The Forest Folk | Ep. 232

Think of all the people you love.

There are probably quite a few, right? But the great thing is, no matter how many people we give love to, we can always find more love in our hearts!

Because love is an endless thing to give – and to receive. And as we’ll hear in today’s story, when we give love, and receive love, magical things can happen!

Our tale is called “The Forest Folk.” Versions of this tale come from the western European country of Germany.

We recorded this episode before a live audience of very enthusiastic kids and grown-ups at CitySpace at The Lavine Broadcast Center in Boston, Mass. On stage was a talented quartet of Boston-based actors including Emily DiPietro, Sonya Joyner, Luis Negron, and Gamalia Pharms, with live music by Eric Shimelonis.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Sofie Kodner. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Now it’s your turn!

For a little good luck — and a lot of sparkle – you can make your own silver spruce cones! Here’s how:

Once you’ve made your silver spruce or pine cones, we’d love to see them! Grown-ups, snap a photo of your Circle Round fans and their creations and send them to circleround@wbur.org. 

We may feature them in an upcoming edition of “The Lion’s Roar,” the monthly newsletter for members of the Circle Round Club. Learn more about this super-fun chance to support public radio – and get some cool perks – here!

Musical Spotlight: Orchestral Chimes

Orchestral chimes are metallophones: instruments with a sound-producing body made of metal, such as tuned bars, tubes, rods, bowls, or plates. To produce sound, you usually strike the metal body with a mallet.

The first metallophones that we know of existed in China in the 7th century. Over the centuries, they grew in numbers, kinds, and geographical locations. Today’s examples include the saron and gender of the Indonesian gamelan orchestra, as well as the Western glockenspiel, tubular bells, and wind chimes: a.k.a. orchestral chimes.

Eric Shimelonis chose the orchestral chimes for this story to give it a ringing, magical feel for the holidays. Also, our tale hails from Germany, as does the glockenspiel; the literal translation to English is “bells play”!

Story Transcript:

NARRATOR: In the windswept highlands of northern Germany… where tree-covered peaks tower above lush, rolling meadows and deep, winding valleys… there lived a young woman named Gretchen.

Gretchen shared a snug mountainside cabin with her mother, Freya [FRAY-uh]. With the nearest town many miles – and mountaintops – away, Gretchen and Freya spent most of their days scouring the rugged slopes and ridges for food… and combing the tangled forest for fallen firewood.

Life was especially hard come winter, when the air grew sharp and biting, and the earth and trees grew thick with snow and crusty with ice.

But one winter, life became more difficult than Gretchen and Freya ever expected.

Just before the holidays, Freya fell ill. So ill that she took to her bed, and could barely lift her head from the pillow.

FREYA: (weak/ill throughout scene) Gretchen? Could you please be a dear and fetch me another blanket? I feel chilled to the bone!

GRETCHEN: Of course, Mama! Here. Take mine.

NARRATOR: Gretchen laid the blanket over Freya’s quivering body and squeezed her clammy hand.

GRETCHEN: Mama? Your condition is getting worse by the day. Shouldn't we call a doctor?

FREYA: I wish we could, Gretchen! But even if we got a doctor to come all the way from town, we could never afford the bill – let alone the medicine! There’s hardly a penny left in this cabin!

GRETCHEN: I suppose you’re right. (beat) And there’s hardly any food left, either. You and I gathered those berries and walnuts before you got sick, but they’re nearly gone. (beat) So I'll tell you what. You stay in bed, get some rest, and I’ll go find some food. Firewood, too. We’re down to our last logs and you’re shivering like a wet kitten!

NARRATOR: Gretchen bundled up in her coziest coat, mittens and hat. Then she pulled on her boots, grabbed a basket, and stepped outside.

GRETCHEN: Goodness! The wind is like a thousand icy needles pricking right through me! And the snowfall is so heavy, it’s like someone tore open the world’s largest pillows and let the feathers fly! (beat) But I must find something to fuel our fireplace… and fill our bellies!

NARRATOR: Gretchen’s feet crunched deeper and deeper in the snow as she wandered among the bushes and trees, their branches sagging under the weight of their frosty coats. She eventually came to a clearing surrounded by spruce trees. Beneath each spruce tree was a scattering of scaly brown cones that had dropped off the sharp, needly branches for the winter.

All at once, a curious notion flashed through her head.

