LILY-BELL AND THISTLEDOWN.
ONCE upon a time, two little Fairies went out into the world, toseek their fortune. Thistledown was as gay and gallant a little Elfas ever spread a wing. His purple mantle, and doublet of green, wereembroidered with the brightest threads, and the plume in his capcame always from the wing of the gayest butterfly.
But he was not loved in Fairy-Land, for, like the flower whosename and colors he wore, though fair to look upon, many were thelittle thorns of cruelty and selfishness that lay concealed by hisgay mantle. Many a gentle flower and harmless bird died by his hand,for he cared for himself alone, and whatever gave him pleasure mustbe his, though happy hearts were rendered sad, and peaceful homesdestroyed.
Such was Thistledown; but far different was his little friend,Lily-Bell. Kind, compassionate, and loving, wherever her gentle facewas seen, joy and gratitude were found; no suffering flower or insect,that did not love and bless the kindly Fairy; and thus all Elf-Landlooked upon her as a friend.
Nor did this make her vain and heedless of others; she humbly dweltamong them, seeking to do all the good she might; and many a houselessbird and hungry insect that Thistledown had harmed did she feed andshelter, and in return no evil could befall her, for so manyfriends were all about her, seeking to repay her tenderness and loveby their watchful care.
She would not now have left Fairy-Land, but to help and counsel herwild companion, Thistledown, who, discontented with his quiet home,WOULD seek his fortune in the great world, and she feared he wouldsuffer from his own faults for others would not always be as gentleand forgiving as his kindred. So the kind little Fairy left her homeand friends to go with him; and thus, side by side, they flew beneaththe bright summer sky.
On and on, over hill and valley, they went, chasing the gaybutterflies, or listening to the bees, as they flew from flower toflower like busy little housewives, singing as they worked; tillat last they reached a pleasant garden, filled with flowers and green,old trees.
"See," cried Thistledown, "what a lovely home is here; let us restamong the cool leaves, and hear the flowers sing, for I am sadly tiredand hungry."
So into the quiet garden they went, and the winds gayly welcomed them,while the flowers nodded on their stems, offering their bright leavesfor the Elves to rest upon, and fresh, sweet honey to refresh them.
"Now, dear Thistle, do not harm these friendly blossoms," saidLily-Bell; "see how kindly they spread their leaves, and offer ustheir dew. It would be very wrong in you to repay their care withcruelty and pain. You will be tender for my sake, dear Thistle."
Then she went among the flowers, and they bent lovingly before her,and laid their soft leaves against her little face, that she might seehow glad they were to welcome one so good and gentle, and kindlyoffered their dew and honey to the weary little Fairy, who sat amongtheir fragrant petals and looked smilingly on the happy blossoms, who,with their soft, low voices, sang her to sleep.
While Lily-Bell lay dreaming among the rose-leaves, Thistledown wentwandering through the garden. First he robbed the bees of theirhoney, and rudely shook the little flowers, that he might get the dewthey had gathered to bathe their buds in. Then he chased the brightwinged flies, and wounded them with the sharp thorn he carried for asword; he broke the spider's shining webs, lamed the birds, and soonwherever he passed lay wounded insects and drooping flowers; whilethe winds carried the tidings over the garden, and bird and blossomlooked upon him as an evil spirit, and fled away or closed theirleaves, lest he should harm them.
Thus he went, leaving sorrow and pain behind him, till he came to theroses where Lily-Bell lay sleeping. There, weary of his cruel sport,he stayed to rest beneath a graceful rose-tree, where grew oneblooming flower and a tiny bud.
"Why are you so slow in blooming, little one? You are too old to berocked in your green cradle longer, and should be out among yoursister flowers," said Thistle, as he lay idly in the shadow of thetree.
"My little bud is not yet strong enough to venture forth," replied therose, as she bent fondly over it; "the sunlight and the rain wouldblight her tender form, were she to blossom now, but soon she will befit to bear them; till then she is content to rest beside her mother,and to wait."
"You silly flower," said Thistledown, "see how quickly I will make youbloom! your waiting is all useless." And speaking thus, he pulledrudely apart the folded leaves, and laid them open to the sun and air;while the rose mother implored the cruel Fairy to leave her little buduntouched.
"It is my first, my only one," said she, "and I have watched over itwith such care, hoping it would soon bloom beside me; and now you havedestroyed it. How could you harm the little helpless one, that neverdid aught to injure you?" And while her tears fell like summer rain,she drooped in grief above the little bud, and sadly watched it fadingin the sunlight; but Thistledown, heedless of the sorrow he had given,spread his wings and flew away.
Soon the sky grew dark, and heavy drops began to fall. Then Thistlehastened to the lily, for her cup was deep, and the white leavesfell like curtains over the fragrant bed; he was a dainty little Elf,and could not sleep among the clovers and bright buttercups. Butwhen he asked the flower to unfold her leaves and take him in, sheturned her pale, soft face away, and answered sadly, "I must shield mylittle drooping sisters whom you have harmed, and cannot let you in."
Then Thistledown was very angry, and turned to find shelter among thestately roses; but they showed their sharp thorns, and, while theirrosy faces glowed with anger, told him to begone, or they would repayhim for the wrong he had done their gentle kindred.
He would have stayed to harm them, but the rain fell fast, and hehurried away, saying, "The tulips will take me in, for I have praisedtheir beauty, and they are vain and foolish flowers."
