I have tried to teach many boys how to acquire the gifts of the good spirits, but none of them will fast long enough to do any great good in the world.

This boy, however, is different! He fasted thirty days, and then he told me that he still had not fasted long enough, because he hadn’t received the gifts of all the good spirits.

I am sure he will be the one to carry the ball. He will have the powers of good required to deal with the Bad One.

The Forest Witch in Ball-Carrier and the Bad One, Brown Fairy Book. Illustration by Michelle Tocher.