The Magic Fiddle by Joseph Jacobs
Seven brothers and their sister lived together, with the sister handling all the cooking. The brothers' wives, feeling resentful, conspired to remove her from this role. They sought the help of a Bonga, who agreed to create obstacles for her while fetching water, ultimately leading to her drowning. Transformed into a bamboo, she was later cut down by a Jogi who made a fiddle from it. The fiddle produced enchanting music, bringing the Jogi success in his begging. The Jogi occasionally visited the brothers' home, where the music deeply affected them, evoking sorrow. The elder brother wanted to buy the fiddle, but the Jogi refused. One day, after being intoxicated at a chief's house, the Jogi was tricked into leaving his fiddle behind. The chief's son played the fiddle, unaware of its true origin. Meanwhile, the Bonga girl, still connected to the fiddle, emerged to cook meals for the chief's son, who believed a girl friend was secretly helping him. Determined to discover the identity of his benefactor, the chief's son hid and caught the Bonga girl when she revealed herself. Despite her initial resistance due to caste differences, they fell in love. Eventually, the Bonga girl’s family fell into poverty, prompting her brothers to visit the chief's house. She recognized them but they did not know her. After serving them, she lamented her past treatment and revealed her identity, expressing her hurt but taking no further revenge.
By Joseph Jacobs · First published 1890 · Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure · 1,579 words
First lines
Once upon a time there lived seven brothers and a sister. The brothers were married, but their wives did not do the cooking for the family. It was done by their sister, who stopped at home to cook. The wives for this reason bore their sister-in-law much ill-will, and at length they combined together to oust her from the office of cook and general provider, so that one of themselves might obtain it. They said, "She does not go out to the fields to work, but remains quietly at home, and yet she has not the meals ready at the proper time. " They then called upon their Bonga, and vowing vows unto him they secured his goodwill and assistance; then they said to the Bonga, "At midday when our sister-in-law goes to bring water, cause it thus to happen, that on seeing her pitcher the water shall vanish, and again slowly reappear. In this way she will be delayed. Let the water not flow into her pitcher, and you may keep the maiden as your own."
What this Textopian page supports
The Magic Fiddle is listed on Textopian as a short story by Joseph Jacobs, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Joseph Jacobs
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure, Drama, Romance
- Length: 1,579 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Magic Fiddle by Joseph Jacobs
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Magic Fiddle?
- How does this short story by Joseph Jacobs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- One Eye Two Eyes And Three Eyes by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Glass Dog by L. Frank Baum
- Old Rinkrank by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Donkey Cabbages by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Flying Egg by Carlo Collodi
- The Legless Knight And The Blind Knight by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
Genres
- Fantasy — The story involves magical elements such as the transformation of the girl into a Bonga and the enchanted bamboo fiddle.
- Folklore — The narrative reflects traditional storytelling elements and cultural themes common in folklore.
- Adventure — The plot includes the journey and experiences of the characters, particularly the Jogi and the Bonga girl.
- Drama — The story contains emotional conflicts and character development, particularly regarding the Bonga girl's plight and her family's dynamics.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Children's Literature · Magic · Music · Violin · Fantasy · Adventure · Mythology · Legends · Cultural Heritage · European Folklore · Storytelling