Violet: A Fairy Story

by C. S. Guild

  Who will believe it?--she was the same kitten that followed Violet intothe wood about the time our story began, and wasn't old enough then tocatch a cricket or keep from drowning in the brook.

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  NARCISSA.

  While Violet sat on the doorstep wondering whether to please Alfred andhis father by going to live with them or to stay with her favorites inthe cottage, Narcissa came in sight.

  She was limping along with her crutches through the grass, and lookedvery pale and tired; for the walk from the wood to the cottage, whichwas nothing to Violet, was a great undertaking to the lame girl. Shenever walked as far in any other direction; but some how the path toViolet's seemed the smoothest and easiest.

  Shall I tell you why? Because the fairy Love went before her, picking upevery rough stone and bur or brier, and when the sun was hottest, shadedthe invalid with her delicate purple wings.

  Violet, too, had taught Narcissa how many pleasant things there are inthe world even for one who is sick. So, instead of fretting because theway was dusty and the sunshine hot, Narcissa looked up at the cool greenleaves which were fanning her, and watched along all the way to see whatbeautiful flowers the heat and light were opening. She, too, had learnedto love the cool song of the brook; to be glad--though she could notfollow them herself, poor cripple!--that the butterflies could flutterabout and drink honey from all the flowers, and the squirrels could dartaway with their nuts, and the birds go sailing and singing up into thefar blue sky.

  Her old fairy, Envy, was banished forever from Narcissa's heart, and inits place dwelt Violet's fairy, Love, and Contentment, Love's unfailingfriend.

  The moment these fairies came, her heart began to grow larger and purer;for it only takes a small soul to hold such a miserable little sprite asEnvy, who is so mean and poor that he makes every place poor into whichhe enters, though he looks fine enough in his cloak streaked withpurple, gold, and red, like the gaudiest of tulips.

  No wonder Narcissa was glad to make the exchange of friends; for Lovesoon taught her that the way to be happy is to forget all aboutourselves, and be glad whenever another is glad, no matter how humble athing. So when she watched the sunshine creep towards a flower that hadbeen waiting for it in the shade, or when she saw a young bird fly forthe first time, or, in frosty mornings that made her sick frame shiver,when she heard the nuts rattle down, and knew the frost had opened theirburs, and that the children would be glad, Narcissa's heart would be sofull of sympathy that I am not sure but she was the happiest of all.

  CHAPTER XXV.

  NEW PLANS.

  Violet saw Narcissa's white dress among the trees,--for the young elmsin the avenue had grown so high as to meet now overhead,--and ran out towelcome her.

  She helped the invalid into her house, brought her mother's easy chairout to the porch, and a footstool and fan, and last of all a littletable, upon which she placed fresh flowers and a new book that had beengiven her, and then hurried away to mix a cooling drink, of whichNarcissa was very fond.

  "How good you are, Violet," said Narcissa when she came back, "and howlittle I deserve so much from you! A toad just hopped over the step--thequeerest old fellow--looked as if he had been through a dozen wars, withhis one eye and a missing leg. I could have laughed, we were so muchalike; and yet I couldn't, for he made me think of that first day wecame to your father's house, and----"

  "O, yes," interrupted Violet; "and only think how much good has come to_us_ from that first visit--how comfortably we have lived eversince!--your father was so kind."

  "But _I_ wasn't kind," said Narcissa, looking very sorrowful; "I did younothing but harm; and think what you have done for me."

  "Brought you a chair and a fan," laughed Violet; "wonderful deeds!"

  "You may laugh if you will," answered the lady; "but I would not givewhat I have gained from you in exchange for a hundred times what I everhad before. My beauty only made me vexed if I was not admired; my healthand strength made me restless, kept me always in search of what I couldnot find nor buy. Beauty, and health, and money are good for nothing bythemselves. O Violet, you have given health and beauty to my _heart_,and now I am rich and happy because no living thing can be glad but Igrow richer by sharing its joy--those cool cloud shadows flickering overthe grass--this sweetness the air has caught from your violet beds; andlook how that humming bird enjoys the dew and honey he is drinking outof the roses, hanging among them by his long, slim bill; I can almosttaste it with him as clearly as I smell the odor he shakes from theroses with his glittering wings; and I feel, too, the coolness theshadows must bring to the heated grass. For all of this, my friend, Ithank you constantly."