But when he came, all wet and cold, praying for shelter among theirthick leaves, they only laughed and said scornfully, "We know you,and will not let you in, for you are false and cruel, and willonly bring us sorrow. You need not come to us for another mantle,when the rain has spoilt your fine one; and do not stay here, orwe will do you harm."
Then they waved their broad leaves stormily, and scattered the heavydrops on his dripping garments.
"Now must I go to the humble daisies and blue violets," said Thistle,"they will be glad to let in so fine a Fairy, and I shall die inthis cold wind and rain."
So away he flew, as fast as his heavy wings would bear him, to thedaisies; but they nodded their heads wisely, and closed their leavesyet closer, saying sharply,--
"Go away with yourself, and do not imagine we will open our leavesto you, and spoil our seeds by letting in the rain. It serves yourightly; to gain our love and confidence, and repay it by suchcruelty! You will find no shelter here for one whose careless handwounded our little friend Violet, and broke the truest heart that everbeat in a flower's breast. We are very angry with you, wicked Fairy;go away and hide yourself."
"Ah," cried the shivering Elf, "where can I find shelter? I will goto the violets: they will forgive and take me in."
But the daisies had spoken truly; the gentle little flower was dead,and her blue-eyed sisters were weeping bitterly over her faded leaves.
"Now I have no friends," sighed poor Thistledown, "and must die ofcold. Ah, if I had but minded Lily-Bell, I might now be dreamingbeneath some flower's leaves."
"Others can forgive and love, beside Lily-Bell and Violet," saida faint, sweet voice; "I have no little bud to shelter now, and youcan enter here." It was the rose mother that spoke, and Thistle sawhow pale the bright leaves had grown, and how the slender stem wasbowed. Grieved, ashamed, and wondering at the flower's forgivingwords, he laid his weary head on the bosom he had filled with sorrow,and the fragrant leaves were folded carefully about him.
But he could find no rest. The rose strove to comfort him; but whenshe fancied he was sleeping, thoughts of her lost bud stole in, andthe little heart beat so sadly where he lay, that no sleep came; whilethe bitter tears he had caused to flow
fell more coldly on him thanthe rain without. Then he heard the other flowers whispering amongthemselves of his cruelty, and the sorrow he had brought to theirhappy home; and many wondered how the rose, who had suffered most,could yet forgive and shelter him.
"Never could I forgive one who had robbed me of my children. I couldbow my head and die, but could give no happiness to one who had takenall my own," said Hyacinth, bending fondly over the little ones thatblossomed by her side.
"Dear Violet is not the only one who will leave us," sobbed littleMignonette; "the rose mother will fade like her little bud, and weshall lose our gentlest teacher. Her last lesson is forgiveness;let us show our love for her, and the gentle stranger Lily-Bell,by allowing no unkind word or thought of him who has brought us allthis grief."
The angry words were hushed, and through the long night nothing washeard but the dropping of the rain, and the low sighs of the rose.
Soon the sunlight came again, and with it Lily-Bell seeking forThistledown; but he was ashamed, and stole away.
When the flowers told their sorrow to kind-hearted Lily-Bell, she weptbitterly at the pain her friend had given, and with loving wordsstrove to comfort those whom he had grieved; with gentle care shehealed the wounded birds, and watched above the flowers he had harmed,bringing each day dew and sunlight to refresh and strengthen, till allwere well again; and though sorrowing for their dead friends, stillthey forgave Thistle for the sake of her who had done so much forthem. Thus, erelong, buds fairer than that she had lost lay on therose mother's breast, and for all she had suffered she was well repaidby the love of Lily-Bell and her sister flowers.
And when bird, bee, and blossom were strong and fair again, the gentleFairy said farewell, and flew away to seek her friend, leaving behindmany grateful hearts, who owed their joy and life to her.
Meanwhile, over hill and dale went Thistledown, and for a time waskind and gentle to every living thing. He missed sadly the littlefriend who had left her happy home to watch over him, but he wastoo proud to own his fault, and so went on, hoping she would find him.
One day he fell asleep, and when he woke the sun had set, and the dewbegan to fall; the flower-cups were closed, and he had nowhere to go,till a friendly little bee, belated by his heavy load of honey, bidthe weary Fairy come with him.
"Help me to bear my honey home, and you can stay with us tonight,"he kindly said.
So Thistle gladly went with him, and soon they came to a pleasantgarden, where among the fairest flowers stood the hive, covered withvines and overhung with blossoming trees. Glow-worms stood at thedoor to light them home, and as they passed in, the Fairy thought howcharming it must be to dwell in such a lovely place. The floor of waxwas pure and white as marble, while the walls were formed of goldenhoney-comb, and the air was fragrant with the breath of flowers.
"You cannot see our Queen to-night," said the little bee, "butI will show you to a bed where you can rest."
And he led the tired Fairy to a little cell, where on a bed offlower-leaves he folded his wings and fell asleep.
As the first ray of sunlight stole in, he was awakened by sweet music.It was the morning song of the bees.
"Awake! awake! for the earliest gleam Of golden sunlight shines On the rippling waves, that brightly flow Beneath the flowering vines. Awake! awake! for the low, sweet chant Of the wild-birds' morning hymn Comes floating by on the fragrant air, Through the forest cool and dim; Then spread each wing, And work, and sing, Through the long, bright sunny hours; O'er the pleasant earth We journey forth, For a day among the flowers.
"Awake! awake! for the summer wind Hath bidden the blossoms unclose, Hath opened the violet's soft blue eye, And wakened the sleeping rose. And lightly they wave on their slender stems Fragrant, and fresh, and fair, Waiting for us, as we singing come To gather our honey-dew there. Then spread each wing, And work, and sing, Through the long, bright sunny hours; O'er the pleasant earth We journey forth, For a day among the flowers!"
