WEBVTT
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WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
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Think about a time you told a story. Maybe you
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told the story of something that happened to you in
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your life. Maybe you made up a tale from your imagination.
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Or perhaps you retold a tale you'd already heard. Maybe
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even on this podcast. We're about to meet a character
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who claims he has no stories to tell. And as
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a result, he gets swept into an adventure that, he hopes,
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will end happily ever after. I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome
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to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time. Today,
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our story is called Once Upon a Flame. It was
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adapted from tales told in the European country of Romania.
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You'll also find related but different variations from Scotland and Ireland.
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Some really great people came together to bring you our folktale,
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including William Maypother, whom you grown-ups may recognize from the
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hit TV series Lost and the movies Another Earth and
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On Sacred Ground. Watch for him this fall in the
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Western film Outlaws.
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So circle around, everyone. For once upon a flame.
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One chilly, blustery winter's eve, three traveling merchants happened to
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cross paths on a country road. Their names were Milo.
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Phew, this is some cold.
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Matilda.
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Brr, I'm shivering in my boots.
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And Magnus.
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We should take shelter for the night.
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But where?
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Where?
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The merchants glanced around the wide-open countryside, their eyes peeled
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for a house, cottage, or inn. At first, they saw nothing.
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But then... Look there!
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Through the trees!
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Is that a light?
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I believe so.
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Let's follow it.
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The merchants' feet crunched deep in the snow as they
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wound their way into a dark forest. When they came
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to a clearing, their chilled faces broke into warm grins.
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because standing before them was a cozy red-brick cottage with
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tendrils of smoke curling from the chimney. When they knocked
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on the door, it was answered by an old woman
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with hair as white as sugar, skin as wrinkly as
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a prune, and a smile as wide as a rainbow.
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Greetings! You three look frozen to the core. Who are you,
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and why are you wandering around in this bitter.
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Weather well madam i'm milo i'm matilda and i'm magnus
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we are traveling merchants we met.
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On the road and need to take shelter from this storm.
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May we please come in of course of course come
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sit by the fireplace it'll warm you up in no.
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Time the merchants hurried inside and huddled in front of
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the crackling blazing flames.
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Good madam We appreciate you taking us in.
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What could we pay you for a bite of supper?
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And a place to lay our heads.
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What could you pay me? Well, since you asked, how
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about one story?
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The merchants exchanged a confused look.
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We're sorry, madam.
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But did you say... One story?
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One story?
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That's right. I would charge each of you one story.
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The way I see it, there's nothing more precious than
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a spellbinding story, a tantalizing tale. So one by one,
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you will spin us a yarn. Then you shall earn
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your room and board. How does that sound to you, Milo?
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Well, it sounds a bit unusual, to be honest. But
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count me in. I love a good story.
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Marvelous. And Matilda, how about you?
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I've always enjoyed stories. Telling them and hearing them.
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I'm in.
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Good.
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And Magnus, what do you think? Magnus wasn't as quick
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to respond. When he did answer the woman's question, it
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was with a question of his own.
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So, um, about this whole telling a story thing, what
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would you do if, say, we didn't have a story
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to tell?
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If you didn't have a story to tell? The woman paused.
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She furrowed her weathered brow. If you didn't have a
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story to tell, then it will be off with you.
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I'll send you back out into the cold. But come now.
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in this world doesn't have a story to tell. Magnus
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said nothing. He just tightened his lips and looked down
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at his hands. Well, friends, I have some hearty porridge
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warming on the stove. Let's hear your stories, then we'll
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all dig in. Milo, shall we begin with you?
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It would be my pleasure. Long ago, on opposite ends
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of town, there lived two brothers, Felix and Casper. Felix
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was so rich that he threw all of his tarnished
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silver coins into the trash. But Casper and his wife
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were poor, so they decided they must sell their one
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and only cow, Clover. But instead of selling Clover, Casper
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wound up trading her for a talking three-legged pot.
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The old woman's smile grew bigger and bigger as Milo
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shared his story. She was beaming from ear to ear
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by the time he came to the end.
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Eventually, the pot made off with Felix and carried him
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all the way to the North Pole. Then it skipped
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back to Casper and his wife and gave them Felix's
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tarnished silver coins. So the kind couple was rewarded for
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their kindness. And thanks to Felix's cold heart, He was
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left in a very cold place.
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Oh, what a charming story. And I love the lesson.
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You've definitely earned your supper, Milo. Now, how about you, Matilda?
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Tell us your tale.
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I'd be happy to. Once upon a time, Owl and
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Thrush were the best of friends. Back then, Thrush had
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feathers that sparkled with every color of the rainbow. One night,
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Owl and Thrush found a jewel-filled cave owned by ogres.
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The ogres said the birds could bring home some jewels,
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as long as they never carried more than their own
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body weight.
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The old woman's eyes grew brighter and brighter as Matilda
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spun her yarn. They were positively sparkling as Matilda shared
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the conclusion.
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But when Thrush tried carrying more than his own body
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weight in jewels... The ogres set the cave on fire.
