Page 60 - RIVISTA NOIQUI MAGGIO 2021

IRIS vIgNOLA

THE CHIMNEY SWEEP AND THE ENAMORED LITTLE STAR

Once upon a time, in a big city was living a young chimney sweep called Giuseppe.
He was alone in the world and did not have a single friend he could confide in, or
that could comfort him in times of sadness. His face was very beautiful, but his
looks appeared dirty and run-down. Giuseppe earned his living sweeping the chim-
neys of the palaces that belonged to the rich people. The only way he could have
some fun was by observing the life others lived from the height of the roofs, where
he felt he was the uncontested king. Every late night he returned to his miserable
abode and, after eating a frugal dinner, spent hours and hours staring at the sky and
feasting his eyes on its immensity. One of those nights, his attention was captivated
by one star in particular, among the multitude that populated the heavens: a star so
tiny he asked himself how she could shine so brightly. That minuscule star was really
special indeed: she was always cheerful and proud of contributing to illuminate the
vault of the sky during the hours of the night. Unlike her sisters, who seemed faint
and unhappy, she showed her joy by shining as much as she could. From that day
forward, after finishing his job, every night the chimney sweep ran to his observation
point only to see her. He wished he could have wings to fly up there and declare his
love. On rainy nights, when the sky was covered with a grey cloak that hid the cele-
stial bodies from his view, he lied tormented on his bed. One splendid and serene
night, he looked at his beloved with such intensity that she noticed him. He joyfully
saw the little star smiling at him, so he talked to her, and his words, carried by the
wind, reached her. <My dearly beloved little star, I love you so much and my heart
is aching at staying away from you.> After that night, the tiny star, who returned the
young lover’s feelings, became sad and opaque. Her light grew dim and her sisters
were worried about her, so they addressed the Fairy of the Night: <Dear Fairy, ple-
ase be good to us, only you have the power to help her and, if you won’t, she will
die.> Moved to pity, the Fairy asked her to make her tormenting wish: the chance
to descend to Earth and, as a consequence, she granted her desire, but only for one
night. She raised her wand and, once she pronounced the magic words, she turned
her into a charming damsel with the longest golden hair. The dress she was wearing
had robbed the sky of its stars, and the slippers were embroidered with precious
gems. Riding a comet, she descended to our planet and when she entered the boy’s
bedroom through an open window, she flooded it with light. Giuseppe immediately
recognized her. They spent the night swearing eternal love to each other, butdawn
came too quickly, and forced her to say goodbye to him as she disappeared into thin
air. <Farewell… farewell…> Her words remained hanging. The following night, the
chimney sweep saw in a dream the vision of his beloved, who urged him to start
looking for the enchanted woods. In the morning he woke up at an early hour, it was
still first light; he quickly collected a few things and, without further ado, started his
journey toward the prearranged destination. <Can you tell me, good man, where I
can find the enchanted woods?> He asked everyone he met on his road. One fine
day, when he already had lost all hope, he received the longed for answer: <Yes, I
know that fantastic place, it is a two days walk from here, go to the South.> When
he arrived, Giuseppe was bewitched by the Paradise that presented itself to his eyes:
the luxurious greenery, besides vigorous trees, comprehended flowers of a thousand
different colors, and small fields with emerald green grass. A silver brook twisted its

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