Hi, Rebecca Shear here. Before we get to our story, exciting news.
Circle Round is going back on tour. with live recordings across the united states our first stop Sunday, October 5th in Parker, Colorado at the Pace Center.
And Circle Round Club members are invited to a special post-show meet and greet with me and composer Eric Shimalonis.
Get your tickets at wbur.org slash circle around and click on events.
We're announcing more tour stops soon, so stay tuned.
We look forward to circling around with you live.
Produced by the iLab at WBUR Boston. Think about a time someone did something nice for you, something kind.
In today's story, a young woman is all about practicing gestures of kindness. and though they seem small at first, they lead to some very big results. me me I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today our story is called Nilsa and the Troll.
It's inspired by tales told in Denmark, in Northern Europe.
We'll be right back. on the hit CBS comedy Young Sheldon.
So, circle around, everyone, for Nilsa and the Troll.
The Troll Everyone in town knew that the kindest, most generous person around was a young girl named Nilsa.
Having a rough day? Guess who'd come knocking at your door with a tray of cookies?
Ta-da! Fresh baked oatmeal raisin. They're a favorite, right?
Lost your cat or dog? Guess who'd be first in line to help you search?
Don't you worry. We'll find Fluffy, even if it takes all night.
Nilsa would give you the shirt off her back if you asked.
Though the truth is, she didn't own many shirts.
In fact, she didn't own very much at all.
You see, Nilsa lived with her parents, her grandparents, and her four younger brothers and sisters, all of them crammed into a snug thatched roof cottage at the edge of town.
The grownups in the teeny tiny house worked hard to support their family.
And as the oldest child, Nilsa did what she could to chip in.
Early one morning, Nilsa crept out of the lumpy bed she shared with her four siblings.
She grabbed a basket, packed a modest lunch of bread and honey, and tiptoed out the door.
Oh, won't my family be surprised when I come home with wild strawberries from the forest.
Maybe Grandpa will bake one of his famous strawberry pies.
On her way to the forest where the berries grew, Nilsa strolled past a river.
As she listened to the burbling, gurgling sounds of the flowing water, She suddenly heard... Help me.
A voice. Please, somebody put me back! Nilsa stopped in her tracks, flopping around on the riverbank, was a gasping, glistening silver trout.
Oh, my goodness. How did you get out of the water?
Nilsa ran over to the fish and scooped it up.
Let's get you back in that river where you belong.
Nilsa placed the trout back in the water.
It fluttered its fins and swam in a happy circle.
I feel so much better. Thank you, young lady.
I'll be sure to return the favor. Oh, no favors necessary.
Your thanks is enough for me. Nilsa beamed at the trout as it swam off, leaving a trail of bubbles behind it.
Then Nilsa continued on her way. She reached a sun-drenched field. and was admiring the rainbow of wildflowers swaying in the breeze, when she suddenly heard, Wait, stop!
Another voice. Please, don't take another step.
Nilsa came to a halt. and looked down. On the ground beneath her was a tiny black ant.
It was building an anthill, grain by grain, and Nilsa was this close to stepping on it and smashing it. mashing the whole thing.
Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you down there.
Nilsa backed away from the anthill. Then she reached into her basket and pulled out the honey she had packed for lunch.
After all that work. You must be hungry.
Have some of this. Nilsa dribbled some honey onto the ground.
The ant scuttled over and devoured every last drop.
Yum, yum, yummy! Thank you, young lady. I'll be sure to return the favor.
Oh, no favors necessary. Your thanks is enough for me.
Nilsa grinned at the ant as it went back to its building.
Then she continued on her way. Finally, Nilsa reached the edge of the forest. where the wild strawberries grew.
Bordering the forest was a row of pine trees.
Just before Nilsa entered the cool shade of the woods, She suddenly heard... Spare a morsel of food?
Another voice. Just one little morsel of food.
Nilsa cast her eyes upward. Perched on a pine branch was a scraggly black row.
Its feathers were dull and matted and its body was thin as a rail.
Oh, you poor thing! Nilsa reached into her lunch basket and pulled out a hunk of bread.
Take this. You look like you haven't eaten in weeks.
