Green French Fairy Tale - Spring Fairy Tale

Author: (French) Pierre Gripari, Charles Perrot, Marcel Aymé / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The Magic of Geese [French] Beatrice Becknigh wanted to find a job as a shepherd boy during the summer vacation, and her mother thought so too, but everyone thought she was too young. One day, a big, burly man found her mother and said, "Let your son work for me as a short-term laborer, and I'll provide food and lodging!" The man looked fierce, and her mother was reluctant to let her son go. However, Nige insisted, so her mother had no choice but to tidy him up and send him with the big man. In the evening, they arrived at a lonely farmhouse by the mountain, but there were no sheep in the yard. Nige was surprised. The next day, the master gave her seven geese and a black dog to herd. As soon as Nige brought the geese to the grassland designated by the master and sat down to pick some grass to make a whistle, the seven geese started flapping their wings wildly, squeezing each other tightly, and squawking as if they were hiding from something. A black dot appeared in the sky—it was an eagle, which swooped down and snatched a goose before flying away. Nige was terrified and returned to the farmhouse. The master noticed that one goose was missing and gently pushed her. Nige stumbled. The next morning, to avoid the eagle, Nige took the geese to the edge of the forest. As she picked up an acorn to make a pipe, she heard the branches rustling. A big black wolf with glowing red eyes dashed into the flock, grabbed a goose, and ran off. Nige was very scared. When she returned home, the master noticed another goose was missing and slapped her hard. Nige fell to the ground. The next morning, to avoid the wolf, Nige took the geese to the roadside. As she picked up a stone to knock a nail sticking out of her boot, a Gypsy woman in ragged clothes but wearing gold earrings walked over and asked to read her fortune. She grabbed Nige's hand and said, "You're going to have bad luck, but you'll also have good luck! You must watch your geese carefully!" Then she grabbed a goose and ran off. Nige returned home with a heavy heart. The master noticed another goose was missing and slapped her twice, knocking her to the ground. The next morning, to avoid the Gypsy, Nige took the geese to the pond. As she picked up stones to skip them, the black dog suddenly chased a goose, and the goose ran into the pond and drowned. Nige was so scared she felt ill. The master noticed the goose was missing again, shook her violently, and didn't give her food before making her sleep. The next morning, Nige took the geese to the vegetable garden. As she was about to eat a sourberry, a goose swallowed a small venomous snake by mistake. It flapped its wings and rolled on the ground for a while before dying. Nige returned home, weak with fear. The master grabbed her arm, shook her violently, and then sent her to sleep in the pigsty. The next morning, Nige took the geese to the square in the neighboring village. As she picked up a snail to play with, a goose suddenly spread its wings and flew away in a gust of wind, disappearing in an instant. Nige was terrified. The master beat her severely before sending her to sleep in the cellar. P20-23