Front matter

Nothing but the Sea, Sky and Rock

THE ISLANDS OF MAGIC

LEGENDS, FOLK AND FAIRY TALES FROM THE AZORES

RETOLD BY

ELSIE SPICER EELLS

Illustrated by E. L. BROCK

NEW YORK HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC. PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. BY THE QUINN & BODEN COMPANY RAHWAY, N. J.

PREFACE

Some three-fourths of the distance between America and Europe there is a group of nine beautiful islands called the Azores which belong to Portugal. Their names are Flores, Corvo, Fayal, Pico, S. Jorge, Graciosa, Terceira, S. Miguel, and Santa Maria. Many people think them to be the mountain peaks of the submerged continent, Atlantis, which long ago was covered by the ocean.

There are ancient records which tell of Arabian caravels driven back by dangerous seas surrounding islands full of volcanoes. There are old pictures which portray seas of spouting geysers and flaming volcanic isles. In these regions islands had a habit of suddenly lifting themselves out of the ocean and then disappearing again from view. When the largest of the islands, S. Miguel or St. Michael as it is called in English, was mapped, two mountain peaks were marked where later only one could be discovered. Thus it was that the Azores gained their reputation. Islands full of volcanoes amid seas of spouting geysers could be nothing else but enchanted. And islands and mountain peaks which suddenly vanished away from one's sight! Surely the Azores must be the true land of magic.

"The day of folktales is departing from the Azores," said the wise woman. "Public schools came with the republic, and where books of printed stories enter folktales become confused and soon are lost."

"There is no originality among our islanders," complained the wise man of the islands. "They have told over and over again the stories of our mother country, Portugal, and they have made few variations."

However, when I spent December 1920 and January 1921 in the Azores in connection with research work for the Hispanic Society, I found that there were not only pleasant folktales there but even real fairies. They inhabit the wooded slopes of Monte Brasil on the island of Terceira. The fisher folk who visit the barren Ilheos de Cabras on the Bay of Angra know that there are fairies living in those rocky isles even yet when the boys and girls of the Azores are sailing away from them to seek their fortunes in America. Have they not often seen the fairy garments spread out upon the rocks in the bright sunshine?

"You are like the Holy Virgin herself," said the little maid of St. Michael.

"Did you ever see the Virgin?" asked my friend.

"Once the white clouds parted for a moment and I caught a glimpse of her beautiful blue mantle," replied the child reverently.

Yes, there are still fairies and simple faith and magic in the islands. One who visits the boiling springs at Furnas does not doubt for a moment that he is upon enchanted ground.

Folk tales are composite. No one person or group of persons can claim credit for them. They are our inheritance from many storytellers. To all these storytellers both of yesterday and of to-day I offer my grateful appreciation and hearty thanks.

I have endeavored to tell the stories in a way which will be pleasing to American children. To do this I have taken the liberty of making occasional elaborations or omissions which I believe add to the value of the story. Everywhere first of all I have tried to keep the spirit of the Azores.

Thanks are due the publishers of the "Delineator" and the "Outlook" for permission to reprint stories which have appeared in these magazines.

E. S. E.

CONTENTS

Princess Bluegreen of the Seven Cities The Islands of Flowers Why Dogs Sniff Longstaff, Pinepuller and Rockheaver The Table, the Sifter and the Pinchers Linda Branca and her Mask Fresh Figs Peter-of-the-Pigs The Princess Who Lost Her Rings The Master of Magic St. Anthony's Godchild Trouble When One's Young The Little Maid Who Was Wise Manoel Littlebean The Necklace of Pearls The Daughter of the King of Naples Maria-of-the-Forest The Seven Enchanted Princes The Listening King José the Beast Slayer The Princess of the Lost Island Why The Alvéloa Bird Received a Blessing Why the Codorniz Bird Received a Curse Outside the Door Like the Mother of St. Peter Why the Owl Flies at Night The Laborer and His Master 'Tis Faith Which Saves St. Brendan's Island The Silent Cavalier The Enchanted Palace The Friend of the Devil The Miller's Cloak The Magic Mouthful The Messengers

Illustrations

Nothing but the Sea, Sky and Rock . . . . . . . Frontispiece

King Graywhite Struck His Royal Sword Against the Great Wall

She Could Not Hold Them All

"Will Somebody Please Pass the Pepper"

The Three Friends Journeyed on Together

"Table, Set Yourself," Said the Man

She Quietly Stole Out of the House

The Two Rabbits Came Running Up to Him

He Buried It Halfway in the Sand

The Two Old Women, The Princess, The King and Queen, and All the Courtiers Followed

The Horse Had Changed Into a Kernel of Corn

He Climbed Up the High Wall of the Palace

"Oh, Stone From My Garden Wall," She Was Saying

They Were Big and Heavy, but Her Great Fear Gave Her Strength

He Saw the Quantities of Gold

"Take Me Home as Fast as You Can!"

Then He Sorrowfully Returned to His Waiting Ship

"We Never Have Looked So Neat and Clean"

The Miller and His Wife Were the Most Surprised People in the Whole Country

He Frowned Down at José

"Alms! Alms!"

Pedro Lifted the Two Great Jars and Slowly Climbed Up the Hill

It Appeared That the Fair Maid Would Die

One Evening Just at Sunset

The Peaceful Snow-Capped Summit of Mt. Pico

The Beautiful Enchanted Palace in the Lake of Ginjal

He Bowed His Head Upon His Hands

He Wrapped Himself In the Brown Cloak And Went Out Through the Fierce Blinding Storm

She Ran to the Water Jar

A Fierce Storm Arose