The Goblins' Feast

Name: The Goblins' Feast
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Author: Abbie Phillips Walker

Two curious children follow a Goblin through a magic rock into an underground orchard where trees grow sandwiches, cake, and candy, but the enchanted food carries a drowsy price.

Florence and Nicholas are playing in the weeds when they meet a hurrying Goblin who tells them about an annual feast where underground trees are filled with every kind of food imaginable. Unable to resist, the children follow the Goblin through a mossy rock that opens with a magic password. Inside they discover an astonishing orchard: trees laden with chicken sandwiches, pickles, potato chips, cakes, ice-cream cones, and candy, with a well that draws up ice-cream soda instead of water. They eat to their hearts' content, marveling that nothing makes them uncomfortable. But when the Goblins fall into a deep, snoring sleep, Florence succumbs too. A passing rabbit warns Nicholas that the feast food puts you to sleep for a whole month, and anyone who sleeps too long inside might turn into a rock or tree. Nicholas bravely drags his sister to the entrance, and the fresh outside air wakes her. Walking home, both children feel as hungry as if they had never eaten a thing at the Goblins' feast.

Author: Abbie Phillips Walker

Themes: adventure, curiosity, consequences, magic, bravery, family

Florence and Nicholas were sister and brother and one day while they were playing in the weeds they met a Goblin who was running toward a big rock. "Why are you in such a hurry?" asked Nicholas. "Stop a minute and tell us where you live."

"I must hurry home," said the Goblin, "for it is a feast-day with us and all the trees will be full today." "What have the trees to do with your feast?" asked the children. "Why, don't you know," said the Goblin, "that once a year where I live the trees are filled with all kinds of good things to eat and you can eat and eat and nothing will hurt you!"

"I wish we had a tree like that," said Florence. "So do I," said Nicholas. "Can't you take us with you?" "Yes," replied the Goblin, "if you will hurry." Florence and Nicholas followed him as he ran, and when they were at a big rock covered with moss the Goblin tapped on it three times and said, "Su ot nepo," and the rock opened.

It was dark at first and the children walked very carefully, but in a few minutes they saw the light and then they saw an orchard filled with trees, and the Goblins were flying around, picking things from the branches. Some of the Goblins were on ladders, picking sandwiches. "You will have to help yourselves," the Goblin told Florence and Nicholas, "for this happens only once a year and each one has to look out for his share," and off he ran.

"I like chicken sandwiches best," said Nicholas. "Let us find that tree." "Here it is," said Florence, looking between the pieces of bread. Florence filled her apron and Nicholas took all he could carry in both hands, and they sat down to eat them.

Then Florence saw a tree filled with pickles. Nicholas ran and picked some, and then he saw a tree of potato chips. "Oh, I do love these!" he said. "I wish I had a basket." "Borrow one from the Goblins," said Florence. The Goblins were good-natured that day and let him have a large one, and soon they were enjoying the food they had gathered.

"I am going to eat all I want," said Nicholas. "The Goblins said it would not hurt you on this day." When they had eaten all the sandwiches Nicholas saw a tree filled with cake of all kinds, and next to that was a tree of cones which were filled with all kinds of ice cream. And the strangest thing was that after they had eaten all they wanted they could eat as much more and not feel uncomfortable.

"Oh, there is a candy tree!" said Florence. Nicholas filled his pockets and Florence her apron, for they had never eaten all the candy they wanted, and this was their chance. There were many kinds, and the children were soon running back to the tree for more.

"There is a well," said Nicholas. "I am thirsty." And when he drew the bucket to the top he found it was filled with ice-cream soda instead of water. "Let us sit right beside this well," said Florence, "and drink ice-cream soda the rest of the day." But they grew tired of that after a while and looked around for the Goblins. "Where are they?" asked Florence, as they came near the orchard. "I do not see them anywhere."

"They are lying on the ground," said Nicholas, as they came nearer. "Are they dead?" asked Florence, as Nicholas shook one of them and he did not awaken. "No," said Nicholas, "they are asleep. Oh!" he cried, jumping back as a loud snore came from the Goblin, and then all the sleeping Goblins began to make such a noise that the children put their hands over their ears and ran.

When they reached the rock where they entered the Goblins' land they stopped and sat down on the ground. "Oh, I am so sleepy!" said Florence, leaning her head against the rock, and she was sound asleep before Nicholas realized what she was doing. And then she began to breathe hard just as the Goblins had. "Oh dear! What will I do!" said Nicholas. "I feel sleepy, too, but I dare not go to sleep, for no knowing what might happen." So he tapped on the rock three times and said "Su ot nepo," and the rock opened.

"I cannot leave Florence here. Wake up," he cried, shaking her; but she only breathed louder than ever. A rabbit, running along, saw him. "What is the matter?" he asked. Nicholas told him they had been to the Goblins' feast and that Florence had gone to sleep and he could not awaken her. "She will sleep a month," said the rabbit, "if you do not get her out of that place; and you will go to sleep, too, if you stay in there. Can't you pull her out?" Nicholas took Florence by the shoulders and dragged her to the entrance of the rock, and as soon as she breathed the air of the outside world she opened her eyes. "The food you ate at the Goblins' feast will not hurt you," said the rabbit, "but it will put you to sleep for a whole month. You are lucky to get out, for you might have turned into a rock or a tree in that time, as some of the Goblins will." "It is queer," said Nicholas, as they walked home, "but I feel just as hungry as though I had not eaten a thing at the Goblins' feast." "So do I," said Florence. "Let us hurry home, for it must be dinner-time."

