«Sì, posso aiutarti» disse la strega. «Questo è un granello d'orzo, ma non è di quelli che crescono nei campi del contadino e neppure di quelli che mangiano i polli; mettilo in un vaso e vedrai cosa succederà!»
«Grazie molte» replicò la donna, e diede alla strega dodici centesimi; poi andò a casa, piantò il granello d'orzo e subito crebbe un bel fiore grande, sembrava un tulipano, ma i petali restavano chiusi come fosse ancora una gemma.
[ continua…]
Thumbelina
There was once a woman who wished very much to have a little child, but she could not obtain her wish. At last she went to a fairy, and said, “I should so very much like to have a little child; can you tell me where I can find one?”
“Oh, that can be easily managed,” said the fairy. “Here is a barleycorn of a different kind to those which grow in the farmer's fields, and which the chickens eat; put it into a flower-pot, and see what will happen.”
“Thank you,” said the woman, and she gave the fairy twelve shillings, which was the price of the barleycorn. Then she went home and planted it, and immediately there grew up a large handsome flower, something like a tulip in appearance, but with its leaves tightly closed as if it were still a bud.
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