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Thrush's colorful feathers got burnt. And because he went back
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on his promise, he's had drab feathers ever since.
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Goodness, that was delightful, Matilda. We could all learn a
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lot from little Thrush. You are more than welcome to
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a bowl of porridge. But let's not forget our third
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storyteller this evening. Magnus, are you ready to tell your tale?
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Magnus shifted uncomfortably.
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Um, yeah, about that. Here's the thing. I don't have
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a story to tell.
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There was a moment's silence. Then the old woman let
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loose with.
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A laugh!
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Oh, come now, Magnus. Surely you're joking with us. You
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really don't have a story to tell?
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Yeah, surely you heard stories when you were a young boy.
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Well, if I did, I don't remember any.
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How about when you were a young man?
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Nope. Well, how about a true story then?
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Yeah, something that's happened in your life.
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Milo and Matilda are on to something, Magnus. Surely you
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have a real-life event that you could share with us and.
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Enough already, okay?
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I'm telling you, I don't have any stories to tell. Look, madam,
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why can't I just pay you money for my room
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and board? Why all this fuss over something as silly
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and insignificant as a story?
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Silly?
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Insignificant? The woman fixed Magnus with a cold stare. You're
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actually telling me that you believe stories are silly and insignificant?
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Despite the entertainment they offer, the education, the enrichment, you
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are of the opinion that they're nothing but foolish trifles? Well,
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if that's truly what you believe, Magnus, then you can
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get out of my cottage now!
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Before Magnus knew what was happening, the old woman lunged
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toward him, seized him by the arm, and.
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Lifted him from his chair.
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Hey!
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Then, with a show of surprising strength, she pulled him
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across the room, drove him out the door, Wait! and
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slammed it shut behind him.
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Hey! I can hardly believe my luck. I have no shelter,
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no warmth, no food, all because I have no story?
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But, as Magnus would soon learn, all of that was
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about to change. Because unbeknownst to our hapless hero.
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His story was just beginning.
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What do you think will happen next? We'll find out
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after a quick break.
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100 years from now in a land far, far away.
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Hang on. It's not so far away at all, actually. Hey,
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Circle Round families.
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We're here to share a new listening experience from WBUR,
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The Midnight Rebellion. It's a climate podcast adventure for kids
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8 and up. Time-traveling, problem-solving, laughs in danger, it's here.
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Follow the feed to listen. Oh, and bring your goggles
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and boots. That's The Midnight Rebellion, in your feed or
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wherever you get podcasts.
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I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round.
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Today, our story is called Once Upon a Flame.
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Once Upon a Flame.
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Before the break, three traveling merchants took shelter with an
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old woman on a cold winter's night. In exchange for
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room and board, the woman asked each of the merchants
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to tell a story. Milo and Matilda were happy to
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spin a yarn, but Magnus claimed he didn't have any
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stories to tell. So the woman kicked him out of
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her cottage. The snowflakes were so thick and clumpy, Magnus
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could hardly see as he stumbled through the forest in
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search of shelter. When at last he emerged from the woods,
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his eyes opened wide.
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Up that hill, I see a light. It must be
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a house. I hope whoever lives there is home. They'll
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take me in.
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Magnus raced up the steep, snowy hill as fast as
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his feet could carry him. And, sure enough, at the
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very top he found a tiny, one-room house nearby.
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But even though the.
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House was tiny, a big ruckus was going on inside.
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Magnus clamped his hands over his ears as he squinted
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through the window.
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Could it be? This house is full of farm animals.
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I see two bleating goats, six squawking chickens, and one
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mooing brown cow. And look, they're crowding out the poor
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family who lives here. I see a man, a woman...
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Four children, plus a grandmother and grandfather.
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And they all look positively miserable.
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Magnus was desperate to get inside and feel some warmth.
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But he knew better than to knock on the door
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of the tiny one-room house. So, bracing himself against a
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brisk gust of wind, he wrapped his arms around his
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trembling body and set off down the other side of
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the hill. When he reached the bottom, his heart gave
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a hopeful ping.
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Look!
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Through that tall wall of hedges. I see another light,
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which could certainly be a house. And surely this one
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won't be anywhere near as crowded.
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But when Magnus shoved the hedges' prickly branches aside and
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pushed his way through, he clamped his hands over his
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ears again.
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Goodness gracious. Listen to that flute playing. It's completely off-key
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and off-pitch.
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And it's making the dog howl and the cat yowl.
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I may be as frozen as a popsicle, but I
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am not going inside that house.
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So, as another gust of wind buffeted Magnus' frigid frame,
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he resumed his trip across the snow-covered countryside. His hands
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and feet were numb by now, and his breath froze
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into frosty white vapor each time he exhaled, just when
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he was certain he couldn't make it any farther. He
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came to another hill, topped with a brilliant glow that
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seemed to light up the sky.
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That light is surely coming from a very big house.
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A spacious one. Surely they'll take me in.
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Magnus began trudging up the hill. As he climbed, he
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could have sworn he heard the pops and crackles.
