HOW THE FAIRIES WERE CHANGED INTO MOCKING-BIRDS
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
They were most reluctant to leave the beautiful world under the water,
but the Sun Prince and the Moon Princess must keep their engagements,
and there were many journeyings for them yet. The Ocean King had kept
them as long as possible in his dominions, but now he felt obliged to
let them go, and so regretfully bade them adieu.
He had arranged in their travels about his strange and wonderful
possessions to land them in a beautiful southern country. From this spot
they would travel north toward the Valley of Enchantment, to visit the
Sun Princess, that lovely sister of Prince Dorion who was making her
home in this world. They all looked forward with much pleasure to this
visit; it seemed, in fact, to be one of their chief topics of
conversation, for they naturally desired to see the only sister of
Prince Dorion, who was famous for her great beauty. Now and then,
however, in the midst of their joyous travels, a black shadow seemed to
cross the pretty Moon Princess’s face: it was when she remembered the
promised visit to the black dwarf. Somehow she could not overcome her
horror of him, and was never reconciled to making him a visit.
Reluctantly the company bade adieu to the Ocean King and his charming
family, and rose through the clear, limpid waters of a big Gulf. It was
a beautiful sight that met their eyes as they came to the surface in the
open sunlight. A wonderful land lay before them. Its shores were shaded
with spreading branches of magnificent live-oak trees which grew down to
the water’s edge, planting their splendid trunks in the very midst of
the curving line of yellow sand. Farther back pink crêpe-myrtles, yellow
acacias, and white Spanish daggers were scattered, and a long row of
pecan-trees kept dozens of chattering squirrels busy. Cherokee roses
bloomed in thousands, their yellow hearts showing in brilliant contrast
to their dazzling white petals. “How beautiful this country is!” said
the Princess, and every one echoed her words.
As they landed they were greeted by the Sun Princess’s messenger, who
would guide them northward to the Valley of Enchantment. This guide
belonged to the company of Sun people who had accompanied the Sun
Princess to her new home. He proved a charming companion indeed, for he
knew everything about the countries through which they passed, and in
their travels told them many interesting facts. They learned that they
were in a southern land, on the borders of a great Gulf. They could see,
beside the live-oaks, some superb trees growing to great heights,—trees
with great long green leaves, holding big creamy blossoms that opened
like white chalices to catch the sun. One tree especially stood out in
magnificent strength. Its rough old trunk was enormous and knotted with
age, and its broad branches spread out protectingly covered with big
waxen leaves. The great tree had a dignity about it that fascinated the
Princess. As the little company walked nearer to examine it, they
noticed how the grass—soft as velvet—stretched away like a green carpet
toward the yellow marsh beyond. The nearer they came to the tree the
bigger the tree looked, and they found a round hollow in one side the
trunk, where a squirrel had hidden his nuts. “It is a magnolia-tree,”
the guide replied, in answer to their questions, “and there are many
thousands like it scattered through this southern country.”
At that moment a sound rose upon the air, so soft and exquisite in its
melody that they held their breath to listen. It came from the branches
of the tree, and was a song of welcome from the mocking-birds. In a
moment a thousand of these little feathered songsters had joined the
chorus. Their notes rang out joyously, for they warbled and trilled in
an ecstasy of delight until the strangers thought they had never heard a
more beautiful concert. Then suddenly, while the Moon Princess listened
entranced, the music ceased as abruptly as it had begun. They heard a
flutter of soft wings, and saw above their heads a flock of tiny birds.
The birds were lovely,—a soft gray in color, with a splash of white on
the wings and tail, and as they flew away and disappeared in the
distance all became silent again.
What a silence it was! Not a sound broke the stillness. The brilliant
sunshine danced along the ground like little sparks of fire, but not a
leaf stirred. It grew warm. The blue gulf lay like a sheet of glass in a
sort of golden mist. The heat was intense; it seemed to shimmer in a
yellow haze over everything; and then suddenly a little movement broke
the profound stillness. It came from the green-eyed, red-throated
lizards as they ran through the grass. They stopped to watch the
strangers wonderingly, but as the Moon Princess moved slightly, the
timid little creatures, affrighted, took the color of the leaf on which
they were, and lay as motionless as death!
Then the Princess spoke softly: “This world is very wonderful; I have
never seen so many bewildering things before.”
As they resumed their journey the guide told them the history of the
bird.