  Violet was not fond of hearing herself praised; she thought it pleasureenough to help any one; so she changed the subject by offering Narcissasome more of the refreshing drink. She answered,--

  "Not now, I thank you; but pray where do you buy this cordial?--it is somuch pleasanter to me than the rich wines we have at home, which alwaysmake me sick."

  When Violet told how she had made the cordial herself from wildraspberries of her own picking, had pressed the juice out with her ownwhite hands, and that the same hands had made the light biscuit shebrought with it, and arranged the tasteful bouquet, and nailed up theluxuriant rosebushes, Narcissa was quite enchanted, and wished she couldlive as independently herself.

  "O," she said, "I am so tired of the noise and confusion at home, and somany new faces, such rich food. If I could live here, Violet, with you!"

  "Why not make me a visit? and if you are contented with my simple fare,I shall be very glad to have you stay as long as you will. We might havebeautiful times together."

  "Are you in earnest?" asked Narcissa, eagerly. "I shall be so happy andso independent here! and I won't be in the way either, for you shallteach me to work, and I can paint, and draw, and play on the piano, andread ever so many languages. All these I will teach you." She smiled,and Violet asked why.

  "I was thinking that the accomplishment of which I was proudest oncemust be taught by some one else."

  "Why?"

  "Every one praised my dancing; but how in the world could I teach youwith my wooden leg? I will learn of you to work, to help others, to findout the best things in books, and the most beautiful things every where.Why, we shall be like two fairy queens in our little cottage palace."

  Narcissa's father, instead of objecting to this plan, was very muchpleased with it--said the change would be better than any medicine forthe invalid.

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  SPRING AT THE COTTAGE.

  Love and Contentment waved their bright wings now; for the two friendsbecame so fond of each other they were not contented apart. Narcissaeven grew beautiful again, there was such a peaceful smile upon herface, and such an earnest, loving look within her eyes.

  It was a real pleasure for Violet to comfort and amuse this friend, fromwhom she was constantly learning some new thing.

  Narcissa painted beautifully, and Violet would bring her the freshestand loveliest flowers to copy; so there was hardly a blossom or a greenleaf in the neighborhood, from April to November, but you could find italmost living again in their portfolio.

  They would watch the birds too, find out all their names, and theirdifferent notes, and how they fed and taught their young; and Violetworked in her garden more than ever now, because Narcissa's maid tookcare of the cottage, and kept it as neat as even its mistress wished.

  She had the lawn before the house enclosed in a border shaped like thehalf of a great ring, and this was planted full of snowdrops, whichblossom quite early, you know, and are very delicate and beautiful. Itwas like a ring of living pearls; and when these wilted, odors began tosteal towards the cottage door, which tempted Violet to look underanother border thick with green leaves, and there would be more violetsthan you could count; so the pearl ring changed to one of emerald andamethyst.

  Meantime the sweetbrier by the doorway would begin to have pale greenbuds on its brown stem
s, and the honeysuckle and bitter-sweet came forthin fresh green shoots, until there were so many new, tender, fragrantleaves, and buds, and blossoms that the birds were sure to select it asthe place for their nests.

  Narcissa loved to watch them while Violet was busy with her work. Aflock of robins would settle upon the plum tree in the garden, peck atthe gum, and dig insect eggs out from the bark, and then fly awaytowards the wood, singing all together; but soon two would steal back tothe plum tree, and chirp and twitter to each other, and look at thecottage, and then at the wood, and then at the thickest boughs of theplum.

  Presently both would fly together towards the house, one settling on thesweetbrier, and one on the roof, and then on the chimney, and then hopalong the porch, and then back both would go to have another talk in theplum tree, and then fly off to find their brothers and sisters in thewood.