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Of a fire.
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And he was almost positive he smelled wood smoke. And
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when he reached the top.
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Loose bumps rose on every inch of his body. And
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not just because he was frozen to the core. It
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was because the big house at the top of the
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hill was surrounded by fire.
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This is the wildest thing I've ever seen.
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There's a circle of fire around this house. A collection
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of flames racing and leaping around without so much as
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touching the walls.
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Let alone burning them.
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By now, the wind was blowing with such force it
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nearly lifted Magnus off the ground. Clumps of ice and
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snow were pelting him from every direction.
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Bug, I can't stay out here any longer. I know
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I'm standing outside a house encircled by flames, but I
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have to get inside. Otherwise, I'll freeze to death.
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Magnus clenched his fists, lowered his head, then began charging
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toward the fire.
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But the moment he did, an explosion of sparks burst
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toward him like a firework.
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Yikes!
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Magnus leaped out of the way and tried approaching the
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house from another side.
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But the same thing happened.
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Ow!
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He decided he would give it one more try. But
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this time, all the flames around the house seemed to
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unite as one, then come blazing toward him, chasing him
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like a giant, fiery tidal wave.
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Oh, no! Magnus turned around and took to his heels.
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He could feel the heat scorching his back as he tripped, staggered,
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and stumbled through the snow. He ran and he ran
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and he ran, until eventually he found himself back in
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the forest, in front of the tiny red brick cottage
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in the clearing. With trembling hands, he grabbed hold of
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the door latch, gave it a turn, and to his delight,
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the door swung open, revealing the old woman, Milo and Matilda.
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all sitting at the table eating their porridge. While Milo
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and Matilda wore a.
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Look of surprise... Magnus! You're back! The old woman wore
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a look of scorn. Magnus, I explained the rules of
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my cottage and what you must offer in exchange for
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my hospitality. You failed to follow those rules. So give
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me one good reason why I should allow you to
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come back in here.
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Um, because I'm freezing cold?
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I need a better reason.
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Because I'm ravenously hungry?
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Better than that.
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Because I, I.
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Magnus took a breath. He could still smell wood smoke
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in his nostrils. And that's when it hit him.
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Because I have a story to tell.
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The old woman stared at Magnus. Her eyes were bright
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and unblinking. And then, all at once, she let out
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a laugh.
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A story to tell? Why didn't you say so? Come in, Magnus.
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Come in and tell us your story. So he did.
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He joined Milo, Matilda, and the old woman at the
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table and told them everything that happened after he got
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booted from the cottage. He told them about the tiny
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one-room house filled with farm animals, the off-key flute playing
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with the howling dog and yowling cat, and the big
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house encircled by flames that reflected off the snow and
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lit up the sky. When Magnus finished his tale, Milo
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and Matilda were agog.
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Whoa, that was amazing, Magnus.
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Yeah, that's some story.
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Thank you, friends. But I have to confess... I don't
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understand any of it. The house with the animals, the
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noisy flute playing, the fires.
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What did it all mean?
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The old woman smiled. Well, Magnus, it just so happens
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I have the answer to your question.
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You do?
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I do. Let's start with the tiny one-room house. You see,
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the people who lived in that house had grown dissatisfied,
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always complaining that their house was too small. So someone
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very well... wise told them to bring in their farm
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animals one by one. And now, mark my words, once
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those animals go back to their places in the barn,
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the people will realize they had it pretty good all along,
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and that it could always get worse. Magnus tilted his
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head as he took in the old woman's words.
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So, that family was learning a lesson. Life is all
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about how we look at it.
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Huh.
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But what about the house with the flute playing and
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the howling, yowling animals? How do you explain that?
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Well, Inside that house was a budding musician. Since he's
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just starting out, his flute playing isn't exactly as sweet
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as caramel or as light as the breeze or as
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bright as the stars. But he has to start somewhere,
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and he has to keep trying, no matter who tries
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to stop him. If he keeps at it, he'll find.
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That practice doesn't make Perfect. Practice makes progress. Magnus thought
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for a moment, then grinned.
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I totally get it. And that's an excellent lesson. But
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I'm still confused about the house surrounded by fire.
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What does that mean?
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The old woman's eyes twinkled, almost like two little flames.
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The house surrounded by fire?
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Huh.
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That was a house where people had fallen asleep after
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each one had told a story and the listeners had
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learned something from it. Each and every one of those
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stories and lessons had transformed into a blazing, fiery flame.
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But why?
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Why? Because stories light up our lives. They keep us
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safe and protected by teaching us to be better people.
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So the fires were just doing their job and protecting
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the people inside. That is why you're doing such a
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good deed when you give someone a story. And I
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thank you for your gift, Magnus. I also commend you.
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For at long last, my friend... You have a story
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to tell. The old woman laid a soft hand on
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Magnus' shoulder. She gave a gentle squeeze, then she rose
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from the table and shuffled off to her room. The
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three merchants grabbed some pillows and bedded down on the
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floor by the fireplace. Milo immediately nodded off. As did Matilda.