“The mocking-bird is really the southern fairy, you know,” he began,
“and the entrancing song it sings is only the story of its life. It
tells the tale over and over again, in a delicious burst of song; as the
little children alone understand the fairies’ speech, I cannot tell all
it says, but I will repeat exactly what I have heard. Once upon a time
there dwelt in the midst of that great magnolia grove we have just left
a band of fairies. They were the lightest-hearted and happiest little
band in the world, and they had just celebrated a splendid marriage. One
of their most beautiful Princesses had married a nephew of the Queen. He
was as handsome as his bride was beautiful, and everything went merry as
a marriage bell. Now, Prince Adelstan, in spite of his high rank and
station, was always playing some prank upon some one, but his tricks
were generally good-natured, and the fairies seemed to love him the
better for his fun; he was, indeed, a great favorite with them all. Now,
when he married the dignified and beautiful Princess Verdande, every one
predicted that he would become more sober, and, as a married man, put
aside his boyish manners.
“It really seemed just about as they prophesied. Of course, a fairy’s
life is a brilliant round of pleasure, but Prince Adelstan seemed
contented to travel the world over with his lovely wife and act just as
all well-behaved fairies should. The little people were all delighted,
of course, with the change in their favorite, and said among themselves
he was even more attractive than ever. In reality Prince Adelstan was so
absorbed in a plan he was forming for himself and bride that he had no
time to think of playing foolish pranks on others. Fairies, as you know,
are free to do exactly as they please, except for one rule, and that
rule can never be broken. Their life must be lived at night, amid
moonshine and starlight, and then they pass many gladsome hours
together; from dusk until dawn they are the merriest little people in
the world. But at the first streak of light every fairy must
vanish,—under a leaf, in the heart of a rose, behind a dewdrop, the
fairy may hide; but hide he must, and there remain sleeping until
darkness again falls upon the world. This rule in Fairyland has been
enforced for centuries, and no one, however brave, has had the hardihood
to break it. Sometimes (but very rarely), on a day when the Sun does not
shine and the Earth is covered with a white veil of mist, a fairy can
peep out, but he must be extremely careful that he is only in the mist,
for he must never see a ray of sunshine for a moment.
“Well, can you imagine what Prince Adelstan decided to do? He determined
upon a terribly rash thing, and planned it for months. He lay awake
thinking of it, for in his excitement he could not sleep. He whispered
it at last to his beautiful bride, who trembled in his arms as she
listened. She was horrified at first, and pleaded with him to give up
his rash plan; but he was bent upon it, and after weeks of pleading from
him, she finally yielded and consented to help him. Together they
decided to elude the fairies and break the law; for their rash
determination was no less than this—to see the Sun rise.
“Night after night they discussed it, and one beautiful moonlight one,
when they had danced until dawn, and the other fairies, exhausted, had
slipped into the hearts of the magnolia blossoms to sleep, Prince
Adelstan and Princess Verdande stole carefully down to the waters of the
Gulf, and, breathless with curiosity, awaited the coming of the Sun.
“Never shall they forget that morning. The waters of the Gulf looked
steely gray in the first faint light of dawn. A pearly white mist was
lifting slowly from them, and melting as it lifted. The little bride
caught her breath with admiration as the cold steel-gray of the water
slowly changed into a delicate, warm pink, for the Gulf, like a great
mirror, was reflecting all the lights in the sky. The sea-shell pink of
the faint dawn heralded the approach of the Sun. Gradually the delicate
coloring grew a deeper rose, until the white clouds overhead seemed dyed
in crimson. The waters lay still and silent; hardly a ripple disturbed
their serenity. Presently long, piercing rays crept across the sky,
while all the colors of the rainbow seemed to blend and mix together.
Gradually the world grew brighter and brighter. Then suddenly out of the
shining water rose a great red ball of fire! The Princess clung to her
husband, for, beautiful as it was, she was surprised and frightened. The
Sun mounted slowly into the sky, casting his brilliant rays across the
heavens, and at the same time great slanting streaks of yellow beams
danced before their bewildered eyes. The waters of the Gulf were
marvellous to see, for they glistened like millions of flashing
diamonds. The two fairies stood amazed at the magnificent sight before
them, for even Fairyland has nothing more beautiful than the sunrise.
“Presently a flock of white sea-gulls rose shrieking from the sands, and
Prince Adelstan and his wife (startled by the sudden noise, and abashed
by their terrible disobedience) tried to hide behind a blade of grass.
Alas! what was their horror to discover that they could not. They had
grown much larger, and they realized in despair that they could no
longer hide under the flowers; their wings, too, had disappeared, and
they knew they were banished from Fairyland. Then their sorrow began,
for, try as they did, they could find no trace of their brother and
sister fairies.
