The Three Little Gnomes

Long, long ago, a tree stood strong and its top branches reached far above any of the other trees in the forest, but the tree had grown so old. It began to shiver when the storms howled through the branches. Finally in one of the fiercest storms, it tumbled to the earth with a great crash.

There, the tree laid for centuries, and vines and bushes grew until it was almost hidden from view.

Smoke curled up over the trunk of the old tree and floated away through the forest. Tiny voices came from beneath the trunk of the old tree.

Now, down beneath the trunk of the fallen tree, lived three little gnomes. It was the smoke from their fire which curled up over the trunk of the old tree and floated away through the forest.

They were preparing dinner and laughing and talking together. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a horn.

“What can it be?” one asked.

“It sounds like the horn of a huntsman!” another cried.

As the sound came nearer, the three little gnomes put the fire out so that no one would discover their home. Then, they climbed upon the trunk of the tree and ran along it. From there, they could see across the forest without being seen themselves. When the sound of the horn drew very close, they saw a little boy climbed through the thick bushes.

As the little boy came out into the open space, the three little gnomes saw that he was crying.

“He must be lost!” said the first little gnome.

“He looks very tired and hungry!” said the second little gnome.

“Let’s go and ask him!” said the third little gnome.

So the three little gnomes climbed down from the tree trunk and went up to the little boy. They stood about the boy and watched him. He was crying. Finally one of the little gnomes sat down in front of the little boy and spoke to him.

“I am lost!” the little boy said. “My father went hunting yesterday with all his men. When they were out of sight, I took my little horn and followed them, but I soon lost their track, and I have wandered about with nothing to eat. Last night I climbed a tree and slept!”

The three little gnomes wiped the little boy’s eyes and led him to their home under the fallen tree. There they finished preparing the dinner and sat about until the little boy ate and fell asleep. Then, the three little gnomes carried him and placed him upon one of their little beds.

When the three little gnomes finished their dinner, they sat and wondered how they might help the little boy find his way home.

“Let us go to old Wizzy Owl and see if he can suggest anything!” said one.

“Yes, brothers,” cried another. “Let us go to old Wizzy Owl.”

So the three little gnomes went to the home of Wizzy Owl, and Wizzy Owl said he would fly high above the forest and try and see the little boy’s home. Unfortunately, Wizzy Owl couldn’t see the boy’s house. He told the three little gnomes to ask Fuzzy Fox.

The three little gnomes went to the home of Fuzzy Fox, and Fuzzy Fox said he would run through the forest and see if he could find the little boy’s home. Fuzzy Fox ran through the forest, but could not find the little boy’s home.

“But,” said Fuzzy Fox. “I came upon a wounded deer. She told me that some huntsmen passed through the forest yesterday and shot her with an arrow.”

So the three little gnomes went to see the wounded deer. They helped the deer by taking care of her wound.

Then, the three little gnomes sat on Fuzzy Fox’s back and he ran on through the forest with them until they came to a wild boar.

The wild boar told the Three little gnomes that he was crippled by the huntsmen but managed to hide himself in the thick bushes and escaped.

“It must have been the little boy’s father and his men,” said the wild boar. “I am sorry. I can’t help because I’m wounded.”

Then, Fuzzy Fox ran with the three little gnomes through the forest and they met a wounded bear, and a wounded squirrel, and five or six wounded rabbits, and they all told the three little gnomes that the huntsmen had shot them with arrows and that they just managed to escape. The three little gnomes felt very sorry for their wounded friends and helped them by washing their wounds and binding them up.

Fuzzy Fox ran until he came to the edge of the forest. Then, the three little gnomes saw a large castle away in the distance with bright red roofs on the tall towers.

“That must be the little boy’s home!” said one little gnome.

“Let’s return back home and ask the little boy!” said another.

So Fuzzy Fox ran with them back to their home and the little boy told them it was his home. The kind Fuzzy Fox took the three little gnomes and the little boy on his back and ran to the edge of the forest. On the way, they stopped to see the wounded animals, and they were all glad that the little boy’s mom and dad would soon see him.

Fuzzy Fox carried the three little gnomes and the little boy to the castle gate and they shook hands with him.

“I will remember the way to your home, and I will be back to see you soon!” the boy told the three little gnomes.

The next day when the three little gnomes were preparing dinner, they heard the little boy’s horn again, and they ran along the trunk of the tree until they came to where they could see across the open space.

Soon there came many great people. The little boy was riding a fine horse in front of his Dad. He wore fine silk and satin clothes. Near him was a beautiful lady. She was the little boy’s mom.

The three little gnomes went out to meet them, and the little boy slid from the horse and ran to them, and he hugged them.

“This is my dad, and this is my mom!” he told them.

The little boy’s mom and dad came to the three little gnomes and thanked them for saving the little boy.

“We will give you anything you wish for!” said the little boy’s mom and dad.

“We wish for nothing! We live happily here in the forest,” said the three little gnomes. “But we would be very grateful if you could send us some clean white clothes to bind up the wounds of our forest friends.”

“I told dad of the wounded creatures!” said the little boy.

“Yes, and I have given orders that no one in my country will hunt through this forest again. From now on, your forest friends will be safe and can always live here in peace and happiness,” his dad said.

After that, the creatures of the forest were never harmed and they grew up so tame. They would wander up to the castle where the king’s men would feed them.

The tiny thread of smoke still curls up over the trunk of the fallen tree. The voices of the little boy and his dad voices could be heard as the three little gnomes were preparing their dinner. They came often to visit their friends, the three little gnomes.