Soon his friend came to bid him rise, as the Queen desired to speakwith him. So, with his purple mantle thrown gracefully over hisshoulder, and his little cap held respectfully in his hand, hefollowed Nimble-Wing to the great hall, where the Queen was beingserved by her little pages. Some bore her fresh dew and honey, somefanned her with fragrant flower-leaves, while others scattered thesweetest perfumes on the air.
"Little Fairy," said the Queen, "you are welcome to my palace; andwe will gladly have you stay with us, if you will obey our laws.We do not spend the pleasant summer days in idleness and pleasure, buteach one labors for the happiness and good of all. If our home isbeautiful, we have made it so by industry; and here, as one large,loving family, we dwell; no sorrow, care, or discord can enter in,while all obey the voice of her who seeks to be a wise and gentleQueen to them. If you will stay with us, we will teach you manythings. Order, patience, industry, who can teach so well as theywho are the emblems of these virtues?
"Our laws are few and simple. You must each day gather your share ofhoney, see that your cell is sweet and fresh, as you yourself must be;rise with the sun, and with him to sleep. You must harm no flower indoing your work, nor take more than your just share of honey; for theyso kindly give us food, it were most cruel to treat them with aughtsave gentleness and gratitude. Now will you stay with us, and learnwhat even mortals seek to know, that labor brings true happiness?"
And Thistle said he would stay and dwell with them; for he was tiredof wandering alone, and thought he might live here till Lily-Bellshould come, or till he was weary of the kind-hearted bees. Then theytook away his gay garments, and dressed him like themselves, in theblack velvet cloak with golden bands across his breast.
"Now come with us," they said. So forth into the green fieldsthey went, and made their breakfast among the dewy flowers; and thentill the sun set they flew from bud to blossom, singing as they went;and Thistle for a while was happier than when breaking flowers andharming gentle birds.
But he soon grew tired of working all day in the sun, and longed to befree again. He could find no pleasure with the industrious bees, andsighed to be away with his idle friends, the butterflies; so while theothers worked he slept or played, and then, in haste to get his share,he tore the flowers, and took all they had saved for their own food.Nor was this all; he told such pleasant tales of the life he ledbefore he came to live with them, that many grew unhappy anddiscontented, and they who had before wished no greater joy thanthe love and praise of their kind Queen, now disobeyed and blamed herfor all she had done for them.
Long she bore with their unkind words and deeds; and when at lengthshe found it was the ungrateful Fairy who had wrought this trouble inher quiet kingdom, she strove, with sweet, forgiving words, to showhim all the wrong he had done; but he would not listen, and still wenton destroying the happiness of those who had done so much for him.
Then, when she saw that no kindness could touch his heart, she said:--
"Thistledown, we took you in, a friendless stranger, fed and clothedyou, and made our home as pleasant to you as we could; and in returnfor all our care, you have brought discontent and trouble to mysubjects, grief and care to me. I cannot let my peaceful kingdombe disturbed by you; therefore go and seek another home. You may findother friends, but none will love you more than we, had you beenworthy of it; so farewell." And the doors of the once happy homehe had disturbed were closed behind him.
Then he was very angry, and determined to bring some great sorrow onthe good Queen. So he sought out the idle, wilful bees, whom he hadfirst made discontented, bidding them follow him, and win the honeythe Queen had stored up for the winter.
"Let us feast and make merry in the pleasant summer-time," saidThistle; "winter is far off, why should we waste these lovely days,toiling to lay up the food we might enjoy now. Come, we will takewhat we have made, and think no more of what the Queen has said."
After many wanderings, he came at length to a great forest, and herebeside a still lake he stayed to rest. Delicate wood-flowers grew nearhim in the deep green moss, with drooping heads, as if they listenedto the soft wind singing among the pines. Bright-eyed birds peepedat him from their nests, and many-colored insects danced above thecool, still lake.
"This is a pleasant place," said Thistle; "it shall be my home for awhile. Come hither, blue dragon-fly, I would gladly make a friend ofyou, for I am all alone."
The dragon-fly folded his shining wings beside the Elf, listened tothe tale he told, promised to befriend the lonely one, and stroveto make the forest a happy home to him.
So here dwelt Thistle, and many kind friends gathered round him,for he spoke gently to them, and they knew nothing of the cruel deedshe had done; and for a while he was happy and content. But at lengthhe grew weary of the gentle birds, and wild-flowers, and sought newpleasure in destroying the beauty he was tired of; and soon thefriends who had so kindly welcomed him looked upon him as an evilspirit, and shrunk away as he approached.
At length his friend the dragon-fly besought him to leave the quiethome he had disturbed. Then Thistle was very angry, and while thedragon-fly was sleeping among the flowers that hung over the lake, heled an ugly spider to the spot, and bade him weave his nets about thesleeping insect, and bind him fast. The cruel spider gladly obeyedthe ungrateful Fairy; and soon the poor fly could move neither leg norwing. Then Thistle flew away through the wood, leaving sorrow andtrouble behind him.
He had not journeyed far before he grew weary, and lay down to rest.Long he slept, and when he awoke, and tried to rise, his hands andwings were bound; while beside him stood two strange little figures,with dark faces and garments, that rustled like withered leaves; whocried to him, as he struggled to get free,--
"Lie still, you naughty Fairy, you are in the Brownies' power, andshall be well punished for your cruelty ere we let you go."
