Comtesse Bertha is one of several fairy tales that Dumas wrote or adapted
for children, including
La Jeunesse de Pierrot, and
Histoire d'un Casse-Noisette.
Comtesse Bertha is set in Germany, on the banks of the
Rhine, in some indeterminate pre-modern fairy-tale time. The Countess and
her husband are noted for their simplicity, virtue and good works. They
would like to build a new castle, but they fear to disturb the elves (or
dwarves) who live in the old castle, and bring them and their realm good
luck. The couple are able to strike a bargain with the elves: the elves
will depart from the old castle, and assist in constructing the new castle.
In exchange, Countess Bertha and her descendents will give an annual feast
for all the people of the neighborhood.
The old castle is pulled down in record time, and the new castle is built
(with the nocturnal assistance of the elves) in half the time predicted by
the architect. (Dumas notes, in an aside, that customers should always
double an architect's estimated time to completion). The Count and
Countess give their annual feast for many years, until their death, and the
tradition is continued by the Count's son. The Count's grandson, however,
tries to escape his family obligation, only to encounter the ghost of
Countess Bertha, who warns him of grave misfortune if he fails to continue
the feast tradition. The grandson tries to shortchange the elves through
various amusing expedients, all of which bring misfortune upon him, and he
ultimately loses his kingdom to an invader.
The invader also receives a visit from the ghost of the Countess, who
advises him of his requirement to continue the feast. Instead, he employs
an itinerant knight to rid him of the castle ghosts and elves. In an
amusing dénouement, the invader and his knight are vanquished, the castle
returns to its rightful holder, and the feast is continued by succeeding
generations. (Very amusing, and recommended for children--much more
accessible for modern children than Pierrot or Casse-Noisette).
