# The Fairy Fiddler explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by George MacDonald. ## What happens Colin wakes at midnight to see grotesque fairy figures dancing in his room. One fiddler, Peterkin, and another, Silversnout, sing a taunting song about having mutilated and salted his missing child. Colin recognizes them as Scotch fairies from his father's cottage, but before he can act, they vanish with a shriek of laughter. ## Themes in this chapter ### Suffering and Divine Chastening Colin's anguish over his missing child is intensified by the fairies' cruel taunts, suggesting a form of chastening. ### Reality vs. Illusion Colin is uncertain whether the fairy vision is real or a dream, blurring the line between reality and illusion. ## Character check-ins ### Colin Father of the missing child, wakes to witness the fairy dance and taunting song. ### Peterkin Fairy fiddler who plays a wailing tune and sings about mutilating the child. ### Silversnout Fairy singer who leads the dance and taunts Colin about the child's fate. ## Key lines > Peterkin, Peterkin, tall and thin, What have you done with his cheek and his chin? What have you done with his ear and his eye? Hearken, hearken, and hear him cry. The fairies taunt Colin by asking what has been done to his child's facial features, then mimic the child's cry. _The song reveals the fairies' cruel mockery of Colin's loss._ > Silversnout, Silversnout, short and stout, I have cut them off and plucked them out, And salted them down in the Kelpie’s Pool, Because papa Colin is such a fool. Peterkin claims to have cut off the child's features and preserved them in a pool, blaming Colin's foolishness. _The fairies' taunt implies they have mutilated the child, deepening Colin's horror._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/ix-the-fairy-fiddler - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters