Through the home woods, and close to the Fairy Dell there ran a chuckling bubbling stream. It was quite a small stream and on hot summer nights fairies, elves and pixies gathered there to play beside the cool water. There was even a tiny cove, sandy and shallow where they could splash about in the water without being afraid that they would be swept away by the swiftly lowing stream.
Everyone knew how dangerous that could be because this little stream, after bubbling and singing its way far into the home woods, suddenly went underground, gurgling and splashing in the darkness until it poured into the bigger stream where Mrs Duck lived at the foot of the Downs.
Puff the Pixie even knew where the little stream when into the ground. He had found the place one day when he was carrying a message from the Fairy Queen to Frog. It had been a long walk and he had never been there again but one day, late in Autumn he was very glad he knew where to find it. It happened this way. For many days, rain had been falling and the little stream was growing into quite a bit stream. Water Rats had to leave their homes on the banks of the stream because the water rose so high that they were flooded.
Each day, Puff the Pixie went to look at the rising waters of the stream while the other Pixies and Fairies slept. Puff slept at night and was mostly alone in the daytime except when his friend, Topaz, joined him on special adventures. The rain just would not stop and everywhere in the Home Woods, the brown leaves were falling wetly to the ground.
“O I do wish it would stop raining” sighted Puff as he sat alone by the window in his little house “how miserable everything looks”. Just then there was a loud knocking on his door and he hurried to open it. Frog stood there looking very wet and very worried. “Come in Frog” said Puff “whatever is the matter?” “Have you been to look at the stream today?” Frog asked. “Well, no not yet, but I shall be going presently – Topaz promised to come with me” answered Puff. “Oh dear, oh dear” croaked Frog “it is too awful to think about”.
“What us awful – please Frog, do tell me what the matter is” begged the Pixie. “Well said his wet visitor “the stream has now grown so big that if the rain does not stop soon, the water from the stream will run down the path to the Fairy Dell”.
Puff looked frightened “Oh Frog, this is terrible, what are we to do?” “Well Puff, I thought if you came and had a look – maybe you would have one of your clever ideas, or something.” “I’ll come right away” Puff told him “Maybe you could fetch Topaz while I put my rain clothes on but please be quiet – we don’t want to wake all the others until we really must”. And away went Frog, splashing wetly through the puddles. A little later, Puff, Topaz and Frog stood on a little hillock looking down at the wide river which was once a little stream.
Water was running everywhere and Topaz said, “We will have to wake the Fairies and the others Puff, we must. Another hour or two and the water will be over the top of the hill and running down towards the Fairy Dell.” Frog nodded his head gloomily “Just what I was telling Puff,” he said. But Puff did not seem to be listening. He was looking very puzzled. Suddenly he said, “Frog and Topaz, look the water is not flowing, the stream is getting bigger but the water is not flowing.”
He threw a stick into the water. It just floated but it didn’t sail along as it should have done on a fast running stream. And all at once Puff knew what was wrong. “It is blocked” het said “the stream is blocked where it goes underground – we must hurry. First we must ask all the water rats to help us. A little later very one was ready and the water rats were eager to help.
“If two of you can carry us on your backs” said Puff, “we will get there quicker because it is a long way.” And soon Puff and Topaz were seated on two of the biggest water rats and Puff was calling, “Alright, off we go, follow me” and away the galopted. It was still raining and Frog, springing along behind the water rats, was still very worried about the sleeping Fairies, Pixies and Elves. He kept croaking “Faster, faster.”
On and on they went until at last they came to the place where rocks and bushes marked the end of the stream, the place where the little stream went underground. Only now, the water could not run down into the earth because small branches, twigs and dead leaves had piled up and filled the opening. Puff said to the water rats, “Now we can show you why we need your help. If the water doesn’t run away soon, the Fairy Dell will be flooded.” The rats went into the water and brought the twigs and small branches to dryer ground. It was a long job and Topaz and Puff wished they could help but all they could do was wait.
“You must be careful” Puff called to the busy water rats “when you have cleared everything away, the water will start rushing downwards and you must take care not to be swept along.” “Don’t worry” the leader called back to him “we will be alright, just mind that you don’t fall in. They worked and worked and suddenly Topaz exclaimend “Hooray, it has stopped raining” and sure enough the sun was trying to shine. At that moment they heard a gurgling, splashing rushing sound, the water was moving faster and faster down through the opening and the water rats were all swimming to where Puff and Topaz and Frog were dancing up and down in excitement.
They all stood watching for a long time to make sure that the opening did not get blocked again, then tired and wet but very happy they all went back to their homes. It was late in the afternoon when Puff and Topaz reached the Fairy Dell and Puff asked his friend to have a glass of hot honey tea with him. While they were sipping their drinks there was a knock and the door opened. There stood the Fairy Queen! Puff and Topaz jumped up in surprise.
“Sit down both of you, I know you must be tired. Frog has told me how you saved the Fairy Dell from being flooded. The King and I would like to invite you to a special banquet tomorrow night. All the water rats have been invited and of course Frog. Now you must sleep, thank you for taking care of us while we were sleeping., goodnight,” and the Fairy Queen was gone and the two little friends finished their honey tea then both curled up in Puffs bed and were soon fast asleep.
Puff the Pixie stories were written by D.L. Hardy-Jesshope and may not be copied or reproduced in any way as they are under copywrite.