So poor Thistle lay sorrowfully, wondering what would come of it,and wishing Lily-Bell would come to help and comfort him; but he hadleft her, and she could not help him now.
Soon a troop of Brownies came rustling through the air, and gatheredround him, while one who wore an acorn-cup on his head, and was theirKing, said, as he stood beside the trembling Fairy,--
"You have done many cruel things, and caused much sorrow to happyhearts; now you are in my power, and I shall keep you prisonertill you have repented. You cannot dwell on the earth without harmingthe fair things given you to enjoy, so you shall live alone insolitude and darkness, till you have learned to find happiness ingentle deeds, and forget yourself in giving joy to others. When youhave learned this, I will set you free."
Then the Brownies bore him to a high, dark rock, and, entering alittle door, led him to a small cell, dimly lighted by a crevicethrough which came a single gleam of sunlight; and there, throughlong, long days, poor Thistle sat alone, and gazed with wistful eyesat the little opening, longing to be out on the green earth. No onecame to him, but the silent Brownies who brought his daily food; andwith bitter tears he wept for Lily-Bell, mourning his cruelty andselfishness, seeking to do some kindly deed that might atone for hiswrong-doing.
A little vine that grew outside his prison rock came creeping up,and looked in through the crevice, as if to cheer the lonely Fairy,who welcomed it most gladly, and daily sprinkled its soft leaveswith his small share of water, that the little vine might live,even if it darkened more and more his dim cell.
The watchful Brownies saw this kind deed, and brought him freshflowers, and many things, which Thistle gratefully received, thoughhe never knew it was his kindness to the vine that gained for himthese pleasures.
Thus did poor Thistle strive to be more gentle and unselfish, andgrew daily happier and better.
Now while Thistledown was a captive in the lonely cell, Lily-Bell wasseeking him far and wide, and sadly traced him by the sorrowing heartshe had left behind.
She healed the drooping flowers, cheered the Queen Bee's grief,brought back her discontented subjects, restored the home to peaceand order, and left them blessing her.
Thus she journeyed on, till she reached the forest where Thistledownhad lost his freedom. She unbound the starving dragon-fly, and tendedthe wounded birds; but though all learned to love her, none could tellwhere the Brownies had borne her friend, till a little wind camewhispering by, and told her that a sweet voice had been heard, singingFairy songs, deep in a moss-grown rock.
Then Lily-Bell went seeking through the forest, listening for thevoice. Long she looked and listened in vain; when one day, as she waswandering through a lonely dell, she heard a faint, low sound ofmusic, and soon a distant voice mournfully singing,--
"Bright shines the summer sun, Soft is the summer air; Gayly the wood-birds sing, Flowers are blooming fair.
"But, deep in the dark, cold rock, Sadly I dwell, Longing for thee, dear friend, Lily-Bell! Lily-Bell!"
"Thistle, dear Thistle, where are you?" joyfully cried Lily-Bell,as she flew from rock to rock. But the voice was still, and shewould have looked in vain, had she not seen a little vine, whose greenleaves fluttering to and fro seemed beckoning her to come; and as shestood among its flowers she sang,--
"Through sunlight and summer air I have sought for thee long, Guided by birds and flowers, And now by thy song.
"Thistledown! Thistledown! O'er hill and dell Hither to comfort thee Comes Lily-Bell."
Then from the vine-leaves two little arms were stretched out to her,and Thistledown was found. So Lily-Bell made her home in the shadowof the vine, and brought such joy to Thistle, that his lonely cellseemed pleasanter to him than all the world beside; and he grew dailymore like his gentle friend. But it did not last long, for one dayshe did not come. He watched and waited long, for the little facethat used to peep smiling in through the vine-leaves. He called andbeckoned through the narrow opening, but no Lily-Bell answered; andhe wept sadly as he thought of all she had done for him, and that nowhe could not go to seek and help her, for he had lost his freedomby his own cruel and wicked deeds.
At last he besought the silent Brownie earnestly to tell himwhither she had gone.
"O let me go to her," prayed Thistle; "if she is in sorrow, I willcomfort her, and show my gratitude for all she has done for me: dearBrownie, set me free, and when she is found I will come and be yourprisoner again. I will bear and suffer any danger for her sake."
"Lily-Bell is safe," replied the Brownie; "come, you shall learnthe trial that awaits you."
Then he led the wondering Fairy from his prison, to a group of tall,drooping ferns, beneath whose shade a large white lily had beenplaced, forming a little tent, within which, on a couch of thick greenmoss, lay Lily-Bell in a deep sleep; the sunlight stole softly in,and all was cool and still.
"You cannot wake her," said the Brownie, as Thistle folded his armstenderly about her. "It is a magic slumber, and she will not waketill you shall bring hither gifts from the Earth, Air, and WaterSpirits. 'T is a long and weary task, for you have made no friendsto help you, and will have to seek for them alone. This is the trialwe shall give you; and if your love for Lily-Bell be strong enoughto keep you from all cruelty and selfishness, and make you kind andloving as you should be, she will awake to welcome you, and love youstill more fondly than before."
Then Thistle, with a last look on the little friend he loved so well,set forth alone to his long task.
The home of the Earth Spirits was the first to find, and no onewould tell him where to look. So far and wide he wandered, throughgloomy forests and among lonely hills, with none to cheer him whensad and weary, none to guide him on his way.
On he went, th
inking of Lily-Bell, and for her sake bearing all;for in his quiet prison many gentle feelings and kindly thoughts hadsprung up in his heart, and he now strove to be friends with all, andwin for himself the love and confidence of those whom once he soughtto harm and cruelly destroy.
