A Lost Wand facts for kids

Illustration from The Little Wonder Horn by Frances Walker

"A Lost Wand" is a classic fairy tale written by Jean Ingelow. It was first published in 1872 in a book called The Little Wonder Horn. Later, it appeared again in 1902 in Wonder-Box Tales. The story is about a lucky young girl named Hulda who lives in Norway. Her adventure begins when she finds a special ring in her cake, which gives her a chance to make a wish.

What is "A Lost Wand" About?

The story starts when Hulda finds a magical ring in her cake. A fairy appears from a flower on the cake. The fairy offers to grant Hulda any wish she desires. Without fully understanding the consequences, Hulda asks for the fairy's beautiful gold wand.

The Fairy's Loss

When the fairy gives Hulda her wand, the fairy loses all her magical powers. This means she could become a captive of her enemy. The fairy explains that the wand can only be returned on a special day: Midsummer's Day. Until then, she asks Hulda to keep it safe. The fairy then disappears, and Hulda starts to worry that the fairy might have died.

The Gnome's Trick

Days turn into weeks, and the fairy does not return. One day, a tricky visitor comes to Hulda's home. He convinces Hulda to trade the magical wand for a pretty bracelet with a bird clasp. After the trade, Hulda realizes her visitor was actually a gnome. This gnome was the fairy's enemy! With the wand, the gnome planned to make the fairy his servant forever.

Hulda's Quest

Hulda quickly understands her big mistake. She knows she must get the wand back. Hulda works tirelessly until she finally gets the gold wand from the gnome. She then returns it to the fairy. By doing this, Hulda not only gives the fairy her powers back but also saves her own life from the gnome's plans.

Main Characters

Hulda: The Girl with a Wish

Hulda is a young girl from Norway. Her life changes completely after she makes a wish to a fairy. She soon regrets her wish. Hulda then spends years trying to fix her mistake. Her brave and kind spirit helps her defeat the gnome. She successfully returns the wand to the fairy.

The Fairy: Giver of Wishes

The fairy's purpose is to help people by granting them one wish. After Hulda's wish, the fairy loses her powers. She has to hide from her enemy, the gnome. Despite her troubles, the fairy remains hopeful. This hope guides Hulda to get back what was lost.

The Peddler (Gnome): The Tricky Enemy

The gnome is a creature covered in dirt and looks like he's made of earth. He pretends to be a "Peddler" (someone who sells things). But he is actually the fairy's known enemy. His sneaky and evil actions almost took away the fairy's powers for good. However, his bad intentions do not win in the end. The story shows that kindness always triumphs.