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Ah.
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And just as Magnus began to drift into a warm
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and welcome sleep, he could have sworn he saw flames
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leaping and dancing outside the cottage windows, and he was
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almost certain he smelled wood smoke.
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Now it's your turn.
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Believe it or not, this story marks the finale of
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Circle Round's sixth season. Now that our season has drawn
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to a close, we want you to make up a
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story of your own with a storytelling jar. Find an
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empty jar and some small pieces of scrap paper. On
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each piece of paper, write a random word or phrase.
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You could write anything.
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Zebra, football, purple, gigantic, here today, gone tomorrow, ready or not,
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here I come. Put your pieces of paper inside your jar.
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And then, with some friends or family members, take turns
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pulling out a.
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Piece of paper.
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Read the word or phrase on your paper, then use
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it as inspiration for a story. Give your story a beginning, middle,
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and end, and let your imagination run wild.
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The End.
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This week's episode, Once Upon a Flame, was adapted by me,
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Rebecca Shear, along with Circle Round's sound designer and composer,
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00:24:32.150 --> 00:24:35.880
Eric Shimalonis. It was edited by Nora Sachs. Our artist
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is Sabina Han. Sabina has drawn a black and white
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coloring page for all of our Circle Round stories, all
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six seasons worth, and you can color them in.
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Grown-ups, visit our.
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Website, wbur.org slash circleround, and click on Coloring Pages. And
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00:24:50.710 --> 00:24:54.329
while you're at WBUR.org slash Circle Round, you can become
387
00:24:54.369 --> 00:24:57.869
the newest member of the Circle Round Club. You can
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00:24:57.890 --> 00:25:02.369
get ad-free episodes, bite-sized bedtime stories, early access to Circle
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Round events, behind-the-scenes videos, even a personalized birthday message from me.
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Visit WBUR.org slash.
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Circle Round and click Circle Round Club. Special thanks to
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00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:17.400
this week's actors, Ryan DeLusong, Jessica Rau, and William Maypother.
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William Maypother appears in the hit TV series Lost and
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00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:23.839
the movies Another Earth and On Sacred Ground. Grown-ups watch
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00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:27.440
for him this fall in the Western film Outlaws. Our
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00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:30.500
featured instrument this week was the piano. You can learn
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00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:33.940
more about this keyboard instrument with hammers and strings inside
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00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.049
and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing one on
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our website. Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.org. Grownups, if you
400
00:25:42.670 --> 00:25:45.920
enjoy Circle Round, please write us a five-star review on
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00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.380
your favorite podcast app.
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00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.460
It really helps.
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00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:51.880
You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram at
404
00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:54.740
Circle Round Podcast and tell your friends about the show.
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00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:58.779
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
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00:26:03.349 --> 00:26:05.660
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
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00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:12.660
One of the best things about creating Circle Round is
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00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:16.400
hearing from listeners like you. Circle Round fans have been
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00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:19.509
telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories, and we're
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00:26:19.549 --> 00:26:22.230
excited to share some of their voices with you.
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00:26:22.990 --> 00:26:26.849
My name is Skye, and I live in Germany. My
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00:26:26.930 --> 00:26:32.859
favorite episode is The Babblerless Stairs. And my favorite part
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00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:38.279
is when The Babblerless stared in the brother's eyes.
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00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:42.259
Hello, my name is Hannah and I live in Somerville,
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00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:48.180
Massachusetts and my favorite Circle Round story is the three-legged
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pot because I like the part where the three-legged pot
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00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:56.619
brings home all the silk and velvet for the two people.
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00:26:57.140 --> 00:27:00.890
My name is Noah. I live in Somerville. My favorite
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00:27:01.069 --> 00:27:06.430
episode is The Long Day. My favorite part is when
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00:27:07.109 --> 00:27:11.809
The royal messenger will make a huge, giant pickle bag.
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I'm Ananya.
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00:27:14.049 --> 00:27:16.359
I live in Apex, North Carolina.
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My favorite circle-round story is The Missing Mountains. I like
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the part when the mountain spirit teaches the people a
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lesson like not chewing off as much as you can take.
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We love you, Rebecca Shearer. Hello, my name is Andres.
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00:27:34.369 --> 00:27:37.849
My favorite episode is The Scholar's Reward. I like the
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00:27:37.910 --> 00:27:41.269
part where the scholar convinces the Raja to stop waging
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00:27:41.309 --> 00:27:44.269
war on other nations. My name is Sofiel, and I
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00:27:44.309 --> 00:27:48.029
live in Lawrenceville, Georgia. My two favorite things are Bubblegum
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00:27:48.130 --> 00:27:51.130
and Circle Around. I listen to Circle Around every day.
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00:27:51.549 --> 00:27:54.329
And my favorite story is The Three-Legged Pot, because I
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00:27:54.369 --> 00:27:57.309
like the part where the three-legged pot says, Time to
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00:27:57.410 --> 00:27:58.829
skip and skip!