But few believed him; for they remembered his false promises andevil deeds, and would not trust him now; so poor Thistle found fewto love or care for him.
Long he wandered, and carefully he sought; but could not find theEarth Spirits' home. And when at length he reached the pleasantgarden where he and Lily-Bell first parted, he said within himself,--
"Here I will stay awhile, and try to win by kindly deeds the flowers'forgiveness for the pain and sorrow I brought them long ago; and theymay learn to love and trust me. So, even if I never find the Spirits,I shall be worthier of Lily-Bell's affection if I strive to atone forthe wrong I have done."
Then he went among the flowers, but they closed their leaves, andshrank away, trembling with fear; while the birds fled to hideamong the leaves as he passed.
This grieved poor Thistle, and he longed to tell them how changedhe had become; but they would not listen. So he tried to show, byquiet deeds of kindness, that he meant no harm to them; and soonthe kind-hearted birds pitied the lonely Fairy, and when he came nearsang cheering songs, and dropped ripe berries in his path, for heno longer broke their eggs, or hurt their little ones.
And when the flowers saw this, and found the once cruel Elf nowwatering and tending little buds, feeding hungry insects, andhelping the busy ants to bear their heavy loads, they shared the pityof the birds, and longed to trust him; but they dared not yet.
He came one day, while wandering through the garden, to the littlerose he had once harmed so sadly. Many buds now bloomed beside her,and her soft face glowed with motherly pride, as she bent fondly overthem. But when Thistle came, he saw with sorrow how she bade themclose their green curtains, and conceal themselves beneath the leaves,for there was danger near; and, drooping still more closely over them,she seemed to wait with trembling fear the cruel Fairy's coming.
But no rude hand tore her little ones away, no unkind words werespoken; but a soft shower of dew fell lightly on them, and Thistle,bending tenderly above them, said,--
"Dear flower, forgive the sorrow I once brought you, and trust me nowfor Lily-Bell's sake. Her gentleness has changed my cruelty tokindness, and I would gladly repay all for the harm I have done;but none will love and trust me now."
Then the little rose looked up, and while the dew-drops shonelike happy tears upon her leaves, she said,--
"I WILL love and trust you, Thistle, for you are indeed muchchanged. Make your home among us, and my sister flowers will soonlearn to love you as you deserve. Not for sweet Lily-Bell's sake,but for your own, will I become your friend; for you are kind andgentle now, and worthy of our love. Look up, my little ones, there isno danger near; look up, and welcome Thistle to our home."
Then the little buds raised their rosy faces, danced again upontheir stems, and nodded kindly at Thistle, who smiled on them throughhappy tears, and kissed the sweet, forgiving rose, who loved andtrusted him when most forlorn and friendless.
But the other flowers wondered among themselves, and Hyacinth said,--
"If Rose-Leaf is his friend, surely we may be; yet still I fear he maysoon grow weary of this gentleness, and be again the wicked Fairy heonce was, and we shall suffer for our kindness to him now."
"Ah, do not doubt him!" cried warm-hearted little Mignonette; "surelysome good spirit has changed the wicked Thistle into this good littleElf. See how tenderly he lifts aside the leaves that overshadow paleHarebell, and listen now how softly he sings as he rocks littleEglantine to sleep. He has done many friendly things, though nonesave Rose-Leaf has been kind to him, and he is very sad. Last nightwhen I awoke to draw my curtains closer, he sat weeping in themoonlight, so bitterly, I longed to speak a kindly word to him.Dear sisters, let us trust him."
And they all said little Mignonette was right; and, spreading widetheir leaves, they bade him come, and drink their dew, and lie amongthe fragrant petals, striving to cheer his sorrow. Thistle told themall, and, after much whispering together, they said,--
"Yes, we will help you to find the Earth Spirits, for you are strivingto be good, and for love of Lily-Bell we will do much for you."
So they called a little bright-eyed mole, and said, "Downy-Back,we have given you a pleasant home among our roots, and you area grateful little friend; so will you guide dear Thistle to theEarth Spirits' home?"
Downy-Back said, "Yes," and Thistle, thanking the kindly flowers,followed his little guide, through long, dark galleries, deeperand deeper into the ground; while a glow-worm flew before to lightthe way. On they went, and after a while, reached a path lit up bybright jewels hung upon the walls. Here Downy-Back, and Glimmer,the glow-worm, left him, saying,--
"We can lead you no farther; you must now go on alone, and the musicof the Spirits will guide you to their home."
Then they went quickly up the winding path, and Thistle, guidedby the sweet music, went on alone.
He soon reached a lovely spot, whose golden halls were brightwith jewels, which sparkled brightly, and threw many-colored shadowson the shining garments of the little Spirits, who danced belowto the melody of soft, silvery bells.
Long Thistle stood watching the brilliant forms that flashed andsparkled round him; but he missed the flowers and the sunlight,and rejoiced that he was not an Earth Spirit.
At last they spied him out, and, gladly welcoming him, bade him joinin their dance. But Thistledown was too sad for that, and when hetold them all his story they no longer urged, but sought to comforthim; and one whom they called little Sparkle (for her crown and robeshone with the brightest diamonds), said: "You will have to workfor us, ere you can win a gift to show the Brownies; do you seethose golden bells that make such music, as we wave them to and fro?We worked long and hard ere they were won, and you can win one ofthose, if you will do the task we give you."
And Thistle said, "No task will be too hard for me to do for dearLily-Bell's sake."
