The inside is what they would expect to see. Unless it is very hot I have a fire going in the huge fireplace. On a hook, hanging over the fire is a large black cauldron bubbling away. The room is filled with the aroma of herbs. Hanging from the rafters are bunches of dried flowers and herbs. Another bunch of herbs are by the fire. One of the first things I do is take a handful and throw them in the pot and stir it with my staff.

Vases of fresh flowers are everywhere. On a shelf above one of the windows are seven mugs, each with a name painted on it. Happy, Grumpy, Bashful, Doc, Sneezy, Sleepy, and of course Dopey, the famous seven Dwarfs of Snow White fame.

When the children notice them, and they always do, I explain that they work in a silver mine about a half mile to the south and live in a house much like this one about a half mile to the north and they often stop here on their way home for a cup of my famous herb tea.

I gather the children into the center of the room. "Because you all passed the test, and have been so good, I'm going to sprinkle you with magic fairy dust. I open my drawstring bag and take out a pinch of the silver dust. I throw it in the air above their heads. It sparkles as the sun rays hit it and it falls among them.

"Now", I say, "you will be able to see elves if they are around. Would any of you like to feed an elf, it's very good luck?"

They all say yes.  "Did anyone bring Elf Cookies with them?" Some say no, others bring out candy or cookies they brought with them. I have two tins in the cottage. One is marked Elf Cookies, the other Children Cookies. I open the Elf Tin. It is filled with cookie crumbs. I ask each child to take some and hold it at their finger tips. (Elves have very small mouths.)

I give one my staff and ask him to bang it on the floor three times. This is to let any elf that may be around that cookies are being served.

By this time I have stuck on my left middle finger a small dolls hand, which I have painted green and glued fur on. The left hand is half closed to hide it.

With the same left hand I point to a bunch of flowers and tell the children, "I think I saw one in there." My right hand goes in with a grabbing motion.

"I think I have him.", I say, very excitedly. The right hand cups the left to contain the elf.

The middle finger of the left hand, with the doll hand on it, is bent inward toward the palm. I peek into my cupped hands and announce that I have Timmie, one of the most friendly elves.  "Who wants to fed him?"

The children all  swarm around. "Just hold out your Elf Cookie and call him."

The first child does, calls out, "Timmie, I have a cookie for you."  The little green hand, palm outstretched, pops out of my cupped hands.

The first child is not sure what to do. "Just drop the cookie crumbs in his hand.", I say. He does and the elf disappears back into mine to eat his cookie.

I have never been able to put my elf back in the safety of his flowers until every child has fed him. After all have fed the elf and he is back in the flowers I notice that one of roses has wilted and turned brown. I act very sad as I take it from the vase, as if I had lost a dear friend. I hold the dead bud in my left hand and cup my right over it. I ask the children to say, "Come back Rose." I change it for a fresh rose  I had in my right hand, a simple switch, and as my right hand comes away with the old rose , clip palmed, the fresh new one is there in my left hand. I present it to one of the little girls.

I have all the children sit on the floor and open the tin marked Children Cookies and pass them around. While they are munching away I tell them stories about flowers or animals, elves and trolls and finally send them off. The whole thing takes only 15 or 20 minutes, depending on the size of the group, but they talk about it forever.

For magicians who feel I am not doing anything special, just a few cheap very easy tricks, I say they should sit down and think about what Magic really is. If they need help just ask any of the thousands of children who have visited the Wizard in his cottage.

Brother Shadow.