In a great forest, high up among the green boughs, lived Bird
Brown-Breast, and his bright-eyed little mate. They were now very
happy; their home was done, the four blue eggs lay in the soft nest,
and the little wife sat still and patient on them, while the husband
sang, and told her charming tales, and brought her sweet berries and
little worms.
Things went smoothly on, till one day she found in the nest a little
white egg, with a golden band about it.
“My friend,” cried she, “come and see! Where can this fine egg have
come from? My four are here, and this also; what think you of it?”
The husband shook his head gravely, and said, “Be not alarmed, my love;
it is doubtless some good Fairy who has given us this, and we shall
find some gift within; do not let us touch it, but do you sit carefully
upon it, and we shall see in time what has been sent us.”
So they said nothing about it, and soon their home had four little
chirping children; and then the white egg opened, and, behold, a little
maiden lay singing within. Then how amazed were they, and how they
welcomed her, as she lay warm beneath the mother’s wing, and how the
young birds did love her.
Great joy was in the forest, and proud were the parents of their
family, and still more of the little one who had come to them; while
all the neighbors flocked in, to see Dame Brown-Breast’s little child.
And the tiny maiden talked to them, and sang so merrily, that they
could have listened for ever. Soon she was the joy of the whole forest,
dancing from tree to tree, making every nest her home, and none were
ever so welcome as little Bud; and so they lived right merrily in the
green old forest.
The father now had much to do to supply his family with food, and
choice morsels did he bring little Bud. The wild fruits were her food,
the fresh dew in the flower-cups her drink, while the green leaves
served her for little robes; and thus she found garments in the flowers
of the field, and a happy home with Mother Brown-Breast; and all in the
wood, from the stately trees to the little mosses in the turf, were
friends to the merry child.
And each day she taught the young birds sweet songs, and as their gay
music rang through the old forest, the stern, dark pines ceased their
solemn waving, that they might hear the soft sounds stealing through
the dim wood-paths, and mortal children came to listen, saying softly,
“Hear the flowers sing, and touch them not, for the Fairies are here.”
Then came a band of sad little Elves to Bud, praying that they might
hear the sweet music; and when she took them by the hand, and spoke
gently to them, they wept and said sadly, when she asked them whence
they came,—
“We dwelt once in Fairy-Land, and O how happy were we then! But alas!
we were not worthy of so fair a home, and were sent forth into the cold
world. Look at our robes, they are like the withered leaves; our wings
are dim, our crowns are gone, and we lead sad, lonely lives in this
dark forest. Let us stay with you; your gay music sounds like Fairy
songs, and you have such a friendly way with you, and speak so gently
to us. It is good to be near one so lovely and so kind; and you can
tell us how we may again become fair and innocent. Say we may stay with
you, kind little maiden.”
And Bud said, “Yes,” and they stayed; but her kind little heart was
grieved that they wept so sadly, and all she could say could not make
them happy; till at last she said,—
“Do not weep, and I will go to Queen Dew-Drop, and beseech her to let
you come back. I will tell her that you are repentant, and will do
anything to gain her love again; that you are sad, and long to be
forgiven. This will I say, and more, and trust she will grant my
prayer.”
“She will not say no to you, dear Bud,” said the poor little Fairies;
“she will love you as we do, and if we can but come again to our lost
home, we cannot give you thanks enough. Go, Bud, and if there be power
in Fairy gifts, you shall be as happy as our hearts’ best love can make
you.”
The tidings of Bud’s departure flew through the forest, and all her
friends came to say farewell, as with the morning sun she would go; and
each brought some little gift, for the land of Fairies was far away,
and she must journey long.
“Nay, you shall not go on your feet, my child,” said Mother
Brown-Breast; “your friend Golden-Wing shall carry you. Call him
hither, that I may seat you rightly, for if you should fall off my
heart would break.”
Then up came Golden-Wing, and Bud was safely seated on the cushion of
violet-leaves; and it was really charming to see her merry little face,
peeping from under the broad brim of her cow-slip hat, as her butterfly
steed stood waving his bright wings in the sunlight. Then came the bee
with his yellow honey-bags, which he begged she would take, and the
little brown spider that lived under the great leaves brought a veil
for her hat, and besought her to wear it, lest the sun should shine too
brightly; while the ant came bringing a tiny strawberry, lest she
should miss her favorite fruit. The mother gave her good advice, and
the papa stood with his head on one side, and his round eyes twinkling
with delight, to think that his little Bud was going to Fairy-Land.
Then they all sang gayly together, till she passed out of sight over
the hills, and they saw her no more.
And now Bud left the old forest far behind her. Golden-Wing bore her
swiftly along, and she looked down on the green mountains, and the
peasant’s cottages, that stood among overshadowing trees; and the earth
looked bright, with its broad, blue rivers winding through soft
meadows, the singing birds, and flowers, who kept their bright eyes
ever on the sky.
And she sang gayly as they floated in the clear air, while her friend
kept time with his waving wings, and ever as they went along all grew
fairer; and thus they came to Fairy-Land.
As Bud passed through the gates, she no longer wondered that the exiled
Fairies wept and sorrowed for the lovely home they had lost. Bright
clouds floated in the sunny sky, casting a rainbow light on the Fairy
palaces below, where the Elves were dancing; while the low, sweet
voices of the singing flowers sounded softly through the fragrant air,
and mingled with the music of the rippling waves, as they flowed on
beneath the blossoming vines that drooped above them.
All was bright and beautiful; but kind little Bud would not linger, for
the forms of the weeping Fairies were before her; and though the
blossoms nodded gayly on their stems to welcome her, and the soft winds
kissed her cheek, she would not stay, but on to the Flower Palace she
went, into a pleasant hall whose walls were formed of crimson roses,
amid whose leaves sat little Elves, making sweet music on their harps.
When they saw Bud, they gathered round her, and led her through the
flower-wreathed arches to a group of the most beautiful Fairies, who
were gathered about a stately lily, in whose fragrant cup sat one whose
purple robe and glittering crown told she was their Queen.
Bud knelt before her, and, while tears streamed down her little face,
she told her errand, and pleaded earnestly that the exiled Fairies
might be forgiven, and not be left to pine far from their friends and
kindred. And as she prayed, many wept with her; and when she ceased,
and waited for her answer, many knelt beside her, praying forgiveness
for the unhappy Elves.