  But sure as another morning came, back would come the birds too, lookingwith their little bright eyes all about the cottage, and always settlingat last on that one sweetbrier branch.

  Then they would begin to bring straws and hair, which they wove togetherinto a soft little nest, working away as busy and happy as birds couldbe, now and then going back to the plum tree, as if from a distance toadmire their tiny home.

  Before very long, looking out of the cottage window, you might find thenest full of little cunning eggs; but you could not see these often, forthe birds kept them almost constantly sheltered with their own warmbreasts, waiting until the little things within should grow strongenough to break and creep out of their shells.

  All this time the father bird would bring the mother food--bring herripe cherries, seeds, buds, and worms; and sometimes he would take herplace, letting her fly away for a look at the woods, or a drink from thesparkling brook.

  But some bright morning you would hear the old birds twittering sojoyfully, you might know something had come to pass; and the first timethey flew away, if you looked from the window again, there would be,instead of the eggs, a little heap of the homeliest things in the world,with great eyes, and great legs and claws, and long red necks, andmouths half as large as the bodies, gaping at you--not a feather to beseen except a little down, like whiskers, about their ears.

  Birds grow very fast; you would be surprised to find how soon they beganto fill, and more than fill, the nest, until some morning one afteranother would hop out among the sweetbrier stems, and show you theirglossy backs and speckled breasts, while the old birds watched so proudand happy, and began teaching them to fly and to sing.

  One morning towards the last of May, when Violet was in the gardentransplanting her forget-me-nots, and Narcissa, in the porch, satwatching her, enjoying the cool, fresh air, the new life that buddedforth from every thing, and the freedom and joy of the golden orioles asthey flashed in and out among the elm boughs, and twittered forth theirwild and plaintive melodies, her attention was caught by a stir andfluttering in the sweetbrier, and then a song from the larch treeopposite. These sounds came from two yellow birds, a mother and herlittle one. The young one would go, "Twe-te-twee," timidly and sweetly,with such a tired tremble at the end; then forth poured the old bird aclear, connected strain, half repeated it, and then paused; and thelittle sweet voice came again, "Pee-te-wee--pee-te-wee--twee-te-wee."It was too cunning, and the old bird took up the trembling,broken strain so clearly, with such ease, "Twitter, witter,witter--wee-te-twee-te-twee--twitter, witter, witter"--"Wee-te-twee,"ended the young one, with that same little tremble in the midst, thesame baby sweetness, just such as in a child would make you snatch it upand kiss it--"twee-te-wee." Narcissa wondered if there could have beenmore exquisite music in paradise.

  CHAPTER XXVII.

  VIOLET'S SCHOLARS.

  Violet still had her little school of Narcissa's brothers and sisters;but she was so gentle and patient that study was never very hard tothem, though the lessons might be long; and then at recess time the boyswould go out and pick cherries, or apples, or plums, from the garden,bring them in on fresh green leaves, and they would all sit in the porchand have a little feast together.

  Saturday afternoons they would take a walk in the woods; and Violettaught them how to weave oak leaves into crowns, and to make necklacesout of dandelion stems and lilac flowers, and baskets of rushes.

  They always took something home to Narcissa, who could not enjoy longwalks because of her lameness. One would pick up a pocket full ofcheckerberries, and one a handful of the young, spicy leaves; and theprettiest branch of hawthorn, the longest-stemmed violets, thelargest-leaved bough of oak, were sure to go home for her.

  When it grew late in the year, they had such sport gathering chestnuts,hazelnuts, and shagbarks; the boys climbed the trees, and shook or beatthem with long poles, and down the nuts would come rattling by basketsfull. These were stored away in the cottage; for they all knew that whatViolet kept for them was safe.

  When they came near the cottage again after one of these excursions,looking so bright, with their rosy cheeks, and flying hair, and laughingfaces, Narcissa's smiling face was always at the window watching, andquickly appeared at the door to welcome them. Sometimes they all wenthome crowned with autumn leaves, sometimes with woodbine or ground pine,and early in spring with bloodroots, violets, or anemones.

