The Enchanted Apple Tree

 

(Death, Compassion, Accountability)

 

            Long ago, somewhere in France, lived an old woman who had an apple tree.  Now the apples that grew on this tree were delicious.  They were probably the most delicious apples in all of France.  As people walked by, they were always helping themselves to the apples.  Misere’ was very frustrated by this.  “I would be happy to share my apples,” she grumbled, “if only they would ask.”  Misere’ built a fence around her apple tree.  Then the villagers climbed on the fence to pick the apples!  This was not fair!

            One day a tired traveler knocked at Misere’s door.  She asked for  permission to pick a few apples.   Misere’ was so happy to be asked that she went out and picked a basketful for the traveler to take with her.  “Misere,” said the traveler.  “I thank you for the apples.  “Because you have shared, I will grant you one wish.”

            Misere’ thought of asking for gold--but what need had she of gold?  She had a comfortable house, a small garden, a few chickens and her wonderful apple tree—if only people would stop picking the apples without permission!  Thinking of the apple tree gave Misere’ an idea.  “I wish that anyone who picks an apple from my tree without permission must remain stuck to the apple until I let him or her go.” 

            “It shall be as you wish,” said the traveler.  Misere’ looked at her apple tree to see if it had changed.  It looked just the same.  When she turned to say “Thank you,” the traveler had disappeared. 

            Misere’ stood at the window to watch what might happen.  Three small boys stopped to look at the apples.  They climbed up on Misere’s fence and each boy grabbed an apple.  There they hung and no matter how they squirmed and screamed and wiggled, they could not get loose.  By the end of the day, a nursemaid, a farmer and a baker were also hanging from the apple tree.  “Please, Misere’,” they begged, “let us go.”

            “Well, all right,” said Misere’, “but next time you ask!”

            As soon as they fell to the ground, they picked themselves up and hurried away.  As Misere’ fixed her supper, the hint of a smile clung to her lips.  She heard someone enter her door and turned.  An old man stood in the doorway.  Misere’ had never seen him before but she recognized him as Father Death!  “What do you want at my house?” she asked.

            “I have come for you.”

            Now Misere’ knew there was no use arguing with Father Death.  “I will be ready in a minute,” she said.  “But I am thinking that it is a long journey we are going on and we will probably get hungry on the way.  Why don’t we take some cheese and some of my apples with us.  They are the most delicious apples in all of France.”

            Father Death was surprised.  All feared him.  No one had ever spoken kindly to him!  No one had ever offered him anything to eat!  “All right,” he said, “but you must hurry!”

            “I will slice the cheese,” said Misere’.  “Will you please pick the apples?”  And she gave him a basket. 

Father Death climbed the tree and reached out for his first apple.  And he was stuck!   No amount of wiggling or screaming or pulling could get his hand free from that apple!  Father Death pleaded and begged but Misere’ would not listen.

Ten years passed and during those years, no one died.  Children fell beneath the carriage wheels and they did not die.  They fell in the river but they did not drown.  People suffered pain and sickness and Father Death could not come to release them.

“Please,” begged Father Death, “release me.   The world is not as it ought to be.  Please let me go.  There are people who need to be allowed to die.”

“All right,” said Misere’, “I will set you free but you must promise me that I won’t have to go with you until I want to.”

“Impossible!” said Father Death.  No person controls the time of his death.  Death comes he will.   I can’t allow you to stay past your time.”

“Then you stay fastened to my apple tree,” replied Misere’.

Finally, in desperation, Father Death promised Misere’ that she wouldn’t have to go with him until she wanted to.   And she has never wanted to and that is why misery is still in the world!

                                                                       

Adapted by Rose Owens

Copyright 2001

 

Storytelling hint:  When I pronounce Misere’, I give the final e the sound of  long a.  This makes Misere’ sound like a French name and does not give the ending of the story away.

 

Sources:

At some time in the past, I read this story in a newspaper.  The story itself had no documentation.  This is my version of The Enchanted Apple Tree which is based upon that story.

 

            Another version of this story is "Tia Miseria's Pear Tree," a story from Puerto

Rico.  There's a nice version in From Sea to Shining Sea,  compiled by Amy L. Cohn, Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1993.   (You can change the pear tree to an apple tree.)

 

To adapt this story to a paper cutting story, follow the directions for the tree and the ladder in “The Apple Thieves”,  Family Storytelling Handbook,  Anne Pellowski, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York 1987.   I also cut a row of apples to hang on the tree.