The Frigments of Fern Valley
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The little people looked up. Shading their eyes with their hands, they squinted skyward to see who was talking. "Upon my word," said the soldier in khaki, "The Big Folk! We've found the Big Folk! Back in Ireland where I come from, 'tis said you can wish on the Big Folk, if you can catch one, and your wish will surely come true." "Really?" said Sudge. "I never heard of that, but where I come from, they say that the Big Folk keep gold in a crock, and if you catch one of them, you can make him give you his gold." One of the other little women, tall and a little wobbly on legs that did not quite match, said, "Who needs gold? Let's see if we can get them to give us some flour and sugar, and maybe some cloth for some new clothes. Be practical! You can't eat gold." Sudge threw up her hands and laughed heartily. "Heavens, Mury, always so practical! You better not say that in front of Thardine, You know what she has to say about gifts." "Sometimes," Mury said emphatically, shaking a long, thin finger in the air, "we have to compromise our ideals for the sake of survival." "Perhaps you're right," smiled Sudge, "but Thardine would say our survival depends upon maintaining our ideals." "Ideals don't fill the soup pot!" snapped Mury.
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About the Book
Charles, 7, and Victoria, 9 , are sent to spend the summer with Aunt Emily Amelia on a farm in New England. They spend most days playing in the woods. They build a little village.and Charles adds toy soldiers, Indians and cars. Victoria models little women from clay. One night a terrible thunderstorm rages and the children fear their village will be ruined. However, they discover that the lightning has brought the village to life. The little people are called Frigments and are pilgrims come to make a new life in a new land. They are independent, religious and self- sufficient, and want nothing to do with the children. They know that Big Folk bring trouble. The children find ways to help the little people and eventually they become friends. Soon the Frigments have the cars running and they cover the woods and barns, taking whatever they need. The local folk think they have an invasion of varmints, the Frigments think they have a god-given right to make the land their own, and war breaks out. Charles and Victoria, caught in the middle, feel responsible for both sides, and they are the ones who must take drastic action to prevent bloodshed. The last day of their summer on the farm is a day they will never forget.
About the Author
Helen Parramore lived in Massachusetts as a child on a farm similar to the one in this story. She taught 30 years in elementrary schools, the University of Florida and Valencia College. She had 7 children and 7 grandchildren who all loved stories. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.