Chapter 52
Little Tiny or ThumbelinaTHERE was once a woman who wished very much to have a
little child, but she could not obtain her wish. At last she went
to a fairy, and said, "I should so very much like to have a little
child; can you tell me where I can find one?"
"Oh, that can be easily managed," said the fairy. "Here is
a barleycorn of a different kind to those which grow in the
farmer's fields, and which the chickens eat; put it into a
flower-pot, and see what will happen."
"Thank you," said the woman, and she gave the fairy twelve
shillings, which was the price of the barleycorn. Then she went
home and planted it, and immediately there grew up a large handsome
flower, something like a tulip in appearance, but with its leaves
tightly closed as if it were still a bud. "I