GRETCHEN: What if I bring home… some spruce cones!??? (beat) Spruce cones aren't very big, but they would burn bright and warm in the fireplace – at least for a short while. And even if Mama and I can’t eat spruce cones, I could take them to town and sell them! I’ll paint them festive colors for the holidays… and with any luck, I’ll earn enough money to buy some food!

NARRATOR: Gretchen crouched down and reached for a spruce cone. But the moment she tossed it into her basket…

FOREST FOLK 1: Well, well, well! What have we HERE?

FOREST FOLK 2: A human STEALING SPRUCE CONES! THAT much is clear!

NARRATOR: Gretchen flicked her head around.

GRETCHEN: Who said that? Where are you? And I wasn’t “stealing spruce cones”! I was just – (gets interrupted mid-sentence)

FOREST FOLK 1: (interrupting) …Just taking what belongs to US! And that’s a sad true FACT!

FOREST FOLK 2: So remove that spruce cone from your basket, and kindly put it BACK!

NARRATOR: The voices seemed to be coming from the spruce trees. Gretchen lifted her gaze and what should she spy perched in the snowy branches but a woman and man – though they were unlike any woman and man she had ever seen before!

For one thing, they were small – no bigger than young children. What’s more, their faces were as wrinkled as raisins, their eyes and skin were as green as moss, and their unkempt hair was as white as dandelion fuzz!

GRETCHEN: (taken aback, nervous) I am SO, SO SORRY! If I had known these spruce cones belonged to you, I wouldn’t have tried taking any! (beat) It’s just that my mother is ill… and we’re both so cold and hungry. I thought these spruce cones might warm us in the fire! And then I might sell a few to buy food in town!

NARRATOR: The tiny green people put their wild white heads together and exchanged some hushed words that Gretchen couldn’t understand.

FOREST FOLK 1: / FOREST FOLK 2: (ad-lib hushed gobbledy-gook words)

NARRATOR: When they shifted their gaze back to Gretchen, their green eyes were gleaming.

FOREST FOLK 1: We appreciate you sharing your tale of woe!

FOREST FOLK 2: But if it’s spruce cones you want, UP THE HILL you must go!

NARRATOR: Then they let out a spirited giggle…

FOREST FOLK 1: / FOREST FOLK 2: (giggle)

NARRATOR: …and vanished!

GRETCHEN: What was that all about?!?? Who were those people? If they were even “people” at all…! (beat) But no matter. I should do as they said. It’s my only hope for helping Mama!

NARRATOR: Gretchen hurried from the clearing and began clambering up the slope. When she reached the top, her face broke into a broad grin.

GRETCHEN: (big smile) Look at that! There are thousands of spruce trees up here! And they’re HUGE! I’m bound to collect oodles of spruce cones! (beat) (realizing) But wait.

NARRATOR: Gretchen’s face fell.

GRETCHEN: All the spruce cones are still clinging to the branches! None have fallen to the ground yet – and the trees are too tall for me to climb! (beat) Ugh!!! What am I going to do? (ad-lib bursting into tears)

NARRATOR: Warm tears rolled down Gretchen’s chilly cheeks as she let out a sob. Then… before you could say “Jack Frost”...

AUDIENCE: PLUNK!

GRETCHEN: (GASP!) What was that? Did something just land in my basket?

NARRATOR: Gretchen cast her teary eyes downward, and lo and behold…

GRETCHEN: (GASP!) …There’s a spruce cone in my basket! One of the biggest spruce cones I’ve ever seen! How odd that it managed to land right here. I mean, what are the chances of – (gets interrupted mid-sentence)

AUDIENCE: PLUNK!

NARRATOR: Gretchen’s jaw dropped open. Because to her astonishment, another spruce cone suddenly landed in her basket!

GRETCHEN: What!????

NARRATOR: Then another…

AUDIENCE: PLUNK!

NARRATOR: …and another…

AUDIENCE: PLUNK!

NARRATOR: …and another!

AUDIENCE: PLUNK!

NARRATOR: Before she knew it, a cascade of spruce cones was raining down from the trees… and landing smack dab in her basket!

AUDIENCE: PLUNK! PLUNK! PLUNK! PLUNK! PLUNK!

NARRATOR: In no time at all, Gretchen’s basket was brimming with spruce cones, and her heart was brimming with joy.

GRETCHEN: I don’t know what magic is at work with these spruce trees, but I am so grateful! I will take these spruce cones to Mama at once!

NARRATOR: Night was falling as Gretchen began her trip home. The forest grew dim with shadows, and the only relief from the murky gloom was the occasional moonbeam that slipped through the snow-covered canopy above.

