Arthur Machen

The Happy Children is a haunting story by Arthur Machen, published in 1920. After Christmas 1915, a journalist stops in Banwick, a town steeped in medieval atmosphere. Fascinated by the beauty of the place, he wanders through the narrow, winding streets, where he is surprised to find numerous children laughing, singing, and dancing merrily. His bewilderment increases as he finds that even as night falls and darkness envelops the village, children are still on the streets. While exploring this enigmatic setting, the journalist witnesses a strange procession heading to an ancient church on the hill. This experience will be far more disturbing than he ever imagined.