Embark on an enchanting odyssey to Australia as we spin the tale of "The Magic Well," a hidden gem nestled in the heart of a fairy-populated isle. So, snuggle up in your blankets and have sweet dreams.
The music in this episode is Calm by Amber Glow.
BetterHelp Visit our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/dreamful for 10% off your first month.
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Embark on an enchanting odyssey to Australia as we spin the tale of "The Magic Well," a hidden gem nestled in the heart of a fairy-populated isle. So, snuggle up in your blankets and have sweet dreams.
The music in this episode is Calm by Amber Glow.
BetterHelp Visit our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/dreamful for 10% off your first month.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Welcome to Dreamful Podcast Betem stories for slumber. I would like to start this episode by thanking our newest supporters, donna Kennerd and Lauren Joswiak. Thank you both so much, and I hope you have the sweetest of dreams. If you'd like to support the show and gain access to subscriber-only episodes while receiving a shout-out, visit DreamfulStoriescom and, on the support page, find a link to become a Buzzsprout supporter or subscribe via Supercast. If you listen on Spotify, the show is sponsored by BetterHelp.
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In this episode, I will be reading the Australian fairytale the Magic Well, so snuggle up your blankets and have sweet dreams. In the centre of Australia there's a large and lovely lake and its waters gleaming golden. On the sun there are glory take. In the middle of the waters there's an island, wondrous, fair In the perfume of its fruit and flowers, like incense fills the air. In the heart of this fair island there's a wonder working well by the fairy folk enchanted. What is there? The fairies dwell.
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Most people seem to think that the heart of Australia is nothing but a sandy desert. Well, that's not quite correct. As a matter of fact, though not a great number know it, the very, very centre is inhabited by fairies. They live there on a beautiful island in the middle of a great lake, and all they have, including their wonderful city, is all due to the magic well. On their splendid island there are hills covered with trees, forest trees, and there are great valleys where wildflowers grow, and springs and streams and waterfalls and caves with stalactites in them, those funny things that look something like sheep's tails frozen. These stalactites hang down from the cave roofs and even they are due to the magic well. That may seem strange, but the way it happens is this Little drops of water very slowly oozing down from the top of the cave, carry with them the tiniest bits of sand or limestone. The first pieces of sand or limestone just stick to the roof, and then every other little piece, after it gets through, just clings to the piece that got there before it, so that by and by, thousands and thousands of them all joined together make a stalactite.
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But of course there are many other things there beside those that hang in caves. For instance, there are the loveliest birds and butterflies, the most beautiful beetles and moths and above all, the rarest lot of Australian animals the eye could wish to see Kingaroos, wallabies and woolly bears, possums, platypuses and gaily colored lizards, big and little. And then the fern-gollies. Why, there never were such ferns anywhere ever before. Thousands of them. Tree ferns galore, stag ferns aplenty, maiden hair in bunches as large as rosebushes, larger indeed and cat heads the size great trailing asparagus ferns and every kind that the world knows. Date palms too, and lofty coconut trees with the coconuts on them always ready to pull, and banana trees with great yellow bunches of bananas hanging down most temptingly. Then there are breadfruit trees, as well as fruit trees of every other description and flowers and flowering shrubs and untold number. And friday. Can you imagine such a place? And all due to the magic. Well, for without that well, the island could not have come into existence and if anything were to happen to it, the lake would disappear and the fairies of Australia have to find a new home.
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Strictly speaking, it should have been said that the superior fairies would have to find a new home, for, as everybody knows, not all the fairies live in one place. Even those who belong to Ferry Island are not always there. Over and over again, they are sent travelling about on errands for their king and queen, and sometimes they are given very important work to do. For example, they are constantly showing the raindrops just exactly where to fall, coaxing the wind to blow more softly on the delicate flowers, pulling the dark clouds away so that the sun can steadily shine upon the earth, warming the soil, causing things to grow and making everything very sweet and pleasant for everybody. Of course, there are other tribes, such as the mountain fairies, the river fairies, the forest fairies and many more, but these are all subject to King Rarita at Ferry Island and have only a governor over them.
