The Crow
by Andrew Lang · from The Yellow Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once, a little needle thought she was special. She was proud and fine. She thought she was the best needle. She disliked common tasks. She was sharp and shiny. "Do not drop me!" she told the Fingers. "I am very fine!"
The Fingers held her tight. They used her to fix an old shoe. The shoe was dirty and torn. The Fingers were gentle, but she broke. "Ugh! This is common work!" said Little Needle. "I am breaking!" She broke with a snap. "See? I am too fine!" she said. The Fingers were sad she broke.
The Cook put Little Needle on her dress. Now she was a pin! The Cook liked her shiny point. The Cook thought she was still helpful. The Cook smiled at her. "I am a pin!" she said proudly. "I am very special!"
She saw a Pin nearby. "Your head is small," she said proudly. The Pin did not answer. Little Needle felt very special. She boasted to all. She thought she was better than others.
Little Needle was so proud. She fell off the dress into cold water. The water was deep. She thought falling was a trip. She floated in the water. "Now I travel!" she said. "I am too fine for this world!"
She lay in the dark gutter. She saw a shiny Glass Shard. The shard sparkled like a star. They talked about their shiny surfaces. They became friends for a while. "Are you a diamond?" asked Little Needle. "Yes, I am!" said the Glass Shard. Both felt very special.
"I came from a nice box," she said. "The box was soft and velvet. The Fingers were proud," she said. She told stories. She missed her nice box.
Water came and took the Glass Shard away. "He is promoted!" she said. "But I am still here. She watched the water. 'I'm too fine to move.' She felt alone.
Little Needle stayed in the gutter. "I am like a sunbeam," she thought. "I am so fine! I shine bright." She dreamed of flying high. She hoped for more trips.
Two Boys found her in the gutter. "Ouch!" said one. "This is sharp!" The other boy laughed. The Boys were surprised by her. The Boys picked her up gently.
"I am a lady!" said Little Needle. She was black now. "I look slim!" she added. "I am still special." She pretended to be pretty. She held her head high.
The Boys put her in a white egg shell. "I like this!" she said. "It is pretty and clean." She felt safe in the egg. The egg shell was her new home.
A big wheel crushed the egg. "Oh! I am pressed!" cried Little Needle. But she did not break. She was strong and fine. The wheel made a loud noise. She survived the crush.
She lay in the gutter, still proud. Being too proud can make you silly. Little Needle never changed. She remained in the gutter forever. The moral is clear.
Original Story
crow in
it.
‘That is quite a meal!’ said the Princess; ‘but where shall we get the
soup from?’
‘I’ve got that in my pocket!’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘I have so much
that I can quite well throw some away!’ and he poured some mud out of
his pocket.
‘I like you!’ said the Princess. ‘You can answer, and you can speak,
and I will marry you; but do you know that every word which we are
saying and have said has been taken down and will be in the paper
to-morrow? By each window do you see there are standing three
reporters and an old editor, and this old editor is the worst, for he
doesn’t understand anything!’ but she only said this to tease
Blockhead-Hans. And the reporters giggled, and each dropped a blot of
ink on the floor.
‘Ah! are those the great people?’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘Then I will
give the editor the best!’ So saying, he turned his pockets inside
out, and threw the mud right in his face.
‘That was neatly done!’ said the Princess. ‘I couldn’t have done it;
but I will soon learn how to!’
Blockhead-Hans became King, got a wife and a crown, and sat on the
throne; and this we have still damp from the newspaper of the editor
and the reporters—and they are not to be believed for a moment.
A STORY ABOUT A DARNING-NEEDLE
There was once a Darning-needle who thought herself so fine that she
believed she was an embroidery-needle. ‘Take great care to hold me
tight!’ said the Darning-needle to the Fingers who were holding her.
‘Don’t let me fall! If I once fall on the ground I shall never be
found again, I am so fine!’
‘It is all right!’ said the Fingers, seizing her round the waist.
‘Look, I am coming with my train!’ said the Darning-needle as she drew
a long thread after her; but there was no knot at the end of the
thread.
The Fingers were using the needle on the cook’s shoe. The upper
leather was unstitched and had to be sewn together.
‘This is common work!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I shall never get
through it. I am breaking! I am breaking!’ And in fact she did break.
‘Didn’t I tell you so!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I am too fine!’
‘Now she is good for nothing!’ said the Fingers; but they had to hold
her tight while the cook dropped some sealing-wax on the needle and
stuck it in the front of her dress.
‘Now I am a breast-pin!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I always knew I
should be promoted. When one is something, one will become something!’
And she laughed to herself; you can never see when a Darning-needle is
laughing. Then she sat up as proudly as if she were in a State coach,
and looked all round her.
