Fairy Ointment

Fairy Ointment
(I also read Tom Tit Tot, The Rose Tree, and Jack and His Golden-Snuff Box)
By Joseph Jacobs
http://www.authorama.com/english-fairy-tales-43.html
Philipp Lenssen, 2003
Pages: 2
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Fairy Tale

One day Dame Goody, who was a nurse and babysitter, was asked by a squinty old man if she would come watch his baby while his wife was ill. She agreed, and he took her to his house. The mother gave the baby to Dame Goody, and told her to put ointment on both of his eyelids when he opened his eyes. She did so, but when no one was looking she put some on her right eye. As soon as she did it, everything around her became much more beautiful, except for the rest of the children and the husband, who looked like imps. The woman told no one, and when the mother was better, Dame Goody went home. A few days later when she was at the market, she saw the man. She went and said hello, and the old man was shocked that she could see him, for she shouldn't have been able to. He asked her which eye she could see him with, and she said the right. Then the old man, poked out her right eye, and she was blind forever.

I would not recommend this book to anyone.

After hearing this Tale, children might be tempted to poke out someone's eye, which would definitely be a problem.

My reaction: I didn't really like this tale. The good woman ends up blind for her entire life, with no compensation!

Rating:**