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Now, that was not always the case. Many years ago, the various tribes were all independent of one another, and each tribe had its own particular piece of country within which it lived and was supreme, and naturally, each had its own king or queen. But a time arrived when this was changed, and it came about in quite a wonderful way, in a manner of speaking, all through the magic. Well, prince Varata, as he was then called, having come of age, was sent by his father to look for a wife. It was then the custom among the fairies, as it still is among the crowned heads of the world, for the king's sons and daughters to get their wives or husbands from among the families of other royal households.
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The prince's father, who was the head of the four fairies, was called King Eucalyptus and a very clever and prudent old king. He was too, though not nearly so wise as his son became. At the same time, he was not without a great deal of what is termed natural shrewdness. He therefore reasoned that if he sent his son travelling from tribe to tribe with strict injunctions or orders not to choose a wife until he had seen at least six princesses, he must indeed learn many things that were unknown to his father. So off the prince went. As a chance, however, his father need not have had any anxiety about his making any mistake in selecting a wife, for he had very good taste and was gifted with what is called discrimination, or the power to see for himself the best in whatever came under his notice. So, though he paid many visits to many fairy kings, up to this time he was by no means satisfied to make a choice.
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His latest journey had taken him to stay for a while with the tribe of fairies who lived in what is now called the Northern Territory. The king of those fairies had several daughters, all very bright and witty in their conversation, but, possibly, owing to the heat, to the climate, rather shallow complexions and not nearly beautiful enough to please the princess fancy. He therefore finally resolved to make his way across the continent, from north to south, or so he had heard. The wattle fairies of that part of Australia that is now known as Victoria were particularly fair and lovely, and he shared the hope that, at long last, he would discover a princess fit to be his wife. As may be imagined, in the course of such an extraordinary, lengthy journey, and about 2,000 miles, he naturally met with quite a number of adventurers. Of these, there is not time to tell, except to say that, though over and over again imperil from the wicked desert fairies who repeatedly tried to overwhelm him in storms, he always had the good fortune to win safely through.
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When he had gotten exactly halfway across Australia, he came upon a very singular sort of hill, rising in great slopes above the otherwise level country. Interested, he stayed to closely examine it, climbing at last to the top. Whilst there, night came on and, being very tired, he settled himself to sleep, selecting for a pillow one of the numerous tussocks of grey green grass which were growing all over the hill. Of other vegetation there was very little, only a few stunted trees almost devoid of leaves. But the hill itself spread over a very wide area indeed, and though in many places sandy, there were other spots, as the princess seen, that were covered with what looked like excellent soil, ready to grow anything if only plenty of water were available. In point of fact, it was on these patches that the stunted trees were growing, only safe from death, no doubt by the falling of extremely rare showers of rain. There were gorges and gullies too, but so dry from lack of water that only the merest half of things were growing there, round about the hill, as far as the eye could see, and further stretched, miles and miles of sandy desert.
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Just as the sun rose in the morning, the prince awoke. In order to pull himself to a sitting posture, he clutched at one of the grass tussocks that grew near. To his astonishment, it came easily out of the ground, but judge of his intense surprise when gazing steadily into the hole left by the upper grass, he saw a tiny drop of water slowly come through the soil at the bottom, slowly replacing the tussock and firmly bedding the lucid earth around it. He gave himself up to pondering on the very peculiar fact that had just come under his observation. After a while, a great thought came to him. The drop of water he had seen could not be there by itself. It must have come from some larger supply located deeper down on the earth.
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If that were the case and there could be no reason to doubt it then it might become possible to do many things which, in his dreamings, he had often planned to carry out, if only the opportunity offered Much, for example, as the building of a new, safe and perfectly wonderful city, the creation of a fairy navy or the erection of a glorious palace, greatly in advance of anything that had ever been seen before Almost all his life. Maybe because he had so frequently noted the comparative scarcity of water in the inland portions of Australia, he had thought of what might be done with unlimited supplies. Here then appeared to be his golden opportunity. It was a chance not to be missed. Giving up his quest for a wife and hastening home with all speed, he secretly got together a number of his more intimate friends and told them of his remarkable discovery.