GRETCHEN: Oh dear! It’s as dark as a wolf’s mouth in this forest! And getting darker by the minute! (beat) And for some reason, my BASKET seems to be getting HEAVIER by the minute. I can hardly lift it!

NARRATOR: By the time Gretchen reached the cabin, she was all out of breath – and strength. She managed to push the door open, but the moment she stumbled inside, the basket flew from her hands…

GRETCHEN: Whoops!

NARRATOR: …and the spruce cones went rolling across the rough unpolished floor! Hoping not to wake her sleeping mother, Gretchen fell to her knees and scrambled to pick them up.

And that’s when she realized why her basket had felt so heavy! The room was lit by nothing more than the last dying embers in the fireplace, but all at once, Gretchen could see everything!

GRETCHEN: The spruce cones! … They’ve CHANGED! … And if I’m not DREAMING right now, then our LIVES are about to change, too. (dramatic) In a BIG WAY!!

NARRATOR: What do you think happened to the spruce cones? And how might they change Gretchen and Freya’s lives?

We’ll hear what happens next, after a quick break.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR: I’m Rebecca Sheir and welcome back to Circle Round, live at WBUR CitySpace in Boston, Massachusetts! Today our story is called “The Forest Folk.”

NARRATOR: Before the break, a whole bunch of spruce cones had magically fallen into Gretchen’s basket. The basket felt unusually heavy by the time she reached the mountainside cabin she shared with her mother, Freya. And when she took a closer look, she discovered why.

GRETCHEN: These spruce cones…! They’ve turned to SILVER! Pure, solid, sparkling SILVER!

NARRATOR: Gretchen’s delighted cries woke up Freya, who had been sleeping fitfully and feverishly in her bed.

FREYA: (still sick/weak, but alert throughout scene) What was that, daughter? Silver spruce cones…?!??

NARRATOR: Gretchen clutched a handful of cones and raced to Freya’s bedside. The sick woman’s sleepy eyes went wide, and her jaw dropped so low it nearly hit the mattress!

FREYA: Well goodness gracious and gracious sakes! (beat) Gretchen! How did you get these silver spruce cones? You must tell me everything!

NARRATOR: So Gretchen sat down and recounted her tale. How she had spent hours scouring the mountainside for food and firewood. How two tiny, mysterious people with green skin and white hair had scolded her for taking their spruce cones. How she had explained that her mother was sick, so she was collecting spruce cones to warm the cabin and sell as holiday decorations in town.

GRETCHEN: …And that’s when their entire attitude changed, Mama! They talked amongst themselves for a moment – in a language I could not understand – then they sent me to this other stand of spruce trees up the hill. Once I got there, a shower of spruce cones came tumbling into my basket! (beat) It was the strangest adventure, Mama! I can’t figure out how to explain it! … Can you?

NARRATOR: Gretchen gazed at her mother with curious eyes. Freya gazed back with knowing ones.

FREYA: Actually… I can! (beat) From the sound of things, you just met… the Forest Folk!

GRETCHEN: The Forest Folk?!??

FREYA: Yes! They’re also known as the “Moss People.” You DID say their skin was as green as moss, right?

GRETCHEN: It was green! Wrinkly, too. And their hair was as white as dandelion fuzz!

FREYA: That sounds like THEM! The Forest Folk are magical sprites who protect the trees! I believe they took pity on you and were trying to help!

GRETCHEN: And they did help! I mean, I could sell just a few of these silver spruce cones in town and buy plenty of food and firewood! And I can talk with a doctor and get you some medicine! I’ll head out first thing tomorrow.

NARRATOR: So early the next morning, just after daybreak, Gretchen fetched her sled, and pulled it into town. The townspeople were delighted to buy her silver spruce cones. And when she returned home, her sled was stacked with groceries, firewood, and a bottle of medicine for her mother.

Freya took a dose, then lay down for a nap. Gretchen, meanwhile, got to work in the kitchen. She roasted a plump goose, boiled some delicious dumplings, and whipped up a hearty bowl of stuffing. Then she laid everything on the table, and when her mother woke up, she presented the feast with pride.

GRETCHEN: Ta-da! (beat) What do you think, Mama? Doesn’t it look scrumptious?

FREYA: (still sick, but impressed/loving) It sure does, Gretchen! (beat) Thank you.

