Pearlie
My father had three daughters. Two of them, Alice and Daisy, were true beautiesso lovely that folks from around the village would marvel at them. The third, myselfPearliewas a small, slight, and rather crooked thing, with only my big, bright eyes shining out of my face. I wasnt much use in the fields, nor could I keep up with my elder sisters at home. Things just seemed harder for me.
Suitors constantly filled the doorstep for Alice and Daisy; there were so many visitors bringing bunches of flowers and boxes of chocolate that it was difficult to make my way through the hallway. No one ever glanced my way, though. Alice and Daisy would sigh, We shant marry until weve got dear Pearlie settled first!
Time passed, but no one ever came courting for me. My sisters tried to help, fussing over my dresses and dabbing rouge on my cheeks, but it was all in vain. The other girls in our village started giggling behind their hands. Youll be left on the shelf yourselves, waiting about for Pearlie! they teased.
I heard every word, and it stungnot for my own sake so much, but for my dear sisters. One night, I lay awake, thinking, I cant keep spoiling their happiness. Best I leave home, so Alice and Daisy can marry without worrying about me. Ill go to the town and try to find a position as a housemaid.
I waited till everyone was asleep, tied my few bits and bobs in a knotted handkerchief, and slipped quietly out the door.
I walked all night beneath the moonlight, the lane glowing silver. I didnt feel frightened, not until I reached the woods. There, the path seemed darker and strange. What if a badgers still awakeor worse, a wild boar? My heart knocked hard in my chest, but I pressed on, until I grew too weary to go any further. Not even halfway to town, I tucked myself beneath a hazel bush, used my bundle as a pillow, pulled my shawl over my head, and drifted off.
I woke to the sound of choppingnot far off, a steady thunk, thunk of an axe. I sat upright in alarm, just as a dead branch crashed down with a whoosh! Before I could scramble away, I saw an old man approaching. He was short but stout, with a bushy white beard and an axe slung across his shoulder.
I was trembling, but the man called out, No need to fret, my dear. I mean you no harm.
Who are you, sir? I asked, my heart racing. You nearly took my head off!
Im the forester here, he replied. Live just nearby. I was felling deadwood for the winter. But whats a lass like you doing alone in the woods?
So I told him my tale. The old man listened, stroking his beard, and then said, Youve a kind heartI can see it in your eyes. Why not stay in my cottage? Be a granddaughter to me. If you change your mind, Ill take you to town myself.
I was so grateful! I agreed to stay, and from then on, we kept house together. The old gamekeeper roamed the woods by day while I ran the placethere wasnt much to do, so it wasnt hard to manage.
He was such a cheerful old soul, full of stories that made me forget my cares. Little by little, he taught me about all the woodland herbs, the roots, how to pick berries, and how to dry them for winter. He showed me how to cure, how to tend the sick, and never kept a thing back.
When his time came, my heart broke. But he told me softly, Dont weep, Pearlieeveryone must go in time. When Im gone, bury me, then go home. Ive taught you everything I know. I lived to help the forestnow live to help people, my dear.
I did as he asked. After his burial, with tears still damp on my cheeks, I turned back towards my village.
By then, Alice and Daisy had both married brothers from the big house and all lived together. They ran to greet me, delighted Id survived my strange adventure! They gave me a little sunlit room to myself, and I settled in. Now, I could help them with all the things Id learnt: when to plant, how to heal a cough, how to rid the fields of weeds. Our crops doubled, the animals were always healthy, and no one in the house fell ill. We lived quite contentedly.
Soon, word spread. Villagers started coming to me for advice. I helped everyone, never asking for money. Sometimes Id receive a clutch of eggs or a patterned scarf in thanks, but if someone was truly poor or ailing, I asked nothing.
Now, in the village lived old Mrs. Widdershins, a cunning woman renowned for her herbal remedies, though folks whispered she had a wild streak. After I began helping the villagers, they started coming to me and left her old cottage well alone. Mrs. Widdershins grew jealous and schemed how to get close to me.