The crow fluttered down and perched on Nilsa's arm.
Then it used its sharp black beak to gobble down every last breadcrumb.
Mmm! Oh, thank you, young lady. I'll be sure to return the favor.
Oh, no favor's necessary. Your thanks is enough for me.
Nilsa smiled at the crow as it spread its wings and flew off.
At last, Nilsa stepped into the shadowy forest.
She was walking along, scanning the ground for wild strawberries, when she suddenly heard... You there!
Yet another voice. Only this voice made her blood run cold.
Who are you? And what are you doing in my forest?
Nilsa whirled around. stomping toward her on big hairy legs, was a troll.
A giant troll with bright beady eyes and a bulging nose shaped like a pickle.
Nilsa began to tremble. Everyone knew that trolls would eat anything or... anyone who crossed their path.
And Nilsa hadn't just crossed the troll's path.
Apparently, she'd crossed his forest. What do you think Nilsa will do next?
We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear.
Today our story is called Nilsa and the Troll.
Amen. When we left off, kind, generous Nilsa had set off to pick wild strawberries for her family.
On the way, she returned a beached trout to the river, fed honey to a hardworking ant, and gave bread to a hungry crow.
Just as Nilsa entered the woods, Who should come clomping her way but a massive troll?
The giant creature demanded to know what Nilsa was doing in his forest.
Nilsa felt the color drain from her face as she tried to explain.
Um, hello there, sir. My name is Nelsa and if you please, I was just about to pick strawberries for my family.
This forest has the most beautiful wild strawberries, and I... This...
The troll clenched his big hairy fists. This forest?
You mean MY forest? I own this place, and as far as I'm concerned, You are an intruder.
An intruder who'd make an awfully tasty breakfast.
My family and I just rolled out of bed, and we are famished.
I'm sorry. I meant no harm. I didn't know this forest belonged to you.
Nilsa clasped her hands together. Please, I have a wonderful family back home.
My parents, my grandparents, my four little brothers and sisters.
And if you eat me, they'll be devastated.
But if you're generous enough to let me go, they'll be grateful.
So grateful. As will I. The brash, brutish troll didn't know much about being generous or grateful.
After all, he spent his days fiercely and selfishly guarding the forest. refusing to let anyone else enjoy it. as he stroked his bristly chin and peered down at Nilsa.
He decided he would offer her a deal. Listen, I tell you what.
I will give you three tasks. If you succeed in carrying out all three, you can go home to your wonderful family.
But if you don't succeed... You go home to my family.
For breakfast. What do you say? Well... What else could Nilsa say, except... Thank you.
What's the first task? The troll laughed, revealing a set of crooked yellow teeth.
He extended his arm. and pointed his hairy finger toward a tall, tall tree.
You see that oak tree there? At the very top is a golden acorn.
Your first task is to get me that golden acorn.
Without climbing the tree. Nilsa felt her pulse quicken as she eyed the oak tree.
It stretched so high she couldn't even see the top.
And she had to bring down the golden acorn, without climbing the trunk?
Just as Nilsa was certain her heart would burst out of her ribcage, she heard the flapping of wings.
She glanced up, and who should be whizzing her way but the hungry crow. the one who had gratefully shared Nilsa's bread.
Hey! Nilsa! Looks like it's time I returned that favor!
Watch this! The crow skimmed through the air and soared all the way to the top of the oak tree.
When the bird swooped back down, it dropped a glittering golden acorn onto Nilsa's outstretched palm.
Wow. Thank you so much. Anytime. As the crow flew away, the troll swiped the acorn from Nilsa's hand.
Alright, so you've succeeded in carrying out my first task.
But the second one, he's a doozy! The troll reached behind a bush and pulled out a lumpy burlap sack.
He turned the sack upside down and dumped its contents all over the ground.
This here is grain. All kinds of grain. Your task is to separate the wheat from the barley from the oats from the rye without... touching a single kernel.
Nilsa felt her mouth go dry. There must have been a million pieces of grain scattered on the forest floor. and she had to sort every single kernel without laying a finger on any of them?
Just then, Nilsa thought she saw a skinny black snake slithering toward her.
