Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - A Tale for Halloween

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Starting point is 00:00:46 please go to sleepcove.com slash support. That's sleepcove.com slash support. If you can't support the show right now, please subscribe with a bell to get alerts on all new free content thank you have you ever gazed in wonder at the great pyramid have you marvelled at the golden face of Tudankhamun

Starting point is 00:01:16 or admired the delicate features of Queen Nefertiti if you have you'll probably like the History of Egypt podcast every week we explore tales of this ancient culture The history of Egypt is available wherever you get your podcasting fix. Come, let me introduce you to the world of ancient Egypt. Welcome to Sleep Cove with Christopher Fitton, the place to come for a great night's sleep. Please listen to this recording in a place where you can safely go to sleep. I hope everyone is getting ready for the autumn season.

Starting point is 00:02:03 It's a beautiful time of year. and here in the UK their leaves are beginning to fall from the trees and turn brown, yellow and deep red. I really do love autumn and Halloween is nearly upon us. With that in mind, I've read out this beautiful story tonight. It's called a tale for Halloween. It's not scary at all but it's a lovely fairy tale about a brother and sister who are visiting their village's Halloween party,

Starting point is 00:02:42 but on the way, as they go through their vegetable patch, they meet a talking pumpkin and an adventure happens. I really enjoyed reading the story out tonight, and I think you will enjoy it too. And remember, it's very gentle and not scary at all. So I hope you enjoy it. So please relax and get ready to listen to this story tonight. Babette and Anton were the children of a very poor woodcutter.

Starting point is 00:03:23 They lived in a little cottage on the side of a steep mountain and the mountain looked upon a great forest. Now though their father toiled in this forest from dawn until dark, he could earn but little. Wood in that region was plentiful, and woodcutters were numerous. Their mother made fine laces, which Anton carried to the market to sell.

Starting point is 00:03:57 But in spite of all their efforts, the poor parents seldom could give their children more than bread and broth to eat. Often indeed the broth was lacking if the woodcutter found no hair in the traps he set. Babette and Anton however were happy little children and never thought of their poverty. But it worried the woodcutter that Antone was ten years old and had not gone to school. Antone's mother taught him to read and write that the other boys and girls would not be too far beyond him

Starting point is 00:04:46 and Anton studied his lessons diligently often as he sat doing his sums on the hearthstone with a bit of charcoal for a pencil his mother would sigh sadly Antone did not like his mother to be sad And so he always laughed to cheer her Never fear mother he would say Soon I shall send myself to school

Starting point is 00:05:20 My vegetable patch does finally It's sconna You shall be poor no longer My father shall have a team of oxen and you a fine satin gown. A bet shall have a dozen real dollies. Instead of the turnet dollies, she now rocks in her dolly cradle.

Starting point is 00:05:52 Anton, my son, his mother would answer with a sigh, unless you make your fortune as a maker of toys, I fear you will have no fortune at all. Your fingers are as clever as a wizard's even now and though you are past ten we cannot spare you to go to school It was true as she said

Starting point is 00:06:22 Anton made boats from bits of cedarwood And when he'd fitted them with sails You could not tell them from any that had come out of a shot He carved a doll's cradle from a pine knot for a dolly painted the white face of a turnip, until one would think it was the face of some fair maiden. So blue were this turnip dolly's eyes, and so pink her cheeks, such waves, cabbage, cabbage leaves, were so green and beautiful. And as often as this turn at dolly faded and began to shrivel, Anton made another, which Babette declared was always more beautiful than the one before.

Starting point is 00:07:26 Babette had never been to the village and therefore knew nothing of real doddies. She loved her turnip babies tenderly indeed. She always carried them in her arm when she went with Andrews, Antone to meet their father and sang them little songs as she rocked them to sleep. Now it happened one night in the season of Halloween that Antone sat carving chaco lanterns to sell in the village. Babette, who was rocking her dolly to sleep, sat watching him. Being but six, she knew nothing about the fun. which comes with Halloween.

Starting point is 00:08:14 And so she listened round-eyed, with wonder to Anton, who knew all things about jack-o-lanterns. When she heard that boys and girls, dressed like goblins and witches, froliced in the village streets, Babette made of a mind to frolic too. How fine it must be, she cried.

Starting point is 00:08:41 clapping her hands, Halloween must be quite like Christmas. Not quite so fine as Christmas, Babette, answered Anton, as he carved the teeth in the last jack-o-lantern, but Halloween is very fine, nevertheless. It is comical to see the gecko-lanterns bobbing up and down, with their faces grinning in the candlelight. And on Halloween, the boys and girls play pranks on their elders that they would be well switched for at any other time.