One day, she arrived, all hunched over. Good day to you, Miss Pearlie, she moaned. My arms terribly sore, my dear.
Do sit, Mrs. Widdershins, I said warmly. Let me have a look.
I examined her arm. Are you sure its this one? Lets see the other, just in case.
This one, my love! she insisted, wincing. It aches dreadfully. I cant eat or sleep for the pain!
But as I gently pressed, I found nothing amiss. Honestly, Mrs. Widdershins, theres no pain here.
She scowled. How can it not hurt? Look at my fingers, all twisted!
Still, I felt there was nothing physically wrong. In the end, she gave up. Perhaps just talking with you has done me good. Thank you, Pearlie. Heres a gift for your troublea little looking glass. Youre youngadmire yourself while you may!
I thanked her, hoping all would be as kind as her words. As she shuffled away, I didnt see her whispering over that mirror before she handed it to me
As days went by, I caught a glimpse of myself in the looking glassand noticed my little hump seemed to have vanished. My back grew straighter, and the old limp faded too. Whenever I peered into that mirror, I felt inexplicably happy. Mrs. Widdershins saw the changes, realised her trick hadnt worked, and soon came calling again, moaning about her back and her legs. Poor thingher own curses were starting to catch up with her!
I brewed her herbal teas and showed her which roots to use, and once again she pressed another gift on mea curious, carved comb. A maidens hair needs looking after, and yours will only grow more beautiful!
Accepting it with thanks, I said kindly, Your good wishes mean so much, Mrs. Widdershins. Let your blessings land where you wish them.
Another few weeks, and everyone noticedmy cheeks glowed and my hair grew thick and glossy. My whole frame gathered strength. Meanwhile, Mrs. Widdershins withered away, until she was skeletal, hunched, and could barely move in her bed. No one in the village had ever seen anyone so twisted with misfortune.
She sent for me. Alice and Daisy begged me not to go. Dont, Pearlie! That womans up to mischiefher cottage is full of ill omens.
Dont fret, I said, Morning is wiser than evening.
At dawn I washed my face in fresh water, dressed in a clean frock, and filled a basket with gifts: wild honey, apples from our orchard, fragrant, healing herbs.
When Alice and Daisy saw me, they gasped, Pearlie, youre radiant! Is it your frock, or has something truly magical happened to you? Youre completely transformed.
At Mrs. Widdershins gate, I reached for the latch and found it slammed shut. Try as I might, I couldnt open it.
Mrs. Widdershins! I called out, Will you let me in? The gate is stuck.
Within, it sounded as if something was making a terrible racketpans clattering, animal noises braying, barking, and lowing.
I knocked again. Are you well? Ive come to visit and bring you some cheer.
There was no response, just those odd sounds and the cottage rattling on its timbers.
Villagers gathered, peering anxiously. People had always kept their distance from old Mrs. Widdershins, but no one had seen such commotion before. I knocked a third time, Please, Mrs. Widdershins! I brought honey, apples, and sweet herbs.
I leaned over the gate and set my basket there. At that very moment, thick black smoke billowed from the chimney. Crows burst from the windows and scattered, and the whole cottage turned as black as charcoal. In a panic, neighbours fetched pails of water and tore down the fence, fearing fire.
But as the first ray of sunshine touched the smoke, it all vanished. Nothing remained but a pile of ashes where the cottage had stoodright where Id set down my basket.
The villagers murmured, Her own wickedness undid her. She tried to curse Pearlie, but her malice came right back upon her!
From that day, I became even fairer, and scarcely recognisable from the little girl Id once been. Not long after, a kind, handsome young man from the village asked to marry me. We built a good life together, never a cross word between us. Alice and Daisy were thrilled to see my happiness.
Soon, on the spot where Mrs. Widdershins cottage burned, wild raspberries began to growlush, fat, and delicious. The whole village picked them, and no one feared the place any longer. In fact, there was so much fruit every summer, folks ended up calling the village Raspberry Hollow.