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He then persuaded them to join him in going back to the well in order to see what might be done with his waters and whether or not he could do some of the other things about which he had been thinking. But for fear of failure, he did not let his father know of his return or of his intentions. For the same reason, he did not tell his friends what was in his mind, but he resolved that, should the matter turn out as fortunately as he hoped, to take them into his entire confidence and seek their assistance in the carrying out of the great enterprises he had envied. So, having provided them with everything he thought might be required for the works he proposed to carry out, quietly and unobtrusively off, they set upon their mission After surmounting many difficulties. In due course, they arrived at the place where Prince Warita had rested a few weeks earlier. He very easily found the spot where he had lain down to sleep because, quite apart from a pile of stones he had set up to market, the tussock he had disturbed was Consequent upon its getting a little more water than it had previously been able to draw from the earth, much greener than before. It was only the work of a moment to again pull it from its place and there, sure enough, in a very few minutes, the tiny bubble of water appeared. To say that they were all deeply interested is to put it mildly. But they were not allowed to waste much time in merely wondering from whence the water came. Acting under the prince's orders, a circle was first drawn around the opening from which the tussock had come. From center to circumference, the distance was six feet, so that from edge to edge of the circle was exactly twelve feet. Within the circle, they all then set to work, removing the earth, even the prince himself digging away with the others. Curiously enough, as the digging advanced, they found embedded in the soil several implements such as are used by the garden fairies in cultivating their lands, just exactly in the same way as people in England, in digging wells, often come across old Roman coins or other articles.
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When they had reached a depth of about twelve feet, meeting a little more moisture as they proceeded, they suddenly came upon some broad flat stones. The prince instantly ordered them all to stop working until he had looked them over carefully with a view to seeing how they might best be removed. Gently stamping his foot to test the thickness of the stones, the prince thought he detected a somewhat hollow sound coming from underneath. Being intently, he vigorously stamped upon the particular stone upon which he was standing. In doing so, he involuntarily stepped backwards and, to his amazement, the stone immediately tipped, tilted a little and outshot a long, thin stream of clear, cold water. Finally enough, the startlingly set an appearance of the water caused the prince to step still further back, with the result that when his weight was removed, the stone fell into its place again and so shut off the water.
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But the secret was out they had found the entrance to a subterranean spring or well. Other experiments showed that two stones fitting together formed a kind of trapdoor barring the waters from coming out. To open or close the trapdoor stones required very little effort. Once the trick was learned, and in accordance with the extent to which they were opened, the amount of water released could easily be regulated. They replaced the earth in the well and returned to their homes, as the prince particularly desired to tell his father the wonderful news and to consult him as to the future. Reached back, the prince immediately waited upon his father, king Eucalyptus, and, emitting no detail, told him the whole story, from the time when he first observed the tiny drop of water up to the actual unearthing of the well. Very quietly, the king listened to the end, smiling occasionally. When the prince had finished, he said the well you have found once belonged to the garden fairies. It is a magic well and it is fed by an underground stream called Fruitful River. The river will never run dry, no matter how much water is taken from it.
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The garden fairies are now dispersed all over Australia, every tribe having some of their number attached to it, except the desert fairies and the ocean fairies. It was the desert fairies who drove them out of the original home and scattered them among the tribes. All this happened hundreds of years ago, but the golden fairies still tell the tale of their lost possessions and though they are extremely peaceful and industrious in their hearts, they alow the desert fairies for the injuries done them. It is said that the desert fairies, who were very vicious in their habits and also very warlike, became envious of the prosperity of the garden fairies and resolved to attack and conquer them. This they did, but to their surprise, the war lasted for years and years, the garden fairies resisting with all their might the malicious onslaughts of their enemies. But the time came when they saw they must be defeated and rather than leave their sacred well to the mercy of the desert fairies, they resolved to seal it up with stones. Then they left, but not before they sustained another terrific siege from the desert fairies, who determined to overcome them through enormous quantities of sand over the whole place. If they had not done this, they might afterwards have discovered just where the well was, but so completely had they done their wicked work that it was almost impossible to tell one spot from another. So the places remained these many hundred years till you have had the good luck to find what the desert fairies have looked for in vain. Having found the magic well, you are at liberty to ask me for such a favor connected with it is maybe within my power to bestow For a moment.
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Prince Waratah was so taken back at the unexpected conclusion to his father's remarks that he could hardly find words to express himself. Only realizing, however, that here was an opening that might never occur again, he promptly asked permission to give up, for the time being, his search for a wife, to go back to the well and to take with him such of his friends as so many of the working fairies, as would enable him to begin his most cherished ambition the building of the city of his dreams. The king, under the circumstances, was only too delighted to give his consent. With so many things in his favor. It is thus easy to understand the joy with which Prince Rata assembled his friends and, taking them into his confidence, went into the minutest details as to his proposals.