Starting point is 00:09:21 But everyone laughs and is excited on that night. Anton finished the Chacon Lantern and piled it with a dozen more in his little cart. He would sell them all in the village when he took his vegetables to market the next day. No one else could carve such splendid pumpkin faces as Anton. Let us go and play pranks in the village too, Anton, cried Babette. Mother will make his goblin dresses, and there is still one great pumpkin-eel garden for a jack-o-lantern. Oh, what a frolic we shall have! Babette exclaimed Antone in astonishment.

Starting point is 00:10:11 Wherever did you get such a notion? The frolic in the village is not for us. Mother has no time to make us goblin dresses. And if she did, she has no goods. Besides, how should we find our way home through the forest? You know the way, through the forest, Antone, insisted Babette, and if Mother cannot make his goblin dresses, we shall go without. It will be dark and a jack-o-lantern will be as fine as any.

Starting point is 00:10:48 Do come, she begged. I have never been to a Halloween frolic. Now, Babette, I tell you we cannot go to the village tomorrow night, answered Anton. I could not find my way home through the forest after dark, and we would both be lost. Be a good girl and do not tease anymore. Anton spoke sternly, and the bat burst into tears.

Starting point is 00:11:24 She was very fond of her own way, and when she could not have it, sometimes she was a very naughty little girl. sobbed and wept so piteously that Anton found it hard to refuse her, not go to the village at night, as he feared to lose his way in the forest. So Antone trotted Babette on his knee, and whispered that he would buy her chocolate, but she only wept her harder. Now Babette cried Anton at last, when Babette showed no signs of stopping. I cannot take you to the village, but if you are a good girl and stop crying at once till Halloween frolic, just for you and me. Now promise me you will not cry anymore.

Starting point is 00:12:33 But Bet dried her eyes and promised She wished a Halloween fronick But whether she froliced at home or in the village Mattered not at all They always wear goblin dresses or ghost dresses Antone she asked Antone puzzled a moment before he answered Oh ghost dresses I think said he Babette was very good.

Starting point is 00:13:07 She helped Antone gather his vegetables for market, and when he returned, sat beside him quietly, while he carved the last pumpkin from his garden. When the jack-o-lantern was finished, Antone lighted the candle just for one second so that she might see it, grinning in the light. but that but he held up a chronic was to be a secret. After supper, the children went to bed as usual,

Starting point is 00:13:50 but instead of undressing, they pulled their white night dresses over their heavy coats. They will do for ghost dresses, whispered untold when all were still, and they crept softly out. In the moon night the Jack O'Lanton was grinning broadly to greet them. Pumpkin is smiling at us, laughed Babette. She was very happy, for her frolic was about to begin. Antone struck a match to light the candle, but there was no candle in the Jack O'Lantone, said he in a surprise.

Starting point is 00:14:41 He searched in the dark, and Babette stopped her laughing, looked about, and there beneath the bench lay the remainder of his precious candle. It was chew to bits, was in shreds. Oh, Babette, cried he, a wicked rat has stolen our candle, and I paid a whole penny for it too. and rats bursting into tears. She stamped her foot and sent the chaco lantern rolling off the bench. It struck the earth with a bump and dented its nose a trifle. Now, Babette, what a baby you are. See what you have done, he stooped to pick up the pumpkin.

Starting point is 00:15:42 But the pumpkin was too quick for him, laughed pumpkin. sort of voice. Babette smashed my nose a little, but that's no matter on a Halloween night. Goodbye, boys and girls. He called Ed swiftly down the hill. You come back here, you're my pumpkin, cried Anton and started after the runaway. Babette followed, weeping and crying aloud. Oh my Halloween frolic, oh my Halloween fronic, she mourned. Now we have no Jack O'Lanton and no candle either. But you just wait until he rolls down into the vegetable garden, shouted Anton as he chased the swiftly rolling pumpkin.

Starting point is 00:16:47 He'll have to stop at the hedge. He took his little sister's hand. that she might run faster. Pumpkin rolled along just in front of them, but always just out of their reach. When he reached the hedge, he gave a great leap and landed directly in the vegetable patch. Come on your carrots in as he rolled along.

