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The Troll and the Toymaker, Part 3

Posted by abraham.williams@gmail.com on in Books, Children's Story, Weblogs 1 Comment

Horace went lightly into the woods. He had been told roughly where to find this troll like creature. As he came near to the spot, he heard a twig snap and before he could turn around he was tackled and thrown to the ground. He struggled to get up but was held fast by large, red muscular arms. Before he could think of what to do he was released. When he was upon his feet and turned around he found himself staring directly into the angry face of an enormous, but just smaller than him, red troll! He had never seen another troll in his life and Horace was beside himself with excitement. His world was changed once again.

“What are you doing in my woods?!” screamed the red troll. “The people of the village told me how they had been terrified and chased from the woods by a magnificent red creature of great size and strength.” Horace noticed a slight smile from the red troll as she heard his words. He intended them as a compliment. It quickly vanished as she said, “What on earth have you to do with people? You know and speak peacefully with people? Human people?!” Horace could see all the pain and confusion in her face and he remembered his time of coming to know the village people. He had forever been chased away and even hunted by people. Horace knew that this poor lonely creature was likely subjected to the same treatment and had similar feelings as he once did.

He sat down and offered her some cake that he had brought just in case such a thing as this might happen. Horace told this new red troll face all that had happened to him and what he had done. When he spoke of being chased from a cliff he could see in her eyes the same feeling of fear and anger. When he had finally finished his story and the cake was eaten, this red troll sat back and was silent. She said, “I have never seen another troll in my life. I have always been feared and chased. I have just left the south to find a place where I could live in peace when I was discovered just yesterday. Now, today I see you, another troll, and you tell me that people can be good. People have always been horrible to me. How can I trust what you are saying is true?” Horace said, “I lived in fear of people for long as well, but I have found they are capable of great good. The old woman, the Old Toymaker, showed me that people are very good, but they can become afraid and let anger drive them. I’ve come to see that I was the same as that. There is much we trolls have in common with people. When they are not fearful, they are full of joy and throw themselves into life, especially the children.”

Horace continue to speak of his good fortune with the village people, and that she could have good fortune as well. The red troll was uneasy and did not wish to see the people. Horace felt that what was needed was a visit from the best people he knew, the children and the Old Toymaker. Horace felt that it was time to let this new friend have some time to think and bid his leave. He promised he would return the next day and left.

When he returned to the village, he spoke with the elders and recounted the visit. The people understood now that there was indeed another troll and, while some were concerned for the safety of the village, they trusted Horace and his advice that this red troll could be a friend as he is now. He asked if some children could come and meet this red troll. The elders were afraid, but Horace promised and the Old Toymaker said she would go as well. It was agreed.

The next day Horace returned to the forest and found the red troll once again. This time he came with four children and the old toy maker, all carried upon his shoulders. He called to the red troll, “Come out and see me. I am here, and I have brought friends!” From behind a tree, the red troll face peeped out. “Come and meet these friends of mine. I want to show you how nice they are.” He let them all down gently and a small girl walked out slowly to the red troll asking, “Why don’t you come out of from behind the tree? I want to show you my doll that Horace made for me.” “But who is Horace?” the red troll asked. There were a few giggles from the children as they pointed to Horace. “What’s your name?”, the little girl asked. The red troll looked down and said, “I haven’t got a name.” “Well, you need a name”, said the girl. “How can you talk with anyone if you haven’t got a name? Every one will just call out, “Hey you there!”” At that, there were a few more giggles and the red troll asked, “How do you get a name?” The little girl explained that parents or grandparents usually give the names, but Horace interrupted knowing that the red troll didn’t likely know her parents, and explained that he got his name from being as strong as a horse. The children laughed and so did Horace. The red troll asked if she could have a name. Horace said that she had the strength of a gale blowing across the sea when she tackled him, and the Old Toymaker said, “That’s perfect! How about Gayle?” The red troll smiled at the thought of having a name, and she did like the sound of Gayle. From that point on, the children called her Gayle.

Gayle agreed to come to the village. The little girl was particularly fond of Gayle and so walked with her most of the way. As they talked of her doll and how it was made, Gayle began to feel lighter. She began to relax and soon forgot that she was approaching a human village. As the village people saw the group approaching, they came out to greet them. Seeing all in good spirits, the people greeted their children. It was clear to them that this red troll was indeed of the same ilk as Horace. It was clear to them that she was in fact a good troll that had been treated badly. Gayle was introduced to the village and it was suggested that a dinner would be had in the square to celebrate her arrival. Horace and the Old Toymaker were very pleased and the look on Gayle’s face told them that she was as well.