  But the prettiest crown, and the rarest flower, and the juiciest bunchof berries were always for Narcissa.

  In stormy days, or when the ground was covered with snow, Violet stillmade the holidays pleasant for her scholars; they would play games andsing in the afternoon. She would teach the girls how to dress theirdolls, and the boys how to make pasteboard boxes and kites, and how toput puzzles together. Then at evening they would gather around thefireplace, with Narcissa's great chair in the midst of the circle, andshe or Violet would tell stories for hours together.

  One of these stories Narcissa liked so much that she wrote it down, andafter Violet was dead,--for, like the snowdrops and wild roses, ourViolet died at last,--she read it to me. I will try and remember it foryou; but first I must tell what sorrow there was in the great house onthe hill, and not there only, but among all the poor in theneighborhood, when Violet went to heaven.

  Under the elm tree they buried her, beside Mary and Reuben; and theorioles she loved to watch still hatch their young and sing sweet songsabove her grave.

  Alfred wanted to build a great marble monument over her; for he said thewhole world did not contain a better or lovelier woman. But Narcissasaid,--

  "No; she has built her own monument of good deeds, which will last aftermarble has mouldered away. Let us cover her grave with her own sweetviolets, that whenever we pass we may think of _our_ Violet."

  Long afterwards, even to this day, when any who knew her witness a kindaction, or meet one with a cheerful, hopeful spirit, and a sunny smile,they say, "It is just like Violet."

  So, dear children, let us try to make friends with her fairies, Love andContentment, and let us remember that whenever the thought of her urges_us_ to be cheerful, contented, and loving, we, too, shall plant aflower on Violet's grave.

  VIOLET'S STORY.

  CHAPTER I.

  It was a snowy night, and the children, as we gathered around the fire,began to ask for stories. I told them a queer dream of my own, and thenthey insisted that Violet should give one of her fairy tales.

  While she was puzzling her brain for a new one, my little sister Mabel,who had climbed upon the sofa and was nestling close to her, asked,--

  "What makes you love violets so much? Here even in winter time you havesome in your bosom. Aren't you sweeter than these little homely things?"

  "Narcissa," she answered, "has told a dream, and now I will tell one.It's a kind of fairy story besides, and partly true. You must not askany questions about the little girl, or make any guesses. Her namehappened to be just like yours, Mabel."

  "Little girl! I thought 'twas a _dream_," said Mabel.

  MABEL'S DREAM.]

  "Listen, then: A little girl went out one day in search o
f strawberries.She went into a wide green field that was starred all over withdandelions, and clusters of wild lilies hanging like bells around theirstems, and violets, and blue-eyed grass.

  "There was not a living being in this place except the birds, and littlefishes in the brook; for through the long grass all around the field rana stream of clearest water over a dark-brown, pebbly bed.

  "Rising on every side, so as to shut the field in by itself, were hillsclosely covered with trees and vines. Here birds sang all day long, andflowers bloomed, and nuts and berries ripened; the ground was in someplaces slippery with fallen pine leaves, and in others soft with acarpet of fresh moss.

  "It was shady in these woods, but in the field the sun shone, opened thelilies, ripened the strawberries, and made the little girl feel brightand glad, although it was so warm.

  "Strawberries are tiny things to pick; the little girl thought it wouldtake a million to fill her pail; and often she longed to leave them andgather flowers, or play with the fish in the brook, or rest in the coolwood.

  "But she had always loved violets, just as I love them; and a gardener'swife had promised Mabel that the first time she brought a pail full ofstrawberries to her, she should have in return a whole bunch of thesefragrant flowers.

  "So, stooping among the lilies, which were almost as tall as herself,and picking one by one, one by one, the bright sun pouring its heat downupon her, after a great while her pail was heaped with berries. Almostas fragrant as violets they were, too, and looked, upon their long greenstems, like little drops of coral.