Once upon a time there lived a kindhearted nursemaid named Bullina. Over the years Bullina had cared for many babies and she longed for a babe of her very own. But alas she was a spinster well past the blush of maiden hood.

Each night Bullina walked home from her master’s house dreaming of holding her own wee barn. One morning at the marketplace a travelling puppet show set up a tent. With her master’s children, Bullina laughed at the dancing marionettes. Suddenly Bullina had an idea.

Bullina decided to make a clockwork baby. With her master’s permission she borrowed books from his library. Each night she ran home with books strapped to her back. Automatons and alchemy, her head spun but she persevered. On her days off Bullina visited the tinsmith to collect materials.

After months of building, her creation was complete, her clockwork baby. Nearly as tall as herself, Baby was silver with blue marble eyes, and rounded cheeks. For Bullina, it was love at first sight. All Sunday she cared for her own sweet baby, combing her sweet curls and polishing her metallic arms and legs.

It broke Bullina’s heart to leave her babe at home. She kissed her baby’s shiny forehead before hurrying to her master’s house. Bullina was so proud of her creation she shared her joy with her master and mistress and their children. They surprised Bullina with a gift of a lace blanket the mistress had tatted by hand. Happily Bullina hurried home with her precious gift. Acrid smoke greeted her.

Babe had been very naughty while Bullina was away. The clockwork baby had broken Bullina’s kitchen table and set it ablaze. Quickly Bullina quelled the flames. Her hands were burnt but she was so grateful her baby was unharmed.

The next day it was Bullina’s bed that the nursemaid found burning. Then the dresser. Then the front door. Bullina found her baby hiding in her neighbor’s chicken coop. Bullina figured her babe was lonely. She decided to bring her baby to work.

To Bullina’s surprise they did not get along. The master’s children seemed shy around the stranger. Confused, her baby accidentally looked the master’s children in the wine cellar. The mistress recommended that Babe not return. Bullina knew what she had to do. Make another baby.

Bullina went back to the tinsmith for more supplies. The kindly tinsmith and his young daughter were concerned by the state of Bullina. Her bright smile had been replaced with worry lines and bags under her eyes. The nursemaid assured him she could match the perfect companion for her clockwork baby.

This creation was much harder than before. Babe wanted all of Bullina’s attention and when she would help Bullina build Babe was a butterfinger. Bullina would not give up. Night and day, she worked to create an unbreakable little sister.

One morning when the tinsmith’s daughter went out to collect the eggs she found Bullina collapsed upon their hearth. The tinsmith carried her inside. Thin and shivery, the nursemaid was feverish. Night and day, day and night, the tinsmith who was named Herald tended to her. Little Syll sang Bullina lullabies and brought her fresh flowers.

After many many days Bullina recovered but she would be delicate for all her remaining days. During her recovery Bullina and Herald grew to care for one another. They were married one fine summer day with a bouquet of flowers from Little Syll. As a wedding present, the master gave the new family a pouch of gold.

No one knows what became of the clockwork baby. When the villagers searched Bullina’s house, Babe and her lacy blanket were gone. Some say the clockwork baby wanders the forest looking for her mommy. Some say the baby waits for Bullina still. But that’s a story for another time.