Naked Chalk, but also among the Trees— The Downs, that looked so bare and hot when they came,
under Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.’
were full of delicious little shadow-dimples; the smell of the
The afternoon shadows filled all the quiet emptiness of thyme and the salt mixed together on the south-west drift
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