Then they led him to a strange, dark place, lit up with torches;where troops of Spirits flew busily to and fro, among damp rocks, andthrough dark galleries that led far down into the earth. "What dothey here?" asked Thistle.
"I will tell," replied little Sparkle, "for I once worked heremyself. Some of them watch above the flower-roots, and keep themfresh and strong; others gather the clear drops that trickle from thedamp rocks, and form a little spring, which, growing ever larger,rises to the light above, and gushes forth in some green field orlonely forest; where the wild-birds come to drink, and wood-flowersspread their thirsty leaves above the clear, cool waves, as they godancing away, carrying joy and freshness wherever they go. Othersshape the bright jewels into lovely forms, and make the good-luckpennies which we give to mortals whom we love. And here you must toiltill the golden flower is won."
Then Thistle went among the Spirits, and joined in their tasks;he tended the flower-roots, gathered the water-drops, and formed thegood-luck pennies. Long and hard he worked, and was often sad andweary, often tempted by unkind and selfish thoughts; but he thoughtof Lily-Bell, and strove to be kind and loving as she had been; andsoon the Spirits learned to love the patient Fairy, who had left hishome to toil among them for the sake of his gentle friend.
At length came little Sparkle to him, saying, "You have done enough;come now, and dance and feast with us, for the golden flower is won."
But Thistle could not stay, for half his task was not yet done; andhe longed for sunlight and Lily-Bell. So, taking a kind farewell,he hastened through the torch-lit path up to the light again; and,spreading his wings, flew over hill and dale till he reached theforest where Lily-Bell lay sleeping.
It was early morning, and the rosy light shone brightly through thelily-leaves upon her, as Thistle entered, and laid his first giftat the Brownie King's feet.
"
You have done well," said he, "we hear good tidings of you frombird and flower, and you are truly seeking to repair the evilyou have done. Take now one look at your little friend, and thengo forth to seek from the Air Spirits your second gift."
Then Thistle said farewell again to Lily-Bell, and flew far and wideamong the clouds, seeking the Air Spirits; but though he wandered tillhis weary wings could bear him no longer, it was in vain. So, faintand sad, he lay down to rest on a broad vine-leaf, that flutteredgently in the wind; and as he lay, he saw beneath him the homeof the kind bees whom he had so disturbed, and Lily-Bell had helpedand comforted.
"I will seek to win their pardon, and show them that I am no longerthe cruel Fairy who so harmed them," thought Thistle, "and when theybecome again my friends, I will ask their help to find the AirSpirits; and if I deserve it, they will gladly aid me on my way."
So he flew down into the field below, and hastened busily fromflower to flower, till he had filled a tiny blue-bell with sweet,fresh honey. Then he stole softly to the hive, and, placing it nearthe door, concealed himself to watch. Soon his friend Nimble-Wingcame flying home, and when he spied the little cup, he hummed withjoy, and called his companions around him.
"Surely, some good Elf has placed it here for us," said they; "let usbear it to our Queen; it is so fresh and fragrant it will be a fitgift for her"; and they joyfully took it in, little dreaming who hadplaced it there.
So each day Thistle filled a flower-cup, and laid it at the door;and each day the bees wondered more and more, for many strange thingshappened. The field-flowers told of the good spirit who watchedabove them, and the birds sang of the same kind little Elf bringingsoft moss for their nests, and food for their hungry young ones;while all around the hive had grown fairer since the Fairy came.
But the bees never saw him, for he feared he had not yet done enoughto win their forgiveness and friendship; so he lived alone among thevines, daily bringing them honey, and doing some kindly action.
At length, as he lay sleeping in a flower-bell, a little bee camewandering by, and knew him for the wicked Thistle; so he called hisfriends, and, as they flew murmuring around him, he awoke.
"What shall we do to you, naughty Elf?" said they. "You are inour power, and we will sting you if you are not still."
"Let us close the flower-leaves around him and leave him hereto starve," cried one, who had not yet forgotten all the sorrowThistle had caused them long ago.
"No, no, that were very cruel, dear Buzz," said little Hum; "let ustake him to our Queen, and she will tell us how to show our anger forthe wicked deeds he did. See how bitterly he weeps; be kind to him,he will not harm us more."
"You good little Hum!" cried a kind-hearted robin who had hopped nearto listen to the bees. "Dear friends, do you not know that this isthe good Fairy who has dwelt so quietly among us, watching over birdand blossom, giving joy to all he helps? It is HE who brings thehoney-cup each day to you, and then goes silently away, that you maynever know who works so faithfully for you. Be kind to him, for ifhe has done wrong, he has repented of it, as you may see."
"Can this be naughty Thistle?" said Nimble-Wing.
"Yes, it is I," said Thistle, "but no longer cruel and unkind. I havetried to win your love by patient industry. Ah, trust me now, and youshall see I am not naughty Thistle any more."
Then the wondering bees led him to their Queen, and when he had toldhis tale, and begged their forgiveness, it was gladly given; andall strove to show him that he was loved and trusted. Then he askedif they could tell him where the Air Spirits dwelt, for he must notforget dear Lily-Bell; and to his great joy the Queen said, "Yes,"and bade little Hum guide Thistle to Cloud-Land.
Little Hum joyfully obeyed; and Thistle followed him, as he flewhigher and higher among the soft clouds, till in the distance they sawa radiant light.
"There is their home, and I must leave you now, dear Thistle," saidthe little bee; and, bidding him farewell, he flew singing back; whileThistle, following the light, soon found himself in the Air Spirits'home.
