"The Jolly Miller" tells of a solitary miller who isolates himself, singing "I care for nobody... since nobody cares for me," until he rescues a baby girl, Nathalie, floating down the river. Raising her fills his life with love, and he changes his song to reflect their bond. When Nathalie grows up and marries the local Squire, the miller initially fears abandonment and reverts to his old tune. However, Nathalie reassures him of her enduring love, demonstrating the transformative power of connection, the importance of loving relationships over isolation, and the bittersweet nature of letting children grow while maintaining strong familial ties.

"The Jolly Miller" tells of a solitary miller who isolates himself, singing "I care for nobody... since nobody cares for me," until he rescues a baby girl, Nathalie, floating down the river. Raising her fills his life with love, and he changes his...

The Jolly Miller | L. Frank Baum Stories