‘May I be allowed to ask if you are gold?’ she said to her neighbour,
the Pin. ‘You have a very nice appearance, and a peculiar head; but it
is too small! You must take pains to make it grow, for it is not
everyone who has a head of sealing-wax.’ And so saying the
Darning-needle raised herself up so proudly that she fell out of the
dress, right into the sink which the cook was rinsing out.
‘Now I am off on my travels!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I do hope I
sha’n’t get lost!’ She did indeed get lost.
‘I am too fine for this world!’ said she as she lay in the gutter;
‘but I know who I am, and that is always a little satisfaction!’
And the Darning-needle kept her proud bearing and did not lose her
good-temper.
All kinds of things swam over her—shavings, bits of straw, and scraps
of old newspapers.
‘Just look how they sail along!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘They don’t
know what is underneath them! Here I am sticking fast! There goes a
shaving thinking of nothing in the world but of itself, a mere chip!
There goes a straw—well, how it does twist and twirl, to be sure!
Don’t think so much about yourself, or you will be knocked against a
stone. There floats a bit of newspaper. What is written on it is long
ago forgotten, and yet how proud it is! I am sitting patient and
quiet. I know who I am, and that is enough for me!’
One day something thick lay near her which glittered so brightly that
the Darning-needle thought it must be a diamond. But it was a bit of
bottle-glass, and because it sparkled the Darning-needle spoke to it,
and gave herself out as a breast-pin.
‘No doubt you are a diamond?’
‘Yes, something of that kind!’ And each believed that the other was
something very costly; and they both said how very proud the world
must be of them.
‘I have come from a lady’s work-box,’ said Darning-needle, ‘and this
lady was a cook; she had five fingers on each hand; anything so proud
as these fingers I have never seen! And yet they were only there to
take me out of the work-box and to put me back again!’
‘Were they of noble birth, then?’ asked the bit of bottle-glass.
‘Of noble birth!’ said the Darning-needle; ‘no indeed, but proud! They
were five brothers, all called “Fingers.” They held themselves proudly
one against the other, although they were of different sizes. The
outside one, the Thumb, was short and fat; he was outside the rank,
and had only one bend in his back, and could only make one bow; but he
said that if he were cut off from a man that he was no longer any use
as a soldier. Dip-into-everything, the second finger, dipped into
sweet things as well as sour things, pointed to the sun and the moon,
and guided the pen when they wrote. Longman, the third, looked at the
others over his shoulder. Goldband, the fourth, had a gold sash round
his waist; and little Playman did nothing at all, and was the more
proud. There was too much ostentation, and so I came away.’
‘And now we are sitting and shining here!’ said the bit of
bottle-glass.
At that moment more water came into the gutter; it streamed over the
edges and washed the bit of bottle-glass away.
‘Ah! now he has been promoted!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I remain
here; I am too fine. But that is my pride, which is a sign of
respectability!’ And she sat there very proudly, thinking lofty
thoughts.
‘I really believe I must have been born a sunbeam, I am so fine! It
seems to me as if the sunbeams were always looking under the water for
me. Ah, I am so fine that my own mother cannot find me! If I had my
old eye which broke off, I believe I could weep; but I can’t—it is
not fine to weep!’
One day two street-urchins were playing and wading in the gutter,
picking up old nails, pennies, and such things. It was rather dirty
work, but it was a great delight to them.
‘Oh, oh!’ cried out one, as he pricked himself with the
Darning-needle; ‘he is a fine fellow though!’
‘I am not a fellow; I am a young lady!’ said the Darning-needle; but
no one heard. The sealing-wax had gone, and she had become quite
black; but black makes one look very slim, and so she thought she was
even finer than before.
‘Here comes an egg-shell sailing along!’ said the boys, and they stuck
the Darning-needle into the egg-shell.
‘The walls white and I black—what a pretty contrast it makes!’ said
the Darning-needle. ‘Now I can be seen to advantage! If only I am not
sea-sick! I should give myself up for lost!’
But she was not sea-sick, and did not give herself up.
‘It is a good thing to be steeled against sea-sickness; here one has
indeed an advantage over man! Now my qualms are over. The finer one is
the more one can bear.’
‘Crack!’ said the egg-shell as a wagon-wheel went over it.
‘Oh! how it presses!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I shall indeed be
sea-sick now. I am breaking!’ But she did not break, although the
wagon-wheel went over her; she lay there at full length, and there she
may lie.