The dinner was a feast and all ate well. During the meal it began to sprinkle rain and someone remarked a roof over some part of the square for meals would be good. Horace quickly volunteered himself and Gayle to build a roof. Also, Gayle was amazed at all the flavors of the food, especially the dessert. There was the same cake that Horace had shared with her and there was this new thing called “pie”. Gayle began to question how pies were made and two of the bakers agreed to show Gayle how to make pies herself.

The next day, Horace and Gayle set to work on building the roof. As the trolls were so large and so strong, they could fell a tree and turn it into lumber very quickly. Horace was strong, but with the two of them the people could not believe how they could lift the huge beams with such ease. The roof over the square was done in two day’s time. Horace fell to carving the posts and in a day it was beautiful. Horace had been in high demand before, but when the village people saw how quickly the two trolls built the roof, the favors came pouring in. Mrs. Dell had a fence needing repair. Mr. Stark’s barn was falling down. As the trolls worked and did these favors for the people, they felt so good helping the people. The more they worked, the better they felt. They had never lived for anyone but themselves and now they could help others. It should be noted that this help did not go unnoticed and the people who asked for favors repaid the trolls with fine meals and Gayle received new clothes from fine home spun wool. Despite the offers of shoes and boots, the trolls preferred to go barefoot.

During this time, Gayle was able to learn to make pies. She could barely fit into the bakers kitchen, but she quickly grasped how to make a pie. She remembered the plants of the forest used to add flavor to her forest meals, and so she ran quickly to the forest to grab them. She brought back mint, huckleberry and honeysuckle and experimented with pie making late into the evening, so late that the bakers had to turn out the lights to let Gayle know the day was done. Although, during one day as she was tasting a pie, it was so hot that she burned her tongue.  She was so surprised that she jumped and broke a hole in the roof of the kitchen.  Gayle repaired that quickly enough and from then on always waited for the pies to cool before tasting.  

The next day, Gayle spent the entire day making pies. In fact, she had made over a hundred pies! When the village people had finished their work in the fields and shops, they couldn’t help but come for Gayle’s pies. They were the most delicious pies they had ever eaten. All were surprised how such delicate crust could be made with such large strong troll hands. As they ate, Horace marveled. The Old Toymaker seeing Horace smiled. Yes, it had turned out well. The horrible red terror in the woods was misunderstood, but with some wisdom and some care the village people and the trolls were so much for the better.

The Troll and the Toymaker, Part 2

Posted by abraham.williams@gmail.com on in Books, Children's Story, Weblogs 2 Comments

The Troll knew the ways of the woods.  He knew the plants and which
are best eaten and which are not.   He began to think of the
beautifully carved wooden horse and that those who chased him into the
sea must surely find such creations valuable.  The Troll found just the
vine he was after.  It had no scent or taste but, if handled, it would make one quite ill.  In his heart, he truly wished no harm, but his
mind was clouded with anger. He could not hear his heart.

He began carving all manner of
forest creatures and covering the carvings with the nectar of the
vine.  He had to use leaves of other plants to apply this nectar to protect his own hands lest he himself become ill from touching
it.  After he had made many of these wooden creatures, he filled his
bag with them and sought to make himself a disguise so he would look
more like those who had chased him away.  The Troll spun flax and made a
large weave to cover himself and to cover his head.  It was large
enough to cover his whole body so that he could stoop to be the size of
an ordinary human.  He covered his skin with white spores.  He looked
at his reflection in a pool, added more spun flax of a lighter colour
to cover his head, and was quite pleased with his disguise.  Still, he
was very wide, but he thought little of this and headed to the village
early the next morning.

