Whistle Down the Wind

Whistle Down the Wind was a novella written by Mary Hayley Bell and illustrated by Ōven Edwards. It was published in 1958 by T.V. Boardman & Co. and retailed for 12 shillings and sixpence (62½p). The central characters are three children — Swallow, Brat and Poor Baby who are based on the author's own children Juliet, Hayley and Jonathan Mills. The story is narrated by Brat. Hayley Bell developed the concept for the story in the summer of 1957 in a gypsy caravan at the family's farm in Sussex. The story was filmed as Whistle Down the Wind (1961), starring the author's daughter, Hayley Mills in the lead role. Plot One day ten-year-old Brambling (nicknamed "Brat") and her seven year old brother Merlin ("Poor Baby") are told by their twelve-year-old sister Swallow that she and their five-year-old friend Elizabeth found a man hiding in a barn of the family farm who they believe to be Jesus Christ after taking his exclamation of "Jesus" literally when they asked who he was. The Man seemed feverish so the children take care of him sworn to secrecy fearing the adults would take him away.