NARRATOR: Gretchen and Freya ate like queens that night. Or, should I say, Gretchen ate like a queen. Freya just picked at her food.

GRETCHEN: Mama…? Is something wrong with the meal?

FREYA: No, child. Nothing is wrong with the meal. It’s amazing. But I fear something is wrong with ME. Even though I took the doctor’s medicine, somehow I feel worse than ever! I should lie down.

NARRATOR: Gretchen took Freya’s arm and helped her into bed. The poor woman was dripping with sweat, and twitching like a skillet of popcorn on a hot stove. Gretchen was worried, but tried putting on a brave face.

GRETCHEN: (putting on a brave face) Maybe the medicine just needs more time to kick in, Mama! You get some sleep. We’ll see how you feel when you wake up.

NARRATOR: Gretchen planted a kiss on Freya’s burning-hot forehead, then went back to the table and laid her head in her hands.

GRETCHEN: Why is Mama feeling worse??? The medicine, the food – they were supposed to make her feel better! But now I worry that it’ll take an absolute MIRACLE to cure her of – (beat) Wait a minute! (a-ha moment) A MIRACLE! It’ll take a MIRACLE!!!! Of course!!!!

NARRATOR: Gretchen leaped to her feet and rummaged through the groceries she’d bought in town. She grabbed some flour and sugar, butter and spices, then got to work baking a big, beautiful cake.

GRETCHEN: I’ll mix in some candied fruits and chopped nuts to make it extra yummy. Hopefully that will do the trick!

NARRATOR: When the cake was done, Gretchen wrapped the steaming-hot confection in a towel. Then she bundled up in her coat, mittens, hat and boots and slipped out the door.

The night was black as ink, and the snow was up to her knees. But Gretchen kept walking. And when she reached the clearing where she’d met the Forest Folk, she took a deep breath, then called out in her clearest, kindest voice.

GRETCHEN: (calling out) Oh, Forest Folk! My wonderful friends! / I hope I can ask for your help again!

NARRATOR: Gretchen lifted her eyes toward the trees, but all she saw were snow-frosted branches. Still, she refused to give up.

GRETCHEN: (calling out) The spruce cones you showed me did so much good. / They got us medicine! Food! And firewood! /// And I’m forever grateful… but Mama’s still unwell. / How to make her better, I simply cannot tell! /// Can you use your magic to make her recovery swift? / In return… I humbly offer this delicious gift!

NARRATOR: Gretchen’s hands trembled as she held out the cake. She waited one minute. Then two. And then, just as she was about to give up and go home…

FOREST FOLK 1: Wait! Don’t go! Don’t be so HASTY!

FOREST FOLK 2: That CAKE of yours looks mighty TASTY!

NARRATOR: Gretchen felt a surge of happiness. She looked up, and there – with their white hair wild and their green eyes gleaming – were the Forest Folk!

FOREST FOLK 1: We were thrilled to bring you that first round of wealth!

FOREST FOLK 2: And we have an idea for fixing your mother’s health!

FOREST FOLK 1: In the middle of this clearing, where the moonbeam casts its light…

FOREST FOLK 2: …you’ll find something special beneath the blanket of white!

NARRATOR: Gretchen glanced down. And right before her eyes, the moonlit patch of snow… began to melt! It dissolved into a puddle and seeped into the earth. In its place appeared a delicate green plant.

FOREST FOLK 1: Take this plant and brew its leaves for tea!

FOREST FOLK 2: It will make your mother as healthy as can be!

FOREST FOLK 1: Make sure she drinks it before the morning light!

FOREST FOLK 2: And may your season be merry! And always be bright!

NARRATOR: And with that, the forest folk let out another spirited giggle…

FOREST FOLK 1: / FOREST FOLK 2: (giggle)

NARRATOR: …and disappeared. When Gretchen looked down again, she saw the cake had disappeared, too!

She picked the plant and tucked it in her pocket. When she got home, she brewed up the tea, gave it to her mother, and by morning Freya was feeling fit as a fiddle.

And so it was that Gretchen and her mother did have a merry and bright season, just as the Forest Folk had wished.

Gretchen never laid eyes on the Forest Folk again, but she thanked them daily in her heart. She and Freys even kept one of the silver spruce cones on the mantel above the fireplace, as a reminder of the tiny sprites’ enormous generosity.

And to this very day… when the winter holidays roll around… people in Germany will collect spruce cones, paint them silver, then lay them on their mantel – or hang them on their tree – to bring good luck, and good cheer, in the year to come.