The sky was gold and purple like an autumn sunset, and long walls ofbrilliant clouds lay round him. A rosy light shone through the silvermist, on gleaming columns and the rainbow roof; soft, fragrant windswent whispering by, and airy little forms were flitting to and fro.
Long Thistle wondered at the beauty round him; and then he wentamong the shining Spirits, told his tale, and asked a gift.
But they answered like the Earth Spirits. "You must serve us first,and then we will gladly give you a robe of sunlight like our own."
And then they told him how they wafted flower-seeds over the earth,to beautify and brighten lonely spots; how they watched above theblossoms by day, and scattered dews at night, brought sunlightinto darkened places, and soft winds to refresh and cheer.
"These are the things we do," said they, "and you must aid usfor a time."
And Thistle gladly went with the lovely Spirits; by day he joinedthe sunlight and the breeze in their silent work; by night, withStar-Light and her sister spirits, he flew over the moon-lit earth,dropping cool dew upon the folded flowers, and bringing happy dreamsto sleeping mortals. Many a kind deed was done, many a gentle wordwas spoken; and each day lighter grew his heart, and stronger hispower of giving joy to others.
At length Star-Light bade him work no more, and gladly gave himthe gift he had won. Then his second task was done, and he flew gaylyback to the green earth and slumbering Lily-Bell.
The silvery moonlight shone upon her, as he came to give his secondgift; and the Brownie spoke more kindly than before.
"One more trial, Thistle, and she will awake. Go bravely forth andwin your last and hardest gift."
Then with a light heart Thistle journeyed away to the brooks andrivers, seeking the Water Spirits. But he looked in vain; till,wandering through the forest where the Brownies took him captive,he stopped beside the quiet lake.
As he stood here he heard a sound of pain, and, looking in the tallgrass at his side, he saw the dragon-fly whose kindness he oncerepayed by pain and sorrow, and who now lay suffering and alone.
Thistle bent tenderly beside him, saying, "Dear Flutter, do notfear me. I will gladly ease your pain, if you will let me; I am yourfriend, and long to show you how I grieve for all the wrong I did you,when you were so kind to me. Forgive, and let me help and comfortyou."
Then he bound up the broken wing, and spoke so tenderly that Flutterdoubted him no longer, and was his friend again.
Day by day did Thistle watch beside him, making little beds ofcool, fresh moss for him to rest upon, fanning him when he slept,and singing sweet songs to cheer him when awake. And often whenpoor Flutter longed to be dancing once again over the blue waves,the Fairy bore him in his arms to the lake, and on a broad leaf,with a green flag for a sail, they floated on the still water; whilethe dragon-fly's companions flew about them, playing merry games.
At length the broken wing was well, and Thistle said he must againseek the Water Spirits. "I can tell you where to find them," saidFlutter; "you must follow yonder little brook, and it will lead youto the sea, where the Spirits dwell. I would gladly do more for you,dear Thistle, but I cannot, for they live deep beneath the waves.You will find some kind friend to aid you on your way; and sofarewell."
Thistle followed the little brook, as it flowed through field andvalley, growing ever larger, till it reached the sea. Here the windblew freshly, and the great waves rolled and broke at Thistle's feet,as he stood upon the shore, watching the billows dancing and sparklingin the sun.
"How shall I find the Spirits in this great sea, with none to help orguide me? Yet it is my last task, and for Lily-Bell's sake I must notfear or falter now," said Thistle. So he flew hither and thitherover the sea, looking through the waves. Soon he saw, far below,the branches of the coral tree.
"They must be here," thought he, and, folding his wings, he plungedinto the deep, cold sea. But he saw only fearful monsters and darkshapes that gathered round
him; and, trembling with fear, he struggledup again.
The great waves tossed him to and fro, and cast him bruised and faintupon the shore. Here he lay weeping bitterly, till a voice beside himsaid, "Poor little Elf, what has befallen you? These rough waves arenot fit playmates for so delicate a thing as you. Tell me yoursorrow, and I will comfort you."
And Thistle, looking up, saw a white sea-bird at his side, who triedwith friendly words to cheer him. So he told all his wanderings,and how he sought the Sea Spirits.
"Surely, if bee and blossom do their part to help you, birds shouldaid you too," said the Sea-bird. "I will call my friend, theNautilus, and he will bear you safely to the Coral Palace where theSpirits dwell."
So, spreading his great wings, he flew away, and soon Thistle sawa little boat come dancing over the waves, and wait beside the shorefor him.
In he sprang. Nautilus raised his little sail to the wind, and thelight boat glided swiftly over the blue sea. At last Thistle cried,"I see lovely arches far below; let me go, it is the Spirits' home."
"Nay, close your eyes, and trust to me. I will bear you safely down,"said Nautilus.
So Thistle closed his eyes, and listened to the murmur of the sea,as they sank slowly through the waves. The soft sound lulled himto sleep, and when he awoke the boat was gone, and he stood amongthe Water Spirits, in their strange and lovely home.
Lofty arches of snow-white coral bent above him, and the wallsof brightly tinted shells were wreathed with lovely sea-flowers, andthe sunlight shining on the waves cast silvery shadows on the ground,where sparkling stones glowed in the sand. A cool, fresh wind sweptthrough the waving garlands of bright sea-moss, and the distant murmurof dashing waves came softly on the air. Soon troops of gracefulSpirits flitted by, and when they found the wondering Elf, theygathered round him, bringing pearl-shells heaped with precious stones,and all the rare, strange gifts that lie beneath the sea. But Thistlewished for none of these, and when his tale was told, the kindlySpirits pitied him; and little Pearl sighed, as she told him of thelong and weary task he must perform, ere he could win a crown ofsnow-white pearls like those they wore. But Thistle had gainedstrength and courage in his wanderings, and did not falter now, whenthey led him to a place among the coral-workers, and told him he mustlabor here, till the spreading branches reached the light and air,through the waves that danced above.