Starting point is 00:17:19 At his words, the carrots and turnips tore themselves from their beds and followed after him shouting. Look at Antone following us, yelled Pumpkin, his vegetable followers, Master Antone, Halloween. This is how hard you'll laugh. See his vegetable patch laid waste, made him furious.

Starting point is 00:18:16 Catch us before you punishes, won't you, Anton? They answered, mockingly. Oh, it's Halloween. It's Halloween, sang Pumpkin, turning handspring as he rolled along, and the rest of the vegetables did cartwheels as they went careering after him. They looked like a dozen market stalls, upset on the hillside, nearly wept when he thought of his loss. He followed them with determination. Anton was not a lad to give up easily. Follow me, follow me, sang Pumpkin as he led the way to a tiny door that appeared beneath the forest.

Starting point is 00:19:14 Turnips and carrots squeezed through and Anton fearing to be left behind, caught up with Babette and ran faster. Just as he reached their little door, a rough potato tried to slam it in his face. But Anton was too quick for him. He ran through and climbed down into the underground forest. The ground here was springy and elastic. And he began to gain on the vegetables. Babette's fatigue left her, and she shook herself free. We'll catch up to them, declared Anton as they ran along.

Starting point is 00:20:19 Even as he spoke, Potato stubbed his toe, and Babette caught him. She held him firmly, although he squirmed and tried his best to get free. Help help, bald potato. When he saw he was a prisoner, Oh, Pumpkin, wait for me, he cried. The tears streamed from every one of his eyes, and he looked truly sad. At his cries, Pumpkin turned around its ways of voice.

Starting point is 00:21:06 You might let us have one night off, you know. Halloween is our night. Somewhere on his run, pumpkin had picked up two twigs and on these he now balanced himself rather unsteadily and thrust his leaves in the place where his pockets

Starting point is 00:21:28 would have been if he had any pockets he looked so very jolly and his grin was so very broad that Anton was inclined to give up the prisoner but just when he thought of the ruined vegetable garden he grew angry again it is all very well for you to be polite pumpkin and try to beg off your friend

Starting point is 00:21:57 said Anton but this is the very fellow that tried to slam the door in my face not two seconds ago cried potato that's wrong it was three seconds ago as true as I live.

Starting point is 00:22:17 I looked at my watch just as I was trying to pinch your nose in the underground door, and it's quite three seconds ago. Maybe it's four. Oh, Hushup cried a punk in. That's no way

Starting point is 00:22:32 to talk when you're trying to beg off. Let him off. He continued in the most winning voice. You'd get everlastingly tired. of being in bed yourself. You know you would.

Starting point is 00:22:52 See if you wouldn't take the first chance to kick up your heels if you could get it. But Pumpkin, replied Antone, think of my vegetable garden. It is ruined. I was saving all my vegetable money to go to school and now I cannot go forever and ever so long. Besides, how could I know you got tired of being in a bed?

Starting point is 00:23:23 You never spoke to me before. Well, I speak to you now, replied Pumpkin, and as for your vegetable batch, we'll all make that up to you, won't we voice? We will, we well, called the vegetables in chorus, and the potato in the bat's little fist yelled the loudest of awe. There, now you see we mean no harm, declared Bunkin. So let potato go. Join us, she was bound to have her fun.

Starting point is 00:24:11 And after all, the vegetables seemed to be a jolly lot. So peace was made and the children followed the bopping turnips and onions. Then shouts were heard. Presently, they were joined by a dozen or more cabbages. You are the nice ones, panted the cabbages. There we sat in the storeroom waiting for you to call us, and the first thing we knew we saw you pelting down the hill like mad things. My gracious, said a very stout cabbage,

Starting point is 00:24:53 who was terribly out of breath. I'll have to take off my outer leaves before I go another step. I feel as though I were boiled. Antone recognized the cabbages at once. You are father Manette's cabbages, are you not? He inquired politely as they marched along. Why, if it isn't little Antone, the woodcutter's son, exclaimed the very stout cabbage.

Starting point is 00:25:26 Yes, we've come from miller's. Manette's farm. Mother Manette saved us for a pickle, but we fooled her and slipped out of the storeroom when she was not looking. Oh, we cabbages are not so green as we look, the cabbages all laughed, and Anton was surprised to find that he laughed too. As they went marching on, Pumpkin sang and danced in the neck, echoed his hearty songs. Presently in the trees' mistress, who was no other than a real witch in tall peaked her carrying a broomstick, the cabbages who were a friendly lot, introduced Antone and Babbat to these witches.