Introduction

Discover 'The Goblins' Feast,' a whimsical adventure tale by Abbie Phillips Walker from her 1917 collection 'Sandman Tales.' In this enchanting story, a brother and sister follow a Goblin through a magic rock into an underground orchard where trees grow sandwiches, cake, candy, and ice cream. The children eat to their hearts' content, only to discover that the magical food carries a drowsy price. A wise rabbit helps Nicholas rescue his sleeping sister just in time. A delightful bedtime story about curiosity, adventure, and the hidden costs of things that seem too good to be true.

About Abbie Phillips Walker

Abbie Phillips Walker (1867-?) was an American author of children's stories, best known for her 'Sandman' series of books published in the early 20th century. Her tales feature woodland animals, fairies, goblins, and enchanted worlds in charming stories that teach gentle moral lessons. Her works include 'Sandman Tales' (1917), 'Sandman's Goodnight Stories' (1921), 'Sandman's Rainy Day Stories' (1920), and other collections that have delighted young readers for over a century.

Values and Lessons

The Goblins' Feast weaves its lessons through a wonderfully imaginative adventure. The underground orchard with its food-bearing trees represents the allure of excess: everything is free, unlimited, and seemingly without consequence. But the hidden cost of enchanted sleep shows that indulgence without caution can trap you. Nicholas's determination to save Florence despite his own drowsiness demonstrates sibling loyalty and courage under pressure. The whimsical ending, where both children feel as hungry as if they never ate, gently suggests that magical shortcuts are no substitute for the real thing.

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The Goblins' Feast

Origin of the Story

This story comes from Abbie Phillips Walker's 'Sandman Tales,' published in 1917 and available through the Internet Archive. It belongs to the early 20th-century American tradition of children's fairy tales where ordinary children stumble into magical underground worlds. The story echoes elements of fairy feast traditions found across European folklore, where eating fairy food binds you to the fairy realm, adapted here into a gentle, child-friendly adventure.

About Abbie Phillips Walker

Values and Lessons

caution
family loyalty
bravery
moderation
critical thinking
resourcefulness

Related Activities

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Discussion Activity
After reading, talk about the idea that some things are 'too good to be true.' Ask: Why do you think the food made everyone sleepy? What would you pick from the magic trees? Discuss how Nicholas was brave enough to save Florence even though he was sleepy too. Talk about times when something seemed wonderful but turned out to have a catch.
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Creative Activity
Draw a magic food tree! Let children imagine what kind of food they would want growing on a tree: pizza, cupcakes, fruit, tacos? Draw a big tree with their favorite foods hanging from the branches like ornaments. Then draw what might happen if you ate too much of the magic food.
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Learning Activity
Try writing words backwards like the Goblins' magic password! Write simple words on cards (CAT, DOG, SUN) and help children reverse the letters to make 'magic words' (TAC, GOD, NUS). Then try the Goblins' password: write 'OPEN TO US' and reverse it to get 'SU OT NEPO.' Practice saying the magic words out loud to 'open' a pretend rock.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓What is the moral of The Goblins' Feast?

The story teaches children that things which seem too good to be true often come with hidden costs. The magical food tasted wonderful and never made the children full, but it carried a drowsy enchantment that could trap them underground for a month. The tale also shows the importance of family loyalty and quick thinking: Nicholas fights his own sleepiness to save his sister Florence, demonstrating that bravery and love for family can overcome danger.

❓Who wrote The Goblins' Feast?

This story was written by Abbie Phillips Walker and published in her 1917 collection 'Sandman Tales.' Walker was an American children's author known for her charming fairy tales featuring goblins, fairies, and magical worlds that teach gentle moral lessons through adventure and wonder.

❓What age is The Goblins' Feast appropriate for?

The Goblins' Feast is ideal for children ages 3 to 5. The magical food-bearing trees and underground orchard are wonderfully imaginative and appealing to young listeners. The mild peril of Florence falling asleep is quickly resolved, and the rabbit helper adds a reassuring presence. The ending is lighthearted, with both children safe and hungry for a real dinner at home.

❓What is the magic password in The Goblins' Feast?

The Goblin taps the mossy rock three times and says 'Su ot nepo' to open it. This is the phrase 'open to us' spelled backwards, a playful bit of wordplay that children may enjoy discovering. The same magic words work for Nicholas when he needs to open the rock to escape.

❓What are the main themes in The Goblins' Feast?

The main themes include the allure and danger of things that seem too good to be true, the importance of family loyalty and protecting loved ones, the courage to act even when you are afraid or tired, and the consequences of magical indulgence. The story also gently touches on the idea that real satisfaction comes from the real world, as the children feel hungry again once they leave the Goblins' land.