Rewards and Fairies

The title comes from the poem "Farewell, Rewards and Fairies" by Richard Corbet,[1] which was referred to by the children in the first story of Kipling's earlier book Puck of Pook's Hill.

The book consists of a series of short stories set in historical times and a linking contemporary narrative about Dan and Una, two children living in the Weald of Sussex in the area of Kipling's own home, who encounter Puck.

It appears from the narrative as though the mission miscarried, but the Queen is interested to know whether Dan and Una thought it was right to send the young men.)

Sir Harry Dawe (introduced in 'Hal o' the Draft' in Puck of Pook's Hill) tells Old Hobden and Dan about his design to decorate Henry VII's ship Sovereign and how he gets knighted for advising the King not to use it.

When Harry is knighted—not for good work, but for giving the King advice that will save him some money—he cannot help laughing since he had always hoped he would be ennobled for his clever craftsmanship.

Benedetto, who was on the point of murdering him, sees him overcome with mirth and insists that he should at least have his laugh out before dying, and by the time he has understood the joke himself he is willing to drop their quarrel for good.)

The poem describes how an old road has been shut and taken back by nature but still occasionally you can hear the ghostly presence of past travellers.

(The narrator, Miss Philadelphia Bucksteed, is clearly innocent of the seriousness of her condition, believing it to be a "silly cough" that will disappear when she goes to London.

However, as she describes the reactions of M. Laennec, "Witchmaster" Jerry Gamm, Doctor Break, Sir Arthur Wesley and her own father, it is clear that they all know better.

A neolithic shepherd barters one of his eyes with prehistoric metal-working newcomers for metal knives so that his people can fight off the marauding wolves, but in doing so loses his own depth perception, so can no longer hunt or defend himself.

Eddi, one of St Wilfrid's priests in Manhood End (Selsey), holds a midnight service and only a donkey and a bullock come, so he preaches to them.

St Wilfrid tells Dan and Una how he converted Æthelwealh, the pagan king of Sussex, by showing tolerance for his old faith in Wotan while they were in danger.

Sir Richard Dalyngridge from Puck of Pook's Hill explains how King Harold survived the Battle of Hastings and ended up a blind beggar.