Starting point is 00:26:40 and the witches seemed pleased to meet the children. They do not seem to be wicked witches, do they, untold, whispered Babette. Oh my dear, replied a witch you ever heard. We are not a bit wicked on Halloween, you know. Any other night I would probably do you a mischief. It is my nature, you know. He reached in her bag and hunted by her bag, a peppermint.

Starting point is 00:27:12 Babette, who was very fond of peppermint, ate it up with all haste. You shouldn't do that, my dear, reprove to the witch. It is seldom witches give peppermints, and when they do the peppermints should be treasured. Here is another to keep for your pocket, and did Babette another. Babette courtesied so prettily that the witch was just to be cherished. charmed and took her to ride on her broomstick. It was the fun company one could ever imagine. As they marched along, every vegetable was singing a different Halloween song

Starting point is 00:28:03 in a different key, and they all had voices that sang out of tune by nature. But Beth, her little white nightdress, flying in the breeze, was riding on the witch's broomstick and singing loudly at the rest. When they reached a dancing floor, it was lighted with millions

Starting point is 00:28:28 and millions of glowworms and an orchestra of ten thousand frogs hummed lively tunes in their throats. Pumpkin seized a handful of glowworms and put them in his head

Starting point is 00:28:43 then with his feature, all aglow, he cried out, ready for the dance. Instead of taking partners, the vegetables just plunged onto the floor and began to jump about like mad. If they fell down, they did not jump up at once, but rolled around the floor, most good-naturedly. They look so like vegetables, boarding about in a great soup kettle that Anton thought he should die of laughing The witches took their brooms And began a sort of ladies change figure

Starting point is 00:29:26 While they chased their cats Around the edge of the circle It capered wildly Singing at the top of her voice Come and dance with me Anton As she was jumping past her brother but he shook his head and laughed. I am too big for such nonsense, said he,

Starting point is 00:30:05 bot nonsense, cried a witch who was chasing her cat close by. Ten is exactly the right age to have fun. She raised her broom playfully, and before he knew it, she swept untone into the middle of the dance. Pumpkin, his grinning features all are gone, went flying past and made Antone feel proud. Pumpkin was certainly the handsomest vegetable of the lot faster,

Starting point is 00:30:43 but hum as fast as they would, they could not keep up with the frisky vegetables. Beaks and cauliflower continued to bob up and down like mad. Cabbage's from Minette's farm lost leaf after leaf, Carrots and onions grew battered from much tumbling about, and the merry din of song and... Let's play, Blind Man's Buff, called Anto. I'll be it, and I'll show you how to play.

Starting point is 00:31:24 He tied the handkerchief over his eyes, and the witches and their black cats went darting hither and thither. Vegetables were so pleased with this new game, that they would play nothing else. They might have been playing it yet, had not a cockerel suddenly. Good gracious me, cried a witch. The glowworms are all gone out.

Starting point is 00:31:55 It's nearly morning. All who are going back to the vegetable patch had best be on their way. Not I, with vegetable patches forevermore. Not we. exclaimed the cabbages, we are going to turn savage and be wild cabbages

Starting point is 00:32:18 for the rest of our days. We shan't go back to Mother Minette's pickle jars. Straight away, every vegetable began to raise its voice and declare that it would not go back to Anton's patch.

Starting point is 00:32:36 Hush all of you, cried the witch. Stay in the woods for the rest of your life if you like, it is nothing to me. But what of Anton Amberbat? Who is going to take them home? Well, ma'am, replied Pumpkin with a low bow.

Starting point is 00:32:55 We thought you might be good enough to give them a ride home on your broomstick. But Pumpkin, cried Anton in dismay, you promise to make it up to me if I let potato go, and I think you should all return with me. If you all worry about that, untold, repied pumpkin with a lordly air, here is a purse for each of you, and if you take good care, never to lose them,

Starting point is 00:33:33 you will have plenty of gold forever. Isn't that true, boys? True, as we're not going back to the farm, cry the cabbages. you had best hurry and plant yourself before it grows daylight pumpkin. They warned and began to dig holes in the earth. Before Anton and Babette had mounted the witch's broomstick, all the carrots and turnips, and even pumpkin, children sailed off with the witch.