The Troll came to the village and called
out in a sing song voice that he had wooden animals.  The children were very interested as the
disguised troll began to take out the wooden creations.  As the
children gathered, so did the parents.  They all admired the handy work
of this mysterious carver.  Even the Old Toymaker came to see and did
admire the creations.  When asked where did he come from, the Troll answered
in a high voice like a bird that he had come from beyond the forest. 
When asked if he had seen a troll, he said he had not.  The people of
the village hearing the high voice and the flaxen locks began to call
the troll an old woman.  The troll handed out all of the toys to the
village children and saw they were happy as they ran off to play.  The
Old Toymaker asked how the mysterious old woman had come to be such a
wonderful carver.  As the troll answered, his heart began to feel
heavy.  He knew the children would become ill from handling the toys but forced his mind to remember being chased by fire.  The Old Toymaker invited the troll to her shop, the troll became
more anxious with each step.  As he stepped inside the shop he was
amazed to see so many wonderful creations.  

It was full of
carved figures.  Some were in the shapes of animals he recognized and
some were beasts he'd never seen.  There were tools everywhere.  There
were even soft dolls that were wonderful to touch.  The troll marveled
at the wonderful creations and was unaware that with each step he was
treading upon his cloak.  With each step, his large green troll body
was becoming exposed.  The Old Toymaker was no fool and quickly
realized that this was the troll that had been chased away the previous
day.  Still, the Old Toymaker said nothing.  She only waited for the
troll to realize his cloak was on the floor.  The troll realized soon
enough and was unsure of what to do when the Old Toymaker asked what
the troll was doing with the bundle of the children's things just
before the villagers chased him into the sea.  The troll explained and
the Old Toymaker shook her head.  She knew the people of the village
were easily frightened and quick to judge.  She told the troll to put
his cloak back on and to stay in the shop.  She told him she would find
a way to help the people of the village to know that the troll was a
good soul.  Now the troll remembered the wooden toys he had given out. 
He began to feel terrible that the children could become sick because
of his anger.  He realized is folly and told the toymaker the whole
story.  She listened carefully and scolded him for letting his anger
get the best of him.  She asked if there was anything he could do.  The
troll knew what would turn back the effects of the sickening vine, but
he would need to leave quickly to make it.  They devised a plan and
the old woman quickly lead the disguised troll out of the village. 

Once
out of the village, the troll ran as fast as he could, leaving his
disguise in a hollowed tree as he could run much faster with out it. 
Trolls can run fast, very fast.  In the times of old, trolls used to
run and catch their horses by the tail.  In no time at all, the troll
had found the leafy green fragrant clump he was looking for and in no
time at all had made his special brew.  He carried it in an earthen jug
and ran to the village, putting on his cloak and flaxen locks along the way.   The
disguised Troll and the Old Toymaker called upon each of the
villagers in their homes.  Some children had began to feel ill and so
the old troll treated them with his healing brew and also took back the
toys with a promise to return them the next day.  And so it was for
each house they visited.  None of the children felt ill for long.  For
the healing worked just as the Troll knew it would. 

All the
carved toys had been accounted for and once back at the Old Toymaker's
shop, the Troll quickly began to make new toys.  He had such a joy
using the tools of the Old Toymaker and she marveled at how quickly and
finely the Troll could work with such large hands.  The Troll worked
all night until he had remade each carving.  He was particularly good
at carving horses.  The Old Toymaker suggested he rest  after each of
the toys had been redelivered.  This was good advice as the Troll had
not slept since the night before last.  After the toys were delivered, he lay down and fell into a
deep sleep.

When he awoke, the Old Toymaker told him her plan. 
He was frightened but agreed.  Shortly after, the Old Toymaker went
into the square and called all the village people.  She reminded the
village people of the troll they had chased into the sea.  She reminded
them of the bundle the Troll carried.  She explained that he was
bringing the children's belongings back and that this was evidence of
the good in him.  Many disbelieved, but the Old Toymaker persisted.  She told them
that the troll didn't die in the sea and that the troll in great anger
had come disguised as an old woman intending to do harm to the
village.  Now upon hearing this, the village people began to shout and
roar.  The Old Toymaker had much work to do in calming the crowd.  She
quickly told of the poison and the change of heart.  Still the
villagers were angry and frightened, but they could not deny the
healing brew.  The Old Toymaker spoke of the good in the Troll over and
over.  The villagers trusted the old woman, but they did not trust the
Troll.  The villagers agreed that the Troll could stay, but only under
the care of the Old Toymaker.   A few of the villagers found this
agreement too unsettling and decided to keep the toymaker's shop under
watch that evening. 

