“Listen, dear friends. I have a hard task to offer you. It is a great
sacrifice for you light loving Fairies to dwell through the long winter
in the dark, cold earth, watching over the flower roots, to keep them
free from the little grubs and worms that seek to harm them. But in the
sunny Spring when they bloom again, their love and gratitude will give
you happy homes among their bright leaves.
“It is a wearisome task, and I can give you no reward for all your
tender care, but the blessings of the gentle flowers you will have
saved from death. Gladly would I aid you; but my winged friends are
preparing for their journey to warmer lands, and I must help them teach
their little ones to fly, and see them safely on their way. Then,
through the winter, must I seek the dwellings of the poor and
suffering, comfort the sick and lonely, and give hope and courage to
those who in their poverty are led astray. These things must I do; but
when the flowers bloom again I will be with you, to welcome back our
friends from over the sea.”
Then, with tears, the Fairies answered, “Ah, good little Bud, you have
taken the hardest task yourself, and who will repay you for all your
deeds of tenderness and mercy in the great world? Should evil befall
you, our hearts would break. We will labor trustingly in the earth, and
thoughts of you shall cheer us on; for without you we had been
worthless beings, and never known the joy that kindly actions bring.
Yes, dear Bud, we will gladly toil among the roots, that the fair
flowers may wear their gayest robes to welcome you.”
Then deep in the earth the Fairies dwelt, and no frost or snow could
harm the blossoms they tended. Every little seed was laid in the soft
earth, watered, and watched. Tender roots were folded in withered
leaves, that no chilling drops might reach them; and safely dreamed the
flowers, till summer winds should call them forth; while lighter grew
each Fairy heart, as every gentle deed was tenderly performed.
At length the snow was gone, and they heard little voices calling them
to come up; but patiently they worked, till seed and root were green
and strong. Then, with eager feet, they hastened to the earth above,
where, over hill and valley, bright flowers and budding trees smiled in
the warm sunlight, blossoms bent lovingly before them, and rang their
colored bells, till the fragrant air was full of music; while the
stately trees waved their great arms above them, and scattered soft
leaves at their feet.
Then came the merry birds, making the wood alive with their gay voices,
calling to one another, as they flew among the vines, building their
little homes. Long waited the Elves, and at last she came with Father
Brown-Breast. Happy days passed; and summer flowers were in their
fullest beauty, when Bud bade the Fairies come with her.
Mounted on bright-winged butterflies, they flew over forest and meadow,
till with joyful eyes they saw the flower-crowned walls of Fairy-Land.
Before the gates they stood, and soon troops of loving Elves came forth
to meet them. And on through the sunny gardens they went, into the Lily
Hall, where, among the golden stamens of a graceful flower, sat the
Queen; while on the broad, green leaves around it stood the brighteyed
little maids of honor.
Then, amid the deep silence, little Bud, leading the Fairies to the
throne, said,—
“Dear Queen, I here bring back your subjects, wiser for their sorrow,
better for their hard trial; and now might any Queen be proud of them,
and bow to learn from them that giving joy and peace to others brings
it fourfold to us, bearing a double happiness in the blessings to those
we help. Through the dreary months, when they might have dwelt among
fair Southern flowers, beneath a smiling sky, they toiled in the dark
and silent earth, filling the hearts of the gentle Flower Spirits with
grateful love, seeking no reward but the knowledge of their own good
deeds, and the joy they always bring. This they have done unmurmuringly
and alone; and now, far and wide, flower blessings fall upon them, and
the summer winds bear the glad tidings unto those who droop in sorrow,
and new joy and strength it brings, as they look longingly for the
friends whose gentle care hath brought such happiness to their fair
kindred.
“Are they not worthy of your love, dear Queen? Have they not won their
lovely home? Say they are pardoned, and you have gained the love of
hearts pure as the snow-white robes now folded over them.”
As Bud ceased, she touched the wondering Fairies with her wand, and the
dark faded garments fell away; and beneath, the robes of lily-leaves
glittered pure and spotless in the sun-light. Then, while happy tears
fell, Queen Dew-Drop placed the bright crowns on the bowed heads of the
kneeling Fairies, and laid before them the wands their own good deeds
had rendered powerful.
They turned to thank little Bud for all her patient love, but she was
gone; and high above, in the clear air, they saw the little form
journeying back to the quiet forest.
She needed no reward but the joy she had given. The Fairy hearts were
pure again, and her work was done; yet all Fairy-Land had learned a
lesson from gentle little Bud.
“Now, little Sunbeam, what have you to tell us?” said the Queen,
looking down on a bright-eyed Elf, who sat half hidden in the deep moss
at her feet.
“I too, like Star-Twinkle, have nothing but a song to offer,” replied
the Fairy; and then, while the nightingale’s sweet voice mingled with
her own, she sang,—