Starting point is 00:34:15 Oh, what a beautiful Halloween frolic! sighed Babette as she leaned her head on Anton's shoulder and fell fast asleep. The broomstick flew with the swiftness of an eagle, and the witch warned Antone to hold Babette with a firm grasp. One by one that steered and seemed to know the exact way to the woodcutter's cottage, for just as the dawn was breaking, the broomstick glided down to Babette's window. The witch shook hands with Anton and the black cat politely jumped off to help Anton with his little sister. Before the good creature could melt again,

Starting point is 00:35:11 the broomstick was off like a whirlwind and it was left behind. This broomstick is so wild, I cannot stop it. called the witch from the clouds. Keep good care of my cat until next Halloween. Anton put Babette in her little crib and made the black cat a comfortable bed in the kitchen

Starting point is 00:35:37 and dreamed of he was awakened by his mother. Come Anton, she cried, I have good news for you. Only look from the window and see the great black cat without a single white hair that sits washing his face in the sun. Such a cat, coming to us on Halloween, will surely bring us good luck.

Starting point is 00:36:11 But come, my child, get up, for the sun is high, and it is time for you to dig your vegetables. My vegetables have gone wild in the forest, muttered untoan, but it is no matter. for here is a bag of gold which they gave me who brought his home on her broomstick. So let me sleep, mother, for I am weary the Halloween frolic. He closed his eyes and slipped again, while his mother examined the leather bag. Anton, my son, she screamed. Here is gold yellow as a pumpkin. Where have you been to?

Starting point is 00:37:02 gather such wealth, she shook him and gave him no peace, until he waked fully and told the story, and his mother did not believe it. She threw up her hands and wept that her son should thus rave with fever. The woodcutter and babette came running to see what had happened, and the sight of the second bag of gold, the poor, poor woman grew calmer to show the peppermint which the witch had given her, and the mother doubted no more. To receive a peppermint from a witch is surely a mark of great favour, she said, and began to laugh through her tears. I thought I was dreaming, or that Anton raved of fever for never in my life had I seen so, much gold. It is, like the fairies, to bless the children of the poor, said the Wuketa.

Starting point is 00:38:14 Now Antone will go to school, a mother will have a handsome dress unsure. And is it not as I said, cried his wife, a black cat coming on Halloween would bring us good luck, and here is the luck already. It would have been hard to find a happier family than the woodcutters as they set out for the village that day. When it was told that the woodcutter was looking for a pair of oxen, some folk laughed outright. The woodcutter was too poor to feed a pair of canaries, they declared. But when it became now that the woodcutter's wife had put it. bought a new dress and a golden ring. They began to wonder who it died and left the woodcutter a fortune.

Starting point is 00:39:12 Anton told the tale of their wealth to those who questioned him, and straight away the village children ran to throw their jack-o-lanterns from the roofs and high places. But their pumpkins broke or stayed on the ground before where they had fought. It was no longer Halloween, remember. At noon, when the woodcutter and his family set down to dinner in the village inn, their landlord threatened to charge a penny from all who stood gazing through the windows. Some folk scoffed openly and declared it was a tale to tell children and dullards.

Starting point is 00:40:02 But there were the two leather bags filled with gold. The greatest marvel of all, but no matter how much the woodcutter or his wife spent from these, the bags always remained brimful of gold. Anton chose a pair of steel skates in the village shop and bought an handful of books for which he had a Lott, however, with her usual perverse waves, would have none of the dollies in the village toy shop. They were ugly, she declared, and their cheeks were not pink and beautiful as were the turnip dollies, Anton made for her. And ever after, the woodcutter and his wife were no longer poor folk.

Starting point is 00:41:01 They had white bread and even butter, every day of their lives. And on Sundays and holidays, they had roasted foul for their dinner. Anton went to school, and Bepet had an embroidered frock, which was the envy of every child in the village. The mother no longer sighed,

Starting point is 00:41:25 as she went about her household tasks, and neither did she strain her eyes, making fine laces for the market. Instead, she wrote proudly on the seat of her husband's ox cart when he delivered wood in the village. Sometimes she even drank tea with the mare's wife. Visitors from far and near went to see the famous spot where Anton's vegetables all run away one Halloween night.

Starting point is 00:42:01 And till this day there lives not a man who can make grow on that land, cabbages or turnips, or any other vegetable. Although in a spot in the forest not far off, cabbages and pumpkins and all such vegetables grow wild. Each year as regularly as Halloween came to mark the harvest time, Antone and Babette mounted the broomstick with the witch and rode off to the Halloween frolic the year before and they always rode home across the sky just as the dawn was breaking. The black cat became so fond of a bet that it never again rejoined its rightful mistress but remained with the woodcutter and his family and brought them good luck for the rest of their days.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - A Tale for Halloween

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