“There was a dreamy stillness everywhere, and the flowers were very
tempting in the early morning dew; but alas! those flowers no longer
formed a home for the disobedient fairies. Hand in hand they wandered,
and for miles they stumbled sadly along, until at last they reached the
edge of a great marsh. The green and yellow grasses there were scarcely
moving, and lovely tints were shimmering in a hazy amber splendor. The
unruffled waters of the bayou, as it ran curling around the rushes,
gleamed in spots of silver. The world took on new beauties beneath the
Sun, but the unhappy Princess and her husband could not enjoy them. They
journeyed about in misery until they found the gnarled old
magnolia-tree. They hid themselves in its hollow trunk.
“The fairies, of course, had missed them, and knew perfectly well of
their misfortunes, but the Queen’s heart was hardened against them
because of their dreadful disobedience. However, the band of little
fairies, in spite of all, united in deep sympathy for their erring
brother and sister, and they prayed the Queen to grant them pardon. The
Queen’s heart softened a little at last, for after all the Prince was a
beloved nephew; but even she had not full power to restore them to
Fairyland. The law once broken, full penance must be done; for
disobedience is a dreadful crime in Fairyland.
[Illustration: “_They threw themselves at her feet, begging for pardon_.”
(Page 41)]
“Late one night, when the Moon was high in the blue sky, and the world
was flooded with silver, when the bright stars flashed out like millions
of dancing points of fire, the two unhappy culprits crept out from the
hollow of the magnolia-tree. The fairies were holding high festival,
feasting on rose-leaves and drinking the dew from tiny acorn cups.
Thousands of them were dancing in and out of the moonlight, and their
bright wings flashed gold and silver lights wherever they moved. Their
wands, too, sparkled and glittered as if they were on fire. The exiled
Prince and Princess gazed sadly upon it all, seeing now fully what they
had lost; but alas! it was too late. They knew quite well their bulky
forms without wings could never again become as light and airy as before
their disobedience. Swiftly, however, they ran forward, and before the
astonished Queen had time to escape, they threw themselves at her feet,
begging for pardon. The Queen frowned as she listened to the story of
their disobedience, and the other fairies shuddered when they heard of
the great crime. Still, her Majesty loved her nephew and his bride, and
her heart was heavy as she heard the sad tale. The Queen was unusually
handsome that night, and seated on a throne of moss-rose buds, she
seemed very far above the culprits at her feet. Her white-and-silver
dress sparkled brilliantly against the bright pink of the rosebuds, and
the green leaves about them were so covered with dew that they seemed to
be made of frosted silver.
“‘Alas! my dear children,’ she began sadly, ‘I have not the power to
make you fairies again. You have lost Fairyland forever by your act of
disobedience. Once banished, you cannot be recalled; beside, were it
possible for me to admit you again to Fairyland, you would never be
happy with us again. You have seen the glorious sunrise once, and
nothing in Fairyland is so beautiful. You would constantly long for that
magnificent sight again. But,’ she added thoughtfully, ‘perhaps I can
render you perfectly happy in some other form upon the Earth, and in
this way restore your contentment.’
“Tremblingly Prince Adelstan and his bride bade her change them, for,
miserable as they were, they knew she spoke the truth. They would never
be happy in Fairyland again; they would always long to see the sunrise.
Then silence fell upon them all, as the Queen slowly raised her
glittering wand.
“Presently there arose upon the stillness of the night a most glorious
sound. It was the mocking-bird raising its voice in thanksgiving and
praise for happiness found again. Again and again those delicious sounds
floated out on the air, filling the night with sweetness, until the very
fairies stood breathless to listen. It seemed marvellous that so much
sweetness of sound could be contained in such a tiny body; but the
little songsters trilled and sang in glorious delight.
“Only in this land of sunshine and magnolias will you find this
wonderful bird. It never wanders far from the Gulf. It flourishes best
amid the magnolias, and it fills the southern woods with music. It sings
at all hours; at night, when the Moon is looking kindly down upon the
Earth, and the Earth is serenely smiling to the Moon, its clear notes
ring out joyously, until even the stars from their glittering palaces
lean down to listen. But it is at the witching hour of dawn that the
most wonderful of its melodies is heard. Then it awakens to watch again
that miracle of the world, the mystery of the rising Sun, and as the
golden spears of light streak the heavens, cutting away the white veil
of mist and coloring the skies with rainbow hues, its glorious voice
rings out and floods the world with music; for at that hour the
mocking-bird is telling over and over again the story of that
magnificent sight—the sunrise.”