The Troll was frightened at the presence
of the watchful villagers, but the Old Toymaker just told the troll to
do his good work.  The Troll wondered what he should do.  He remember
the joy on the children's faces when he put his carvings in their
hands.  He remembered how the children especially loved the horses.  He
decided to make a horse big enough for a child to ride.  He worked into
the night.  The Old Toymaker smiled upon his diligence and persistence.  He dreamed of
children riding the horse and just what kind of movement it should
have.  In his mind's eye, he pictured the movement of the horse rocking
and rocking.  On the bottom of the horses legs he carved two large crescent moons from the front leg to the back leg, one on each side, so that the horse rocked back and forth.  By morning, he had completed
this rocking horse. 

The Old Toymaker was amazed at the Troll's
work, so finely crafted and beautiful to behold.  The villagers who had
meant to keep watch had actually fallen asleep and where startled by
the Old Toymaker as she opened her shop doors and asked the Troll to
bring out his work.  The villagers were still frightened by the troll,
but they were also amazed at this beautifully carved wooden rocking
horse.  They had never seen the like.  One of the villagers went to get
his children and they rode upon the rocking horse with
great joy.  The Old Toymaker and the Troll were overjoyed.  The
villagers slowly approached the Troll.  They asked his name.  He said
he had never had one.  The Old Toymaker suggested Horace since it was
so close in sound to the wonderful horses the troll created.  The Troll
agreed and he was called Horace from then on. 

The people came
to find Horace to be quite handy and useful in the village.  Not only
could he carve beautifully, he could also easily lift a wagon or move
any number or large stones.  Of course, as the villagers called on him
to help, they also returned favors.  A seamstress made him a fine set
of trousers and tunic.  A cobbler made him sturdy boots, although
Horace preferred to be barefoot.  And so with all the villagers it
went this way.  The people of the village had become very friendly with
the Troll now called Horace.  Horace had become very friendly with
those around him.  What made him the happiest was helping the people of
the town.  He had been alone all his life.  He had never known
companionship.  He had never known the the joy of children laughing,
but now he knew it everyday.  He made a rocking horse for every child
in the village.  He watched them rocking back and forth and holding races
with each other and laughing the whole time.  Seeing this filled his
huge troll heart full of joy.  There was no doubt in the mind of the
villagers that Horace was a good soul.  In fact, they were so
convinced, they decided to rename their village Rocking Horse
village.  The Old Toymaker was quite pleased as you know, it could have ended differently.

Times were good for Horace, the Old Toymaker, and the villagers of Rocking Horse village until some villagers had come back frightened from a trip into the forest.  A fearsome creature that was quite large, similar in size to Horace, and looked to be mostly red had chased the villagers a great distance from the forest.  Some said it was a troll, but others disagreed.  One thing was certain, the villagers were afraid for their village.  After a discussion with the villagers, Horace agreed to seek out what this thing was to get a good look at it.  He was by far the quietest and had the greatest sense of smell and sight, not to mention the largest and strongest.  However, Horace was not fearless.  In truth, he was very fearful.  Given that he cared a great deal for the villagers and that they were such great friends, he would put that fear aside and sneak into the woods to find out just what this thing was.

Part 3 coming soon…

The Troll and the Toymaker, Part 1

Posted by abraham.williams@gmail.com on in Books, Children's Story 4 Comments

Once upon a time, there was a little village near the sea where the
people lived very happily.  In this village, there lived a very old
woman who made toys of all kinds for boys and girls.   The old woman's
toys were always made of wood, or fabric or stone.  There was no shape
that was beyond her skills.  All the people of the village sought her
to make special toys for the children.

Outside of the town, down
deep in the forest, there lived a Troll.  The Troll was very large
standing over nine feet tall and six feet between the shoulders, with
long arms and short legs.  It had green skin with very oily hair, and
it's top and bottom clothes were made from the forest plants.  The Troll's
face was like a cross between a man's and frog's with a broad flat nose
and big eyes.  The Troll lived in a hut it had fashioned out of dead
trees, rocks, and dirt.  The hut was very finely assembled and the
Troll was very handy with tools.  He would often carve pictures into
his table and chairs and they had become very ornate.  The Troll was
alone, always.  He only ever saw the animals of the forest.  

