This is a story by L Frank Baum, author of the Oz books, one of his lesser known works, called QUEEN ZIXI of IX it was written in 1905.
The tale is now 120 years old, but this point is more poignant and potent in our day than when it was written. Allow me to quote the whole passage at length, so that my dear readers might see and savor the simple wisdom here, and also the delicate beauty of the illustrations by Frederick Richardson.
The conceit of the tale is that the fairies have bestowed on mortals a cloak to grant its wearer his spoken wish. The cloak is given to two innocent children, King Bud and Princess Fluff of Noland, but when the Witch Queen of the neighboring kingdom of Ix hears rumor of it, she vows a mighty vow to obtain possession of it.
This vow, and her many efforts and deceptions, she expends to achieve it, unbeknownst to her, are in vain from the outset. For the fairies who wove the magic cloak wove in the blessing that the cloak grants no wish to anyone who steals it.
The author insists Queen Zixi is not a bad person, despite being a witch, but is carried off by her envy.
What I find fascinating about this 1905 children’s book is the resolution of the Queen’s fascination with envy is brought about by the chance encounter with three weeping figures: an alligator, an owl, and a ferryman’s daughter.
Note in particular what it is the third weeping figure pines to have, and how it was used in the tale as an epitome of foolishness.
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