Beyond the Gates

A German children’s story
Adapted by Gabriele Sass

Once there was a little boy
Orphaned, poor and sad
Toiled all day and had no joy
Was a kind, small lad

With his grandma lived the child
In a dark and dreary shack
Fearing hunger, cold and wild
Winter fury, frozen wrath

Kids made fun of him in school
Of the raggy clothe he wore
Bragged of fortune and were cruel
To the boy who had not more

All alone the lad would wait
By a mansion on his way
Shyly glance through iron gates
At a little girl at play.

She had lovely golden curls
Wore a dress of lace,
Such a sweet and gentle girl
Such a lovely face

And the toys with which she played
Hula-hoops and balls so bright
Might the boy come in one day
So he wouldn’t need to hide?

Winter came, the boy went home
To his cold and bleak abode
Through the rain and sleet he roamed
Carried back a wooden load

In the cabin made a fire
Cooked some soup and baked some bread
Then he saw a truth most dire
For his grandma – she was dead

All alone he crouched in grieving
In a corner by her bed
Weeping for his grandma’s leaving
Until sleep would make him rest

Through the mists of yonder dream
Fairy-queen stood by his side
“Make a wish, which to redeem,
I’m your fairy and your guide”

“Wish that I could be a dog,”
said the bright-eyed boy from far
“Then I’d go and take a walk
And would squeeze between the bars”

When he woke his wish was granted
And he stood outside the gate
Was a puppy, most enchanted
And embraced his new found fate

When the girl came out to play
With her toys and colored balls
Oh what joy – a little stray
On her lawn sat, cute and small

All day long they played together
And became the best of friends
Played in lovely winter weather
‘Till the day came to an end

Soon adopted was the pet
Little dog slept by her bed
Kept her safe and was well fed
Acted like a dog well bred

Winter passed and so did spring
Summer time spent by a lake
Little lass played on her swing
Then she thought a swim to take

Splashing through the water clear
‘Till the sun went down
Suddenly a storm was near
Would the young girl drown?

Disappeared beneath a wave
But her little dog jumped in
Fought the waves and was quite brave
Lassie to the shore to bring

Then he stood there, dripping wet
All alone within the park
Thinking that the girl was dead
Started frantically to bark

Soon he heard the rescue calls
Through the beating rain
Came a man of stature tall
Through the dark terrain

Took the child into his arms
Wild winds whipped the land
Sheltered her from further harm
In the mansion grand

Nighttime fell the child was ill
And the doctor came
Found that she had caught a chill
And her dog, the same

As he lay, he had a dream
Fairy-queen appeared
“Fear not child the worlds unseen
Make a wish, my dear”

“Wish that I could be a boy”
Winced the little dog
“Oh how life would be a joy,
If at last I talked”

Shadows parted, morning light
Cast the room in gold
And the little girl, delighted
Found a stranger to behold

Soon his story would unfold
And they took him in
“Your my brother,” he was told
“And my next of kin

Note: Inspiration for this story was found in an old German children’s book from the 1940’s. Authorship could not be established. The book appeared by the publisher Drei Spatzen Verlag.