But as she looked more carefully, she realized it was actually a string of ants. marching in a long line.
And guess who was leading them? That's right. the black ant who had gratefully shared Nilsa's honey.
Hey, Nilsa! I'm pretty sure it's time I returned that favor.
Let's go folks. The ants swarmed all over the pile of grains and hoisted the kernels onto their backs.
Then the tiny creatures shuttled the grains this way and that, until they had built four neat hills of wheat, barley, oats, and rye.
My goodness. Thank you so much. As the ants crawled away, the troll gnashed his crooked yellow teeth.
Grr, fine. You managed to succeed with my second task.
But wait till you see the third. The troll motioned for Nilsa to follow him.
She tried to keep up as the troll bounded out of the forest and over to the river.
Years ago, I lost one of my most prized possessions in this river.
A diamond ring. Your third task is to retrieve that ring from the river without... getting.
Nilsa felt her palms grow clammy. The river was wide and deep, And she had to retrieve the troll's diamond ring from the water while staying perfectly dry?
All at once, Nilsa heard a splashing sound casting her eyes upstream. she saw a trail of bubbles rippling toward her.
Then, whose scaly silver head should come popping to the surface but the Trouts.
The same one who had been gasping on the bank until Nilsa came along and Put him back in the river.
Hey, Nilsa. What do you say I return that favor?
Check this out! The trout plunged deep into the water.
Moments later, it wiggled to the surface, swam toward the bank and spit out a ring the size of a tambourine.
Would you look at that? Thank you so much Anytime As the trout glided away, Nilsa picked up the ring and handed it to the troll.
The colossal creature gazed at the sparkling diamond then slipped the glittering band onto his gargantuan finger.
You know, I never thought I'd lay eyes on this ring again. that was so dear to me, and it's been lost for so very long.
Nilsa? Come with me. Nilsa held her breath as the troll led her deep into the forest.
Where was he taking her now? At last, they reached a bright, sunny clearing and Nilsa's eyes grew wide.
Stretching out as far as she could see was a bright red blanket of plump, ripe fruit.
Wild strawberries. Go ahead, Nilsa. Pick all the strawberries you'd like.
Then take them home to your family. Nilsa was amazed.
After spending so long fiercely and selfishly guarding the forest, The troll was finally showing some kindness.
Thank you, sir. Thank you! For the first time ever, the troll's big, bristly face broke into a big, bright smile.
You're very welcome, Nilsa. Then, thank you.
. . . Now it's your turn. Pick a person in your life.
And think of something kind you can do for them this week.
Something small. Maybe you can help a grown-up with a chore or draw a picture for your best friend.
Whatever it is, they're sure to be very grateful.
And you're sure to feel great. This week's story, Nilsa and the Troll, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Virginia Marshall. Circle Round's executive producer is Katherine Brewer.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
If you like Eric's music, you will love the music of Circle Round Volume 1. our soundtrack from our first season.
To get your copy, visit our website, wbur.org slash circle around. and click on soundtrack and coloring pages.
While you're there, you can find a bunch of black and white illustrations by Circle Round's artist Sabina Han.
She's created a picture for every Circle Round story, and you can color them in while you listen or anytime.
Special thanks to this week's actors. Anne Underland, and Reagan Reverd.
Check out Reagan in the hit CBS comedy Young Sheldon.
And fun fact, her co-star on the show is another actor you may remember from Circle Round, Ian Armitage. who played the lead role in our story, The Most Powerful of All.
You can find that story and dozens more on our website again Our featured instrument this week was the double bass.
And see a picture by visiting our website again.
That's wbur.org slash circle round. Never want to miss an episode of Circle Around?
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And please leave us some stars, write us a review, or just tell your friends about the show.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
One of the best things about creating Circle Round is hearing from listeners like you.
Circle Round fans have been telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories. and we're excited to share some of their voices with you.
My name is Birdie. And I live in Idaho.
And my favorite Circle Round story is... the horn, the hat and the purse.
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My favorite circle around the store. It's the month of the year because the big sister helps the little brother. you If you're a grown up listening right now, you can help us keep these wonderful stories going by giving a donation to WBUR.
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