With a patient hope that he might yet be worthy of Lily-Bell,the Fairy left the lovely spirits and their pleasant home, to toilamong the coral-builders, where all was strange and dim. Long, long,he worked; but still the waves rolled far above them, and his task wasnot yet done; and many bitter tears poor Thistle shed, and sadly hepined for air and sunlight, the voice of birds, and breath of flowers.Often, folded in the magic garments which the Spirits gave him, thathe might pass unharmed among the fearful creatures dwelling there,he rose to the surface of the sea, and, gliding through the waves,gazed longingly upon the hills, now looking blue and dim so far away,or watched the flocks of summer birds, journeying to a warmer land;and they brought sad memories of green old forests, and sunny fields,to the lonely little Fairy floating on the great, wild sea.
Day after day went by, and slowly Thistle's task drew towards an end.Busily toiled the coral-workers, but more busily toiled he; insectand Spirit daily wondered more and more, at the industry and patienceof the silent little Elf, who had a friendly word for all, thoughhe never joined them in their sport.
Higher and higher grew the coral-boughs, and lighter grew the Fairy'sheart, while thoughts of dear Lily-Bell cheered him on, as day by dayhe steadily toiled; and when at length the sun shone on his work,and it was done, he stayed but to take the garland he had won, andto thank the good Spirits for their love and care. Then up throughthe cold, blue waves he swiftly glided, and, shaking the bright dropsfrom his wings, soared singing up to the sunny sky.
On through the fragrant air went Thistle, looking with glad faceupon the fair, fresh earth below, where flowers looked smiling up,and green trees bowed their graceful heads as if to welcome him. Soonthe forest where Lily-Bell lay sleeping rose before him, and as hepassed along the cool, dim wood-paths, never had they seemed so fair.
But when he came where his little friend had slept, it was no longerthe dark, silent spot where he last saw her. Garlands hung from everytree, and the fairest flowers filled the air with their sweet breath.Bird's gay voices echoed far and wide, and the little brook wentsinging by, beneath the arching ferns that bent above it; greenleaves rustled in the summer wind, and the air was full of music.But the fairest sight was Lily-Bell, as she lay on the couch ofvelvet moss that Fairy hands had spread. The golden flower laybeside her, and the glittering robe was folded round her little form.The warmest sunlight fell upon her, and the softest breezes liftedher shining hair.
Happy tears fell fast, as Thistle folded his arms around her,crying, "O Lily-Bell, dear Lily-Bell, awake! I have been true to you,and now my task is done."
Then, with a smile, Lily-Bell awoke, and looked with wondering eyesupon the beauty that had risen round her.
"Dear Thistle, what mean these fair things, and why are we in thislovely place?"
"Listen, Lily-Bell," said the Brownie King, as he appeared beside her.And then he told all that Thistle had done to show his love for her;how he had wandered far and wide to seek the Fairy gifts, and toiledlong and hard to win them; how he had been loving, true, and tender,when most lonely and forsaken.
"Bird, bee, and blossom have forgiven him, and none is more lovedand trusted now by all, than the once cruel Thistle," said the King,as he bent down to the happy Elf, who bowed low before him.
"You have learned the beauty of a gentle, kindly heart, dear Thistle;and you are now worthy to become the friend of her for whom you havedone so much. Place the crown upon her head, for she is Queen of allthe Forest Fairies now."
And as the crown shone on the head that Lily-Bell bent down onThistle's breast, the forest seemed alive with little forms, whosprang from flower and leaf, and gathered round her, bringing giftsfor their new Queen.
"If I am Queen, then you are King, dear Thistle," said the Fairy."Take the crown, and I will have a wreath of flowers. You have toiledand suffered for my sake, and you alone should rule over these littleElves whose love you have won."
"Keep your crown, Lily-Bell, for yonder come the Spirits with theirgifts to Thistle," said the Brownie. And, as he pointed with hiswand, out from among the mossy roots of an old tree came troopingthe Earth Spirits, their flower-bells ringing softly as they came,and their jewelled garments glittering in the sun. On to whereThistledown stood beneath the shadow of the flowers, with Lily-Bellbeside him, went the Spirits; and then forth sprang little Sparkle,waving a golden flower, whose silvery music filled the air. "DearThistle," said the shining Spirit, "what you toiled so faithfullyto win for another, let us offer now as a token of our love for you."
As she ceased, down through the air came floating bands of lovelyAir Spirits, bringing a shining robe, and they too told their lovefor the gentle Fairy who had dwelt with them.
Then softly on the breeze came distant music, growing ever nearer,till over the rippling waves came the singing Water Spirits, in theirboats of many-colored shells; and as they placed their glitteringcrown on Thistle's head, loud rang the flowers, and joyously sangthe birds, while all the Forest Fairies cried, with silvery voices,"Lily-Bell and Thistledown! Long live our King and Queen!"
"Have you a tale for us too, dear Violet-Eye?" said the Queen, asZephyr ceased. The little Elf thus named looked from among theflower-leaves where she sat, and with a smile replied, "As I wasweaving garlands in the field, I heard a primrose tell this taleto her friend Golden-Rod."
Flower Fables Page 4