Spottiswoode & Co. Printers, New-street Square, London
Transcriber’s Notes:
Certain spelling and grammar of the period has been left unchanged for
authenticity. Errors in punctuation have been corrected without
comment.
page 132—corrected typo ‘Fairy-than-a-Fairy’ to ‘Fairer-than-a-Fairy’
page 133—same typo
page 279—corrected typo ‘pedal’ to ‘petal’
page 288—corrected typo ‘besides’ to ‘beside’
page 314—corrected typo ‘to’ to ‘too’
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Story DNA
Moral
Excessive pride and self-importance can lead to a delusional existence, where one's perceived value far exceeds their actual worth or impact.
Plot Summary
A Darning-needle, consumed by vanity, believes herself to be a superior embroidery-needle. Despite breaking while mending a shoe, being repurposed as a breast-pin, and falling into a gutter, she maintains her delusional self-importance, interpreting every misfortune as a sign of her exceptional 'fineness.' She even finds a kindred spirit in a piece of bottle-glass, and after enduring being run over by a wagon-wheel, she remains unbroken and steadfast in her unfounded pride.
Themes
Emotional Arc
delusion to continued delusion (with ironic resilience)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is by Hans Christian Andersen, known for his moralistic and often melancholic fairy tales, frequently using inanimate objects or animals to comment on human nature. The inclusion in Andrew Lang's collection places it within a broader European fairy tale tradition.
Plot Beats (15)
- A Darning-needle, full of pride, believes she is an embroidery-needle and warns the Fingers to hold her carefully.
- She is used for mending a cook's shoe, complains about the 'common work,' and breaks.
- The Fingers declare her useless, but the cook sticks the broken needle into her dress as a breast-pin.
- The Darning-needle revels in her 'promotion,' believing herself a breast-pin, and condescendingly questions a neighboring Pin.
- Her pride causes her to fall from the dress into a sink, then into a gutter, which she interprets as 'travels' and being 'too fine for this world'.
- She observes other debris (shavings, straw, newspaper) floating by, judging them while maintaining her own self-importance.
- She encounters a sparkling bit of bottle-glass, and they both delude themselves into believing the other is something costly and important.
- The Darning-needle recounts her 'noble' origins from a lady's work-box and describes the 'proud' fingers who held her.
- More water washes the bottle-glass away, which the Darning-needle interprets as its 'promotion' while she remains, still 'too fine'.
- She continues her lofty thoughts, believing she must have been born a sunbeam and is too fine to weep.
- Two street-urchins find her in the gutter, and one pricks himself, calling her a 'fine fellow'.
- The Darning-needle corrects him, stating she is a 'young lady,' and notes her black appearance makes her look 'slim' and 'finer'.
- The boys stick her into an egg-shell, which she sees as a 'pretty contrast' and an advantageous position.
- A wagon-wheel crushes the egg-shell, but the Darning-needle, though pressed, does not break.
- She lies in the gutter, still unbroken and maintaining her deluded pride, concluding that 'the finer one is the more one can bear'.
Characters
Princess ◆ supporting
Not explicitly described, but likely considered beautiful given her status.
Attire: Elegant gown befitting a princess, possibly with jewels and fine embroidery.
Playful, intelligent, decisive.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her late teens with kind, hazel eyes and a gentle smile. She has warm brown hair styled in a practical braid woven with small, white daisies. She wears a soft lavender dress with a modest neckline and long sleeves, the fabric slightly worn at the cuffs. Over it, she dons a simple leather apron with pockets holding gardening tools and a small herb pouch. She stands in a relaxed posture, one hand resting on a woven basket filled with fresh bread and apples, the other holding a single, perfect rose. Her expression is welcoming and serene, her cheeks slightly flushed. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature
Blockhead-Hans ★ protagonist
Likely unkempt and simple in appearance.
Attire: Simple, perhaps patched clothing, pockets full of mud.
Simple-minded, clever in an unconventional way, honest.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man in his late teens or early twenties with a kind, simple-minded expression and a gentle, warm smile. He has a slightly rounded face, bright curious eyes, and unruly, sun-bleached brown hair that sticks out in all directions. He is dressed in a humble, rough-spun tunic of undyed linen, patched at the elbows, over simple trousers and sturdy, worn leather boots. He stands in a relaxed, slightly awkward posture, holding a small, intricately carved wooden bird in his cupped hands as if offering it. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Darning-needle ★ protagonist
Long, slender, and made of steel.
Attire: Initially plain, later adorned with sealing-wax.
Conceited, arrogant, delusional.
Image Prompt & Upload
A slender humanoid figure with a polished silver sheen, appearing as a young adult. Sharp, focused features with keen eyes and a determined expression. Wearing a tailored tunic and trousers of deep blue felt, intricately stitched with silver thread along the seams. Standing upright with perfect posture, one hand slightly extended as if examining an invisible fabric. The figure's hair is a swept-back metallic silver, and their pointed ears are visible. Set in a whimsical sewing room with oversized spools of thread and giant buttons in the background. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Fingers ◆ supporting
Five in number, each of different sizes.
