Adventures of Prince Lazybones, and Other Stories

by Mrs. Molesworth

  CHAPTER III

  Again the summer-time had come, with all its warmth and beauty. Thefairies were thronging all the wildwood one lovely summer evening, whena tall, handsome lad, with light, quick tread and merry glancing eyes,entered the woods, followed by a red fox, and boldly shouted, "Florella!Florella!" making the woods ring with his voice.

  You would not have supposed that this could be the same boy whosesobbing aroused Florella's compassion--the poor, trembling littlecreature, spiritless and unhappy, who had hardly dared to say his namewas Florio. But so it was; and when he called so loudly in his cheeryvoice, Florella quickly came forth from the sweet-brier bush and stoodbefore him.

  Doffing the cap which covered his curly pate, and bending on one knee,Florio presented without words the small plant which he had guarded withthe utmost care.

  A look of gracious sweetness came into the fairy's face, and sheexamined the flowers with the eye of one accustomed to look at thingsclosely. Having assured herself that it was the desired plant, sheturned to her assistants and invited them to examine it also. All agreedthat it was the far-famed Edelweiss, and there was a great fluttering ofwings, and soft exclamations of delight and excited surprise, untilFlorella, with a gentle wave of her hand, commanded silence.

  "Now, young knight of our fair domain," she said, addressing Florio,"give me some account of your journeying, for not only have you done allthat I desired, but more: here are not only seeds, but flowers and root.I pray you be seated while I listen."

  Florio had learned to be mannerly, so with cap in hand he only leanedagainst a beech-tree, and began:

  "When you bade me depart with that dreadful old Fuss, dear lady, myheart failed me entirely, and I thought I should not be able to do yourbidding. So long had I been used to her cruel power that the thought ofopposing her filled me with alarm; but curiously enough the very night Ihastened from you to the miserable cavern we called home, a young foxfollowed me, and unknown to me slept by my side. When I awoke the witchwas preparing for her journey, for on her back and by her side shecarried bags of all shapes and sizes, with everything in them that coulddo mischief. In one was snuff, in another was pepper, and in a third wasmustard, and in all were flinty pebbles and bits of glass. Some ofthese were for people's eyes and some for their feet, and she had hardlyroom for the mouldly old crusts and pieces of cheese which furnished uswith food.

  "As soon as she saw the fox, which I was petting with delight, she madea pass at it with her stick, which I am sure would have killed it had Inot caught the blow. The little fellow sprang from my arms and bit herheel, which made her so very angry that I had to run for my life--but,strange to say, after that he was my only protection.

  "Although she bade me drown him, and although I, remembering yourcommands, disobeyed her, she did not dare come near me when I had him inmy arms. Day after day he followed me, night after night he slept besideme, and though I had fewer beatings, old Fuss watched me closely; sheseemed to know that I wanted to get away from her.

  "We toiled along on the roadsides, begging from house to house.

  "At last one day we came to a beautiful sheet of water, blue andsparkling in the sunshine. Everywhere I went I had gatheredflowers--sometimes they were only weeds, such as dandelions anddaisies, but here on the banks of this lovely lake I found the sweetestblossoms. From every one I had tried to learn the names of the plants,but it was a very difficult matter, for half the time they misunderstoodmy signs, and supposed I was only making game of them; besides, whenFuss came up with her horrible jargon, every one was so disgusted thathe would have nothing to do with me.

  "But every day I repeated as a lesson the one word 'Edelweiss,' andwhenever I had the chance I would say this to a stranger. Generally theytook no notice--sometimes they would smile, and point to themountain-peaks before us.

  "The day we reached the lake Fuss was in one of her ugliest moods: shehad not received a penny from any passer-by, and she had not been ableto make a young boatman quarrel with his companions, although she hadsprinkled pepper about until they were all sneezing as if they werecrazy. I was weary and disconsolate, sitting paddling in the water, andthe fox was not by me, having run after a rat that had crawled from thewreck of an old unused craft. Without a word of warning Fuss came upbehind me and gave me a push.

  "Over I went into the water, head and heels both submerged. Strangling,puffing, battling for my life, I rose to the surface. I had fallen justwhere the water was shallow, but where grasses and water-plants soentangled my feet that I could not swim, and should certainly have beendrowned had not one of the boatmen thrown me a rope and drawn me to theshore.

