The Old Man in the Vinegar Bottle

 
Retold by Beatrice Bowles
 
Once upon a time a fairy flew about doing all the sorts of things fairies love to do -- casting spells, granting wishes, and stirring up a bit of magic here and there -- when all of a sudden she heard a little voice coming from a vinegar bottle. The fairy stopped and listened. What do you think she heard? It was the voice of a little old woman. “It's a shame, it's a shame, it's a shame! I didn't ought to live in this little vinegar bottle. NO! I should have a nice cozy cottage with roses climbing up the walls.” The fairy smiled. “Very well. Turn round three times when you go to bed tonight, and see what you see by morning light.” So the old woman turned round three times, went straight to bed, and in the morning when she woke up, she was in a cozy cottage with roses climbing up the walls, and she was very happy, but she quite forgot to thank the fairy. The fairy flew north, south, east and west, all about the business fairies do best. Then she flew to the rose-covered cottage window, and what do you think she heard? “It's a shame, it's a shame, it's a shame! I didn't ought to live in this little cottage. I should have a big city house with lace curtains at the windows and people living up and down the street.” The fairy nodded. “Very well. Turn round three times when you go to bed tonight and see what you see by morning light.” So the old woman turned round three times, went straight to bed, and in the morning when she woke up, she was in a big city house with lace curtains at the windows and people living up and down the street. She was very happy but quite forgot to thank the fairy. The fairy flew north, south, east and west, all about the business fairies do best. Then she flew to the big city house, listened at the lace-curtained window, and what do you think she heard? “It's a shame, it's a shame, and it's a shame! I didn't ought to live in this city house. No, I'm fit to be queen of a golden castle with a golden crown and a golden throne and people to order about all day long!” The fairy sighed. “Very well. Turn round three times when you go to bed tonight and see what you see by morning light.” So the old woman turned round three times, went straight to bed, and in the morning when she woke up she was queen of a golden castle with a golden throne, golden crown, and people to order about all day long. And so she did. And she was very happy, but quite forgot to thank the fairy. The fairy flew north, south, east and west, all about the business fairies do best. Then flew to the castle window and what do you think she heard? “It's a shame, it's a shame, it's a shame. I didn't ought to be queen of this gold castle. No, I'm fit to rule the whole round world!

The fairy frowned. “Turn round three times when you go to bed tonight

and see what you see by morning light.”

The old woman turned round three times, went straight to bed, and in the morning when she woke up, she was back in her vinegar bottle.