A Home-Made Fairy-Tale
The story revolves around a young girl who lives with her grandmother in a small cottage on the outskirts of a village. The girl's mother has passed away and she feels lonely and neglected by her father. One day, while wandering through the forest, the girl stumbles upon a fairy who is trapped inside a hollow tree. The fairy tells the girl that she was imprisoned by an evil witch and offers to grant the girl three wishes in exchange for her help in breaking the curse. The girl's first wish is for her father to love her more, but this only leads to him becoming overly possessive and controlling. Her second wish is for wealth and material possessions, which brings her a life of luxury but also loneliness and isolation. In her third and final wish, the girl asks for true love and happiness, and the fairy grants her a kind and gentle suitor who loves her for who she is. The story concludes with the girl living happily ever after with her new husband and learning valuable lessons about the importance of being content with what one has and not taking things for granted.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1888 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Poetry · 376 words
First lines
Bud, come here to your Uncle a spell, And I'll tell you something you mustn't tell -- For it's a secret and shore-nuff true, And maybe I oughtn't to tell it to you! -- But out in the garden, under the shade Of the apple-trees where we romped and played Till the moon was up, and you thought I'd gone Fast asleep. -- That was all put on!
For I was a-watchin' something queer Goin' on there in the grass, my dear! 'Way down deep in it, there I see A little dude-Fairy who winked at me, And snapped his fingers, and laughed as low And fine as the whine of a mus-kee-to!
What this Textopian page supports
A Home-Made Fairy-Tale is listed on Textopian as a short story by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Poetry, Fantasy, Humor
- Length: 376 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for A Home-Made Fairy-Tale by James Whitcomb Riley
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Home-Made Fairy-Tale?
- How does this short story by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative involves fantastical elements such as fairies and magical occurrences, typical of fairy tales.
- Children's Literature — The playful tone, simple language, and imaginative content are characteristic of literature aimed at children.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, with rhyme and rhythm, fitting the style of poetry.
- Fantasy — The presence of mythical creatures and magical events aligns with the fantasy genre.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Poetry · Children's Literature · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Nostalgia · Rural Life · Family Values · Morality Tale