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00:27:59.250 --> 00:28:01.150
Whee!
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00:28:01.809 --> 00:28:04.609
Did someone mention an episode you missed? No problem.
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00:28:04.869 --> 00:28:08.000
You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
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00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:12.279
That's WBUR.org slash Circle Round or wherever you and your
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00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.720
grown-ups get your podcasts.
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00:00:01.250 --> 00:00:03.690
WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
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00:00:09.310 --> 00:00:13.369
Think about a time you told a story. Maybe you
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00:00:13.410 --> 00:00:15.529
told the story of something that happened to you in
4
00:00:15.550 --> 00:00:18.629
your life. Maybe you made up a tale from your imagination.
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00:00:19.149 --> 00:00:22.329
Or perhaps you retold a tale you'd already heard. Maybe
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00:00:22.390 --> 00:00:25.410
even on this podcast. We're about to meet a character
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00:00:25.449 --> 00:00:29.210
who claims he has no stories to tell. And as
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00:00:29.269 --> 00:00:32.740
a result, he gets swept into an adventure that, he hopes,
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00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:40.289
will end happily ever after. I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome
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00:00:40.329 --> 00:00:44.630
to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time. Today,
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00:00:44.750 --> 00:00:48.659
our story is called Once Upon a Flame. It was
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00:00:48.700 --> 00:00:51.740
adapted from tales told in the European country of Romania.
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You'll also find related but different variations from Scotland and Ireland.
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Some really great people came together to bring you our folktale,
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including William Maypother, whom you grown-ups may recognize from the
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hit TV series Lost and the movies Another Earth and
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00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:11.030
On Sacred Ground. Watch for him this fall in the
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00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:12.640
Western film Outlaws.
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So circle around, everyone. For once upon a flame.
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One chilly, blustery winter's eve, three traveling merchants happened to
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cross paths on a country road. Their names were Milo.
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Phew, this is some cold.
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Matilda.
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Brr, I'm shivering in my boots.
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And Magnus.
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We should take shelter for the night.
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But where?
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Where?
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The merchants glanced around the wide-open countryside, their eyes peeled
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for a house, cottage, or inn. At first, they saw nothing.
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But then... Look there!
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Through the trees!
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Is that a light?
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I believe so.
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Let's follow it.
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The merchants' feet crunched deep in the snow as they
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wound their way into a dark forest. When they came
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to a clearing, their chilled faces broke into warm grins.
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because standing before them was a cozy red-brick cottage with
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tendrils of smoke curling from the chimney. When they knocked
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on the door, it was answered by an old woman
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with hair as white as sugar, skin as wrinkly as
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a prune, and a smile as wide as a rainbow.
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Greetings! You three look frozen to the core. Who are you,
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and why are you wandering around in this bitter.
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Weather well madam i'm milo i'm matilda and i'm magnus
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we are traveling merchants we met.
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On the road and need to take shelter from this storm.
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May we please come in of course of course come
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sit by the fireplace it'll warm you up in no.
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Time the merchants hurried inside and huddled in front of
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the crackling blazing flames.
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Good madam We appreciate you taking us in.
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What could we pay you for a bite of supper?
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And a place to lay our heads.
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What could you pay me? Well, since you asked, how
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about one story?
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The merchants exchanged a confused look.
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We're sorry, madam.
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But did you say... One story?
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One story?
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That's right. I would charge each of you one story.
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The way I see it, there's nothing more precious than
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a spellbinding story, a tantalizing tale. So one by one,
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you will spin us a yarn. Then you shall earn
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your room and board. How does that sound to you, Milo?
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Well, it sounds a bit unusual, to be honest. But
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count me in. I love a good story.
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Marvelous. And Matilda, how about you?
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I've always enjoyed stories. Telling them and hearing them.
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I'm in.
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Good.
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And Magnus, what do you think? Magnus wasn't as quick
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to respond. When he did answer the woman's question, it
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was with a question of his own.
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So, um, about this whole telling a story thing, what
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would you do if, say, we didn't have a story
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to tell?
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If you didn't have a story to tell? The woman paused.
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She furrowed her weathered brow. If you didn't have a
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story to tell, then it will be off with you.
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I'll send you back out into the cold. But come now.
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in this world doesn't have a story to tell. Magnus
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said nothing. He just tightened his lips and looked down
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at his hands. Well, friends, I have some hearty porridge
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warming on the stove. Let's hear your stories, then we'll
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all dig in. Milo, shall we begin with you?
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It would be my pleasure. Long ago, on opposite ends
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of town, there lived two brothers, Felix and Casper. Felix
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was so rich that he threw all of his tarnished
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silver coins into the trash. But Casper and his wife
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were poor, so they decided they must sell their one
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and only cow, Clover. But instead of selling Clover, Casper
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wound up trading her for a talking three-legged pot.
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The old woman's smile grew bigger and bigger as Milo
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shared his story. She was beaming from ear to ear
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by the time he came to the end.