One
day two children had been allowed to go into the forest to gather herbs
for their grandmother's favorite soup recipe.  It was a beautiful day
and the children decided to make a picnic and bring along their
favorite dolls.  The children walked deep into the forest and after
finding the herbs found a lovely spot with a ring of trees around them
creating welcome shade from the noon day sun.  They ate happily and
then brought out their dolls.  They played and laughed.  They didn't
know it, but they had decided to picnic just a stone's throw from the
hut of the Troll.  And the Troll did hear them laughing.

It was
such a strange sound to the Troll, he thought it must be birds. 
However, these were not any birds he had ever heard.  So the Troll
walked to where he heard the sound.  As large as the Troll was, he was
as quiet as a fox, for he did not wish to scare the birds.  As he
peeked through the ring of trees, he saw the children.  He watched them
and admired their game of dolls.  He watched them for a few minutes and
then a moth flew by and alighted on his nose.  As he brushed it away,
one of the children then looked towards him and screamed.  This, of
course, led the other child to scream, as children will do, and they
both jumped and ran as fast as they could go back to the village.  The
Troll was as surprised as the children were.  He wondered if there was
something frightening behind him.  He quickly dropped to the ground and
looked behind him all around.  He couldn't see a thing and decided to
pickup the things left behind and take them to the children.   The
Troll thought the children were similar to birds as they took to flight
when frightened.

It wasn't long before the children had reached
the village and word spread that there was a Troll in the woods.  Most
of the people in the village believed that Trolls were awful creatures
capable of horrible things and that something must be done to protect
the village.  Some of the younger men of the village gathered in number
with clubs and torches while the others stood by telling them to take
care.  The Troll was just coming up the hill carrying the things that
the children had left behind when the villagers were coming out of the
gates.  When the villagers saw the Troll, there was a yell to attack
and they began to rush at him.  The Troll was frozen with fear and just
stood trying to understand what was happening.  He had only seen the
first two people he had ever seen when he spied the children.  Now,
here was a huge mob coming at him screaming and with fire.  Soon
enough, he understood that they meant to hurt him.  He dropped the
bundle and turned to run.  Clubs and fire began to rain down on him as
he ran for his life.  The angry villagers split into two with one mob
blocking him from the forest and the other continuing to push him
towards the sea.  The poor Troll had no chance but jump into the sea. 
As the villagers drove him over the cliff, they shouted for joy as they
believed him finished.  

Now, when the Troll jumped into the
sea, he was fortunate as he hit no rocks, and Trolls can breathe
underwater.  So, he stayed under the water and swam as far away from
the village as he could but keeping close to the shore to make his way
back into the forest later.  The villagers were quite satisfied and
went back to celebrate.  All the other villagers came out to meet
them.  Between them, everyone then noticed the bundle on the ground
where the Troll had dropped it.  It was the old toymaker who remarked
it strange that the Troll was bringing these items to the village. 
These were the things left behind by the fleeing children.  Why would
the Troll be bringing it back?  While everyone agreed it was strange,
it was dismissed that anything good could come from the Troll. 
Although, the old toymaker and a few others, began to wonder.  The
villagers then went into the village and prepared to celebrate the end
of the Troll.  

Meanwhile, the Troll had come out of the sea and
had made his way back to his forest hut.  He was confused, very
confused.  He wondered why they attacked him.  He wondered what made
them so angry towards him.  He wondered what he had done that was
wrong.  Then, he realized the children must have screamed because they
saw him!  He wondered if he really was frightful and, if so, what was
it exactly?  He walked back to the clearing where he had spied the
children and then he noticed something on the ground.  Something that
was forgotten by the children and something he had missed.  It was a
carved wooden horse.  It had been carved beautifully.  Every detail was
expertly done.  He had seen a real horse once or twice before and this
carving was very good.  He wondered who had made it.  Of course, it was
the old toymaker who had made it, but the Troll had no idea of this. 
While it was not right to keep the horse, he decided to keep it since
the risk of going to the village was far to great.  Again, he
remembered that angry mob and how afraid he was.  His fear was
beginning to turn to anger.  The more he thought about it, the angrier
he got.

He went into his hut and sat down.  He said to himself
that these creatures were not good.  He would make them feel worse than
he felt.  Deep in his heart, he knew this wasn't right, but he just
kept getting angrier.  A plan began to form in his mind, a plan he
would start on right away.  The Troll quickly set out in the forest to
gather the materials he would need.

Part 2 coming soon…