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The working fairies were soon selected, about two thousand, and thus everybody and everything was ready to move on the long trek. First and foremost rode the prince, mounted on a dainty milk white pony, on any larger than a sheep. Closed behind, riding chestnut ponies with silver mains and tails, came his chosen friends. After the prince's personal friends, they're followed on in proper order the fairy workmen, all astride of dappled grays. Then came the surveyor's instruments and all the machinery tools, packages and materials, the longest, strangest procession that ever sailed forth. At the extreme rear came the fairy cooks with all their pots and pans and fairy fireplaces, everything spotlessly clean and shining in the sunlight. The cooks all rode in fairy wagons, each about the size of a butterbox and as white as snow. The wagons were drawn by coal black ponies whose highly polished coat thribbled and shimmered whenever the sunbeams fell upon them.
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When, at last night did arrive, prince Rata and all his company found themselves in a very lovely wooded valley. It was an ideal place for camping. A little silver stream supplied them with plenty of water. The dry leaves that had fallen from the trees and the smaller broken branches that lay around supplied them with kindling and firewood an extra supply of leaves, also making very good bedding on which to spread their sleeping rugs. After supper, feeling very comfortable and happy, just as stars began to peep at them through the gently swaying tree tops, they were all sound asleep. Last morning everybody was stirring bright and early, and after breakfast and packing up the march began again.
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So day followed day for many a day, but the time came when they left forests and streamed behind them and had to travel over great stretches of land covered with coarse and stubbly grasses. It was not pleasant by any means. Yet worse conditions were ahead, for when the rough grasslands were finally crossed, they came to the great sandy desert. Luckily, they were not far from their destination. In two more days the Prince told them they would be there. Happily.
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However, before that time arrived, they found themselves engaged in a terrific struggle with the desert fairies, these nomadic fairies, possibly resentful of the coming of the others, or maybe just because they are naturally nasty viciously and vigorously attack them in force. Using their usual tactics, they first brought up an extremely hot wind and, driving this before them, full into the face of the Wayfarers, sought to make them beat in a glorious retreat. But in spite of the fearful discomfort which the scorching wind brought to them, they kept steadily on, absolutely determined not to be turned from their purpose by a hot wind, however fierce. Seeing, therefore, that this attack was a failure, the desert fairies resorted to the dreadful second line of attack. Picking up vast quantities of sand, they flung it before them, seeking to choke, blind and barren the intrepid adventurers. Eyes, ears and noses became partly filled with it. Under the strain, lips blackened and cracked and parched throats ached with a pain almost unendurable.
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As the onslaught developed in intensity. Yet still undaunted, on they went. The courage instead fastness were marvellous. While might the Prince be proud of them. As a matter of fact, foreseeing such a fight, he had repeatedly urged them, should it occur, not to be dismayed and fall back, but to stand firm. And at the right moment, effective help would certainly be forthcoming. And so a chance fore, just when the contest seemed no longer possible of endurance and despair was about to bring panic to their midst, the shower fairies arrived and, with their pellet-like raindrops, beat the sand particles down, cleared and cooled the air and, with refreshing waters, restored the faint and famished fairies, more remarkable than all their late attackers, finding themselves thus bereft of their weapons, turned tail and fled, leaving the prince and his faithful followers masters of the field.
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In the early afternoon they arrived at the site of the magic well.
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The halt was called and for a little time everybody rested.
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Then, taking a company of working fairies to the top of the hill, the prince directed them to remove the grass he and his friends had planted, to hide the opening of the well from sight and to dig down until they were told to stop this stun. Standing upon some of the freshly thrown out earth, he told them that in a few minutes they should witness a most engaging sight. In clear-cut language. He followed the statement with a brief narrative of the finding of the well, his fascinating history and an outline of his intentions with regard to the building of the fairy city. In this project, he added, he expected to receive their willing cooperation and assistance, an expectation which his confidence in them led him to believe would be fully realized. As might have been expected, the speech was received with vociferous applause, which applause almost reached a roar when, at a wave of his hand, amidst the greatest curiosity and excitement, his trusty officers within the well opened the door and a great stream of clear, cool crystal water shot fountain-like into the air.