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Eventually, the pot made off with Felix and carried him
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all the way to the North Pole. Then it skipped
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back to Casper and his wife and gave them Felix's
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tarnished silver coins. So the kind couple was rewarded for
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their kindness. And thanks to Felix's cold heart, He was
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left in a very cold place.
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Oh, what a charming story. And I love the lesson.
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You've definitely earned your supper, Milo. Now, how about you, Matilda?
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Tell us your tale.
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I'd be happy to. Once upon a time, Owl and
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Thrush were the best of friends. Back then, Thrush had
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feathers that sparkled with every color of the rainbow. One night,
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Owl and Thrush found a jewel-filled cave owned by ogres.
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The ogres said the birds could bring home some jewels,
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as long as they never carried more than their own
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body weight.
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The old woman's eyes grew brighter and brighter as Matilda
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spun her yarn. They were positively sparkling as Matilda shared
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the conclusion.
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But when Thrush tried carrying more than his own body
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weight in jewels... The ogres set the cave on fire.
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Thrush's colorful feathers got burnt. And because he went back
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on his promise, he's had drab feathers ever since.
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Goodness, that was delightful, Matilda. We could all learn a
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lot from little Thrush. You are more than welcome to
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a bowl of porridge. But let's not forget our third
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storyteller this evening. Magnus, are you ready to tell your tale?
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Magnus shifted uncomfortably.
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Um, yeah, about that. Here's the thing. I don't have
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a story to tell.
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There was a moment's silence. Then the old woman let
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loose with.
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A laugh!
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Oh, come now, Magnus. Surely you're joking with us. You
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really don't have a story to tell?
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Yeah, surely you heard stories when you were a young boy.
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Well, if I did, I don't remember any.
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How about when you were a young man?
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Nope. Well, how about a true story then?
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Yeah, something that's happened in your life.
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Milo and Matilda are on to something, Magnus. Surely you
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have a real-life event that you could share with us and.
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Enough already, okay?
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I'm telling you, I don't have any stories to tell. Look, madam,
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why can't I just pay you money for my room
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and board? Why all this fuss over something as silly
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and insignificant as a story?
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Silly?
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Insignificant? The woman fixed Magnus with a cold stare. You're
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actually telling me that you believe stories are silly and insignificant?
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Despite the entertainment they offer, the education, the enrichment, you
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are of the opinion that they're nothing but foolish trifles? Well,
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if that's truly what you believe, Magnus, then you can
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get out of my cottage now!
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Before Magnus knew what was happening, the old woman lunged
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toward him, seized him by the arm, and.
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Lifted him from his chair.
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Hey!
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Then, with a show of surprising strength, she pulled him
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across the room, drove him out the door, Wait! and
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slammed it shut behind him.
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Hey! I can hardly believe my luck. I have no shelter,
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no warmth, no food, all because I have no story?
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But, as Magnus would soon learn, all of that was
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about to change. Because unbeknownst to our hapless hero.
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His story was just beginning.
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What do you think will happen next? We'll find out
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after a quick break.
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100 years from now in a land far, far away.
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Hang on. It's not so far away at all, actually. Hey,
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Circle Round families.
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We're here to share a new listening experience from WBUR,
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The Midnight Rebellion. It's a climate podcast adventure for kids
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8 and up. Time-traveling, problem-solving, laughs in danger, it's here.
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Follow the feed to listen. Oh, and bring your goggles
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00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:26.919
and boots. That's The Midnight Rebellion, in your feed or
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00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:28.460
wherever you get podcasts.
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I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round.
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Today, our story is called Once Upon a Flame.
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Once Upon a Flame.
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Before the break, three traveling merchants took shelter with an
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old woman on a cold winter's night. In exchange for
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room and board, the woman asked each of the merchants
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to tell a story. Milo and Matilda were happy to
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spin a yarn, but Magnus claimed he didn't have any
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stories to tell. So the woman kicked him out of
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her cottage. The snowflakes were so thick and clumpy, Magnus
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could hardly see as he stumbled through the forest in
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search of shelter. When at last he emerged from the woods,
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his eyes opened wide.
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Up that hill, I see a light. It must be
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a house. I hope whoever lives there is home. They'll
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take me in.
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Magnus raced up the steep, snowy hill as fast as
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his feet could carry him. And, sure enough, at the
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very top he found a tiny, one-room house nearby.
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But even though the.
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House was tiny, a big ruckus was going on inside.
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Magnus clamped his hands over his ears as he squinted
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through the window.
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Could it be? This house is full of farm animals.
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I see two bleating goats, six squawking chickens, and one
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mooing brown cow. And look, they're crowding out the poor
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family who lives here. I see a man, a woman...
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Four children, plus a grandmother and grandfather.
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And they all look positively miserable.
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Magnus was desperate to get inside and feel some warmth.
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But he knew better than to knock on the door
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of the tiny one-room house. So, bracing himself against a
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brisk gust of wind, he wrapped his arms around his
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trembling body and set off down the other side of
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the hill. When he reached the bottom, his heart gave
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a hopeful ping.