Proud, ostentatious, hierarchical.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man with a long, wispy white beard and deep-set, kind eyes sits on a simple wooden stool. His face is lined with wrinkles, and his hands, though gnarled and weathered, move with careful skill as he mends a torn cloak with a bone needle and thread. He wears a faded, earth-toned tunic under a leather apron, and his feet are bare. His posture is slightly hunched in concentration, a gentle smile on his lips. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Bit of bottle-glass ◆ supporting
Small, sparkling, and translucent.
Deceptive, proud, easily washed away.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tiny, luminous creature resembling a shard of green bottle glass, with a jagged, translucent body that catches the light. They have large, bright eyes and a small, eager smile, leaning forward slightly in a helpful posture. Their form is humanoid but angular, with sharp points at the elbows and knees. They wear simple, tattered shorts and a vest made of woven grass. Their spiky hair glows faintly. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Cook's Shoe
Upper leather unstitched, needing to be sewn together.
Mood: utilitarian
The Darning-needle breaks while being used on the shoe.
Image Prompt & Upload
A giant, unfinished leather shoe lies on its side in a sun-dappled forest clearing at golden hour. The curved upper forms a massive, supple cliff of rich brown hide, its edges raw and unstitched, revealing thick, creamy suede lining. Oversized brass needles and spools of waxed thread rest like fallen logs on the mossy ground. The air is still and warm, filled with the scent of leather and damp earth. Soft, angled light filters through the trees, casting long shadows and highlighting the texture of the leather and the delicate, waiting stitch-holes along the seams. A few autumn leaves drift down onto the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Cook's Dress Front
Where the needle is stuck with sealing wax.
Mood: proud, elevated
The Darning-needle is promoted to a breast-pin.
Image Prompt & Upload
At dusk, a surreal landscape unfolds where a colossal, creamy-white linen dress front lies draped over rolling hills like a vast, rumpled terrain. The fabric's deep folds create valleys and peaks, its texture finely detailed with delicate lace patterns along the neckline. Stuck prominently into the cloth is a gigantic, antique iron needle, its eye gleaming. The needle is secured by a massive, glossy glob of deep crimson sealing wax, which drips and pools like frozen waxen lava, catching the last golden rays of sunset. Soft, warm light illuminates the scene, casting long shadows from the needle across the textured fabric. In the distance, gentle hills are visible, with a few wildflowers and grasses peeking from beneath the edges of the immense garment. The sky is a gradient of orange and purple, with a few early stars beginning to appear. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Kitchen Sink/Gutter
Filled with water, shavings, bits of straw, and scraps of old newspapers.
Mood: desolate, reflective
The Darning-needle falls into the sink and reflects on her situation.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sunken courtyard at twilight, where a giant, ornate copper sink basin lies half-buried in moss and ivy. Its surface is filled with shimmering, iridescent water, reflecting the deep indigo sky. Floating upon the water are delicate islands of golden straw shavings, fragments of old, yellowed newspaper with faded fairy tale headlines, and tiny, intricate wood carvings. Soft, magical light emanates from bioluminescent moss clinging to the verdigris-coated faucet and the edges of the stone basin. Gentle ripples distort the reflections of the first evening stars. The atmosphere is quiet, mysterious, and deeply enchanting. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Street Gutter
Dirty, filled with water, old nails, pennies, and other debris.
Mood: dirty, overlooked
The Darning-needle is found by street urchins.
Image Prompt & Upload
Dusk, rainy weather, a grimy cobblestone street gutter filled with murky, flowing water. Scattered across the wet stones and submerged in the shallow stream are old rusty nails, dull pennies, and other small urban debris like cigarette butts and broken glass. The scene is lit by the last grey light of day, reflecting on the wet surfaces. In the background, the blurred shapes of brick building walls and a distant streetlamp glow weakly through the drizzle. The atmosphere is neglected, damp, and somber, with a color palette of murky browns, slate grays, and dull metallic tones. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Egg-shell Boat
A white egg-shell with the black darning-needle inside.
Mood: precarious, fragile
The egg-shell is crushed by a wagon-wheel.
Image Prompt & Upload
At dawn on a misty pond, a pristine white egg-shell floats as a delicate boat upon glassy, still water. Inside, a slender black darning-needle rests like a mast or rudder. The shell’s pearlescent surface catches the first soft, golden light of sunrise, creating a gentle glow. The water reflects the pale pink and lavender sky, with subtle ripples around the boat. Tiny water droplets bead on the shell's curve. The surrounding pond is edged with soft, blurred reeds and mist, creating an ethereal, quiet atmosphere. Colors are muted and soft: pearl white, dark iron black, watery blues, and dawn pinks. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