  "'Hang her!' 'Drown her for an old witch!' were the exclamations I heardfrom the rough by-standers, and also, 'Take her to the jail at Geneva.'This aroused me. Now I knew the name of the fine town towards which somany were wending their way.

  "'When you get to Geneva, Then you must leave her.'

  "Oh, joy! Then I need no longer follow my dreadful guide! And there werepeople about who spoke English.

  "As soon as I could discover who these English people were I madeinquiries of them, and found they were servants of some personstravelling in their own conveyance. Tattered and draggled and wet, Idared not do more than run after the carriage at a respectful distance,with my fox in my arms, and so fearful was I of being overtaken by oldFuss that I darted into the woods whenever a wayfarer approached. But myfears were needless, for so alarmed had the witch been at the threats ofthe boatmen that she disappeared suddenly. Some said they saw her flyingover the woods on a broomstick, with all her wretched rags and tagsfluttering behind her like the tail of a kite.

  "After this I toiled on, often hungry, always weary, but frequentlymeeting with kindness. I only wanted to find some place of shelter fromthe cold until the warm weather should return again, and I could renewmy search for your flower.

  "At last, one bitter day, striving to reach a convent where I had foundout they received poor people like myself, I fell, during a blindingstorm, and had neither the courage nor the wish to make the effort torise. Gradually a heavy sleep came on. I forgot my woes, and dreamed ofa garden of roses, among which floated brilliant butterflies and goldenbees.

  "I was aroused from this sleep by a barking and scratching, and theforcing open of my mouth to make me swallow some warm milk. A goatherdhad found me, and putting me on the back of his great dog, carried mehome. From that moment my troubles ended. Franz, the boy who found me,had a warm heart. His home became mine. I was ill, but all did what theycould to make my sufferings less. I had only the one word, 'Edelweiss,'at my command, and but the one hope--that of procuring the flower.

  "Christmas-day came. All were rejoicing, all were happy; but none couldappreciate my joy when the noble Franz put this plant in my possession,his Christmas gift to me. I recovered immediately, and happiness soinspired me that I learned their language, and was enabled to tell themmy story. All agreed that I must return to you, but must wait till I wasstrong for the journey. While with my friends I watched them carve theirbeautiful toys, some of which I have brought you, and learned to dotheir exquisite work myself. I also went often to the convent, andlearned much from the celebrated Father Glueckner about herbs andflowers. See; I have brought these packets of seeds, and a goodcollection of remarkable specimens. And all the time my little fox hasbeen my pet, my companion, my solace. Accept, then, dear lady, theseproofs of my obedience."

  So saying, Florio finished speaking. As he stopped, his cheeks flushedwith pleasant emotion, a nightingale poured forth a warbling stream ofmelody. The fairy drew her band around her and thus spoke:

  "Happy mortal, thus to have achieved success. Your faithfulness andcourage shall be well rewarded. Look! this is your home, this we haveprepared for you. Our emissary, the young fox, had warned us of yourapproach, and we have all in readiness."

  Saying this, she led the astonished Florio to a cottage of twisted vinesand roots, built by herself and her attendant elves. The walls werebri
lliant with innumerable glow-worms and fireflies, which sparkled likeliving gems; the floor was soft with scented rushes. Garlands of rosesfestooned the rooms, in one of which was a table filled with fruit.Smiling with glee, Florella watched her young friend's admiration, whichended in complete astonishment when from an adjoining apartment cameFranz and Rosa, the goatherd and his sister. His joy was now complete,but when he turned to thank Florella she was nowhere to be seen.

  Thus it came to pass that we know of the famous gardener and seedsmanFlorio, whose plants are of boundless celebrity, and whose cultivatedblossoms outrival the famous exotics of the world. In this forest helived, and raised from season to season every flower that grows. Nofrost seemed to touch them, no drought withered them, for Florella wastrue to her promise of reward, and in addition to giving Florio a home,gave him also health and wealth and fame.

  The elves were always on guard against moles and injurious worms, thefairies sprinkled the seeds and protected the young buds, and basking inthe sunshine outside the cottage door was always to be found Florio'spet, the red fox, whom Florella for a time had chosen to be hisguardian. Franz and Rosa also induced their family to leave the Alpinesnows for the beautiful land of flowers.

  BOREAS BLUSTER'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT

  "'_Tis an ill wind that blows no good_."