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Look!
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Through that tall wall of hedges. I see another light,
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which could certainly be a house. And surely this one
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won't be anywhere near as crowded.
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But when Magnus shoved the hedges' prickly branches aside and
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pushed his way through, he clamped his hands over his
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ears again.
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Goodness gracious. Listen to that flute playing. It's completely off-key
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and off-pitch.
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And it's making the dog howl and the cat yowl.
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I may be as frozen as a popsicle, but I
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am not going inside that house.
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So, as another gust of wind buffeted Magnus' frigid frame,
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he resumed his trip across the snow-covered countryside. His hands
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and feet were numb by now, and his breath froze
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into frosty white vapor each time he exhaled, just when
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he was certain he couldn't make it any farther. He
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came to another hill, topped with a brilliant glow that
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seemed to light up the sky.
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That light is surely coming from a very big house.
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A spacious one. Surely they'll take me in.
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Magnus began trudging up the hill. As he climbed, he
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could have sworn he heard the pops and crackles.
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Of a fire.
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And he was almost positive he smelled wood smoke. And
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when he reached the top.
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Loose bumps rose on every inch of his body. And
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not just because he was frozen to the core. It
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was because the big house at the top of the
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hill was surrounded by fire.
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This is the wildest thing I've ever seen.
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There's a circle of fire around this house. A collection
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of flames racing and leaping around without so much as
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touching the walls.
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Let alone burning them.
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By now, the wind was blowing with such force it
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nearly lifted Magnus off the ground. Clumps of ice and
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snow were pelting him from every direction.
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Bug, I can't stay out here any longer. I know
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I'm standing outside a house encircled by flames, but I
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have to get inside. Otherwise, I'll freeze to death.
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Magnus clenched his fists, lowered his head, then began charging
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toward the fire.
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But the moment he did, an explosion of sparks burst
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toward him like a firework.
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Yikes!
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Magnus leaped out of the way and tried approaching the
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house from another side.
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But the same thing happened.
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Ow!
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He decided he would give it one more try. But
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this time, all the flames around the house seemed to
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unite as one, then come blazing toward him, chasing him
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like a giant, fiery tidal wave.
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Oh, no! Magnus turned around and took to his heels.
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He could feel the heat scorching his back as he tripped, staggered,
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and stumbled through the snow. He ran and he ran
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and he ran, until eventually he found himself back in
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the forest, in front of the tiny red brick cottage
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in the clearing. With trembling hands, he grabbed hold of
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the door latch, gave it a turn, and to his delight,
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the door swung open, revealing the old woman, Milo and Matilda.
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all sitting at the table eating their porridge. While Milo
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and Matilda wore a.
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Look of surprise... Magnus! You're back! The old woman wore
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a look of scorn. Magnus, I explained the rules of
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my cottage and what you must offer in exchange for
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my hospitality. You failed to follow those rules. So give
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me one good reason why I should allow you to
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come back in here.
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Um, because I'm freezing cold?
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I need a better reason.
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Because I'm ravenously hungry?
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Better than that.
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Because I, I.
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Magnus took a breath. He could still smell wood smoke
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in his nostrils. And that's when it hit him.
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Because I have a story to tell.
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The old woman stared at Magnus. Her eyes were bright
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and unblinking. And then, all at once, she let out
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a laugh.
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A story to tell? Why didn't you say so? Come in, Magnus.
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Come in and tell us your story. So he did.
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He joined Milo, Matilda, and the old woman at the
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table and told them everything that happened after he got
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booted from the cottage. He told them about the tiny
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one-room house filled with farm animals, the off-key flute playing
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with the howling dog and yowling cat, and the big
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house encircled by flames that reflected off the snow and
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lit up the sky. When Magnus finished his tale, Milo
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and Matilda were agog.
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Whoa, that was amazing, Magnus.
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Yeah, that's some story.
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Thank you, friends. But I have to confess... I don't
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understand any of it. The house with the animals, the
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noisy flute playing, the fires.
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What did it all mean?
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The old woman smiled. Well, Magnus, it just so happens
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I have the answer to your question.
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You do?
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I do. Let's start with the tiny one-room house. You see,
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the people who lived in that house had grown dissatisfied,
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always complaining that their house was too small. So someone
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very well... wise told them to bring in their farm
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animals one by one. And now, mark my words, once
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those animals go back to their places in the barn,
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the people will realize they had it pretty good all along,
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and that it could always get worse. Magnus tilted his
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head as he took in the old woman's words.
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So, that family was learning a lesson. Life is all
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about how we look at it.
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Huh.
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But what about the house with the flute playing and
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the howling, yowling animals? How do you explain that?
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Well, Inside that house was a budding musician. Since he's
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just starting out, his flute playing isn't exactly as sweet
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as caramel or as light as the breeze or as
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bright as the stars. But he has to start somewhere,
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and he has to keep trying, no matter who tries
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to stop him. If he keeps at it, he'll find.
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That practice doesn't make Perfect. Practice makes progress. Magnus thought
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for a moment, then grinned.
