Belgian Fairy Tales
Copyright© 2024 by William Elliot Griffis
Chapter 26: A Society to Make Fairy Tales Come True
One evening of the fairy congress was devoted to story-telling, in which the fairies competed with each other to see which tale was the most interesting.
After one fairy had told the story of the fleur-de-lys, which was only “e pluribus unum”—as Horace said of a salad—that is, one out of many, another fairy rose up to tell the story of the opal. This precious stone carries in its bosom the colors of the Belgian flag, black, yellow, and red.
Thus the fairy began:
“It was long before Cæsar’s day, when the first princess of the united Belgian tribes was to be married. Then the fairies came to her and asked her what she wished them to do, to adorn her head-dress for the wedding.
“This was her answer:
“ ’My desire is for a jewel to wear on my forehead. I hope to get one that shall show the three colors; the first, to stand for loyalty to my king-father; the second, to represent my willing obedience to the law of the commonwealth; and the third, to express the freedom of my countrymen from the slavery of enemies.
“ ’These colors must be first, black; to signify that the king must face, without fear, every storm, and whatever is dark or difficult. The second must be yellow, to show how law protects gold, which is the symbol of property, as the result of human labor; the third must be red, representing blood, the life of the nation, and which, from their own veins, our brave men must, when necessary, shed for us all.
“ ’Be sure to get me a perfect black, for everybody knows, that, in the heraldry of kings and nobles, sable, or black, denotes constancy, wisdom and prudence. If you can, bring me a precious stone that contains these three hues. They are my colors and my people love them. Yet, if a gem, and not something else, it must have them all, for I can wear but one stone.’
“Three fairies, with strong wings, were immediately sent to fly out over the forests and into the mountains, where the pretty gems are found. They hunted among the rocks, and in the beds of streams. They called on the kabouters to help them to make search in the dark caves. Happily, each one was successful beyond the highest hopes.
“After choice from many fine specimens, the three fairies returned, each one bearing a glistening jewel in her hand.
“The first proffered the princess a pure, hard, black stone. It was well named the diamond, meaning ‘the invincible.’ Rare indeed is a black, or colored diamond, but there it was.
“The second stone was the topaz, of a deep yellow. It reminded one of the gains of commerce, and the toil of millions, bringing comfort and wealth.
“The third stone was the ruby, deeply, darkly, beautifully red. Besides being hard, brilliant and permanent in tint, it was not easily scratched or broken.
“Joyfully the princess bound these three upon her forehead and looked into the mirror. She was delighted with all the gems, for each was beautiful and spoke its own language.
“Yet, as each fairy thought the one, which she had found in the mountains, and selected out of many, was that which the princess ought to prefer and to wear, the king’s daughter could not decide, by herself at least, lest she be deemed selfish or partial.
“So she went to her father, and asked his advice.
“He looked at each jewel, admiring them all, yet thinking in his heart all the while that his own daughter excelled each and every one. He then made answer:
“ ’In the Walloon language, my daughter “l’union fait la force” (unity makes strength). Suppose you ask the fairies to join the three gems in one, making a single stone. Then, see what will come of it.’
“The princess at once called to her aid the king of kabouters, and bade him make of the three jewels one.
“Down into the earth among his forges and fires, the master-fairy disappeared. He spent days and nights over the task. In a crucible, over a roaring fire, he fused the three gems into one. Then with a lapidist’s skill, and a jeweler’s craft, he set the jewel in an exceedingly beautiful coronet.
“Within one week, the kabouter king came back, holding in his hand a velvet-lined box which the three fairies had made with their delicate fingers. On the outside, were the three colors, black, yellow and red, in vertical bands.