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I totally get it. And that's an excellent lesson. But
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I'm still confused about the house surrounded by fire.
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What does that mean?
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The old woman's eyes twinkled, almost like two little flames.
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The house surrounded by fire?
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Huh.
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That was a house where people had fallen asleep after
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each one had told a story and the listeners had
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learned something from it. Each and every one of those
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stories and lessons had transformed into a blazing, fiery flame.
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But why?
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Why? Because stories light up our lives. They keep us
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safe and protected by teaching us to be better people.
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So the fires were just doing their job and protecting
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the people inside. That is why you're doing such a
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good deed when you give someone a story. And I
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thank you for your gift, Magnus. I also commend you.
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For at long last, my friend... You have a story
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to tell. The old woman laid a soft hand on
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Magnus' shoulder. She gave a gentle squeeze, then she rose
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from the table and shuffled off to her room. The
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three merchants grabbed some pillows and bedded down on the
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floor by the fireplace. Milo immediately nodded off. As did Matilda.
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Ah.
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And just as Magnus began to drift into a warm
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and welcome sleep, he could have sworn he saw flames
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leaping and dancing outside the cottage windows, and he was
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almost certain he smelled wood smoke.
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Now it's your turn.
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Believe it or not, this story marks the finale of
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Circle Round's sixth season. Now that our season has drawn
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to a close, we want you to make up a
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story of your own with a storytelling jar. Find an
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empty jar and some small pieces of scrap paper. On
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each piece of paper, write a random word or phrase.
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You could write anything.
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Zebra, football, purple, gigantic, here today, gone tomorrow, ready or not,
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here I come. Put your pieces of paper inside your jar.
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And then, with some friends or family members, take turns
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pulling out a.
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Piece of paper.
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Read the word or phrase on your paper, then use
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it as inspiration for a story. Give your story a beginning, middle,
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and end, and let your imagination run wild.
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The End.
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This week's episode, Once Upon a Flame, was adapted by me,
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Rebecca Shear, along with Circle Round's sound designer and composer,
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Eric Shimalonis. It was edited by Nora Sachs. Our artist
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is Sabina Han. Sabina has drawn a black and white
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coloring page for all of our Circle Round stories, all
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six seasons worth, and you can color them in.
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Grown-ups, visit our.
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Website, wbur.org slash circleround, and click on Coloring Pages. And
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while you're at WBUR.org slash Circle Round, you can become
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the newest member of the Circle Round Club. You can
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get ad-free episodes, bite-sized bedtime stories, early access to Circle
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Round events, behind-the-scenes videos, even a personalized birthday message from me.
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Visit WBUR.org slash.
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Circle Round and click Circle Round Club. Special thanks to
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this week's actors, Ryan DeLusong, Jessica Rau, and William Maypother.
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William Maypother appears in the hit TV series Lost and
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the movies Another Earth and On Sacred Ground. Grown-ups watch
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for him this fall in the Western film Outlaws. Our
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featured instrument this week was the piano. You can learn
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more about this keyboard instrument with hammers and strings inside
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00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.049
and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing one on
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our website. Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.org. Grownups, if you
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enjoy Circle Round, please write us a five-star review on
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00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.380
your favorite podcast app.
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It really helps.
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You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram at
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00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:54.740
Circle Round Podcast and tell your friends about the show.
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00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:58.779
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
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I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
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One of the best things about creating Circle Round is
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hearing from listeners like you. Circle Round fans have been
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00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:19.509
telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories, and we're
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excited to share some of their voices with you.
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My name is Skye, and I live in Germany. My
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favorite episode is The Babblerless Stairs. And my favorite part
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00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:38.279
is when The Babblerless stared in the brother's eyes.
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Hello, my name is Hannah and I live in Somerville,
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Massachusetts and my favorite Circle Round story is the three-legged
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pot because I like the part where the three-legged pot
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brings home all the silk and velvet for the two people.
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My name is Noah. I live in Somerville. My favorite
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episode is The Long Day. My favorite part is when
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The royal messenger will make a huge, giant pickle bag.
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I'm Ananya.
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I live in Apex, North Carolina.
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My favorite circle-round story is The Missing Mountains. I like
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the part when the mountain spirit teaches the people a
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lesson like not chewing off as much as you can take.
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We love you, Rebecca Shearer. Hello, my name is Andres.
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My favorite episode is The Scholar's Reward. I like the
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part where the scholar convinces the Raja to stop waging
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00:27:41.309 --> 00:27:44.269
war on other nations. My name is Sofiel, and I
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live in Lawrenceville, Georgia. My two favorite things are Bubblegum
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and Circle Around. I listen to Circle Around every day.
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And my favorite story is The Three-Legged Pot, because I
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like the part where the three-legged pot says, Time to
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skip and skip!
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Whee!
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Did someone mention an episode you missed? No problem.
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You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
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That's WBUR.org slash Circle Round or wherever you and your
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00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.720
grown-ups get your podcasts.
