FAIRIES AGAIN.
It had just come into Violet's head that this proud and imperious little
mortal in the carriage must be a queen, such as her story books told
about, and had a right to every body's service and every body's goods.
What strengthened this belief was the fact that, fluttering about
Narcissa's head, she saw (and though her face was wet with tears, she
stared at it) the queerest little fairy; now, too, she saw another fairy
perched on Alfred's arm as he read, and turning over the leaves of his
book; while all about the carriage flew a third, the largest and most
splendid of all; he trod upon the servant's heads, right over the crown
of their hats; he would sit down to rest on the necks of the beautiful
white horses, as they pawed the ground; he whirled round and round
Narcissa, even daring to pull her own fairy's hair, while he patted
Alfred's fairy on the back quite condescendingly.
This little imp was named Pride. He looked, as he flew, like a great
scarlet cactus blossom, in his long rich cloak, with heavy tassels, that
swept the ground, and left wherever they trailed a very fine dust of
gold. In this dust the tassels were dipped continually--powdered over
with it, finer than the yellow pollen you may have seen on the stamens
of a lily.
The flower pollen is good for something, but not so pride's gold dust.
He only scatters it because it is so expensive, and common people cannot
do the same.
I have known persons who sold comfortable homes, cheerful hearts, and
good consciences, all for a little gold, which they ground into this
silly powder, and threw away.
I think Pride makes people a little insane; you must take care that none
of his gold dust gets into _your_ eyes.
The good thing about Pride--and there is something good about every
body--was his affection for Alfred's fairy, Ambition. I cannot describe
this being, he is so dazzlingly bright. He is the best and the worst
fairy I know, for he is at times like each one, and often like all
together.
It is ambition that makes men good as angels; and every one knows it is
Ambition that makes Satan so bad. This fairy is useful; but he cannot be
trusted for a moment; he may serve you faithfully through a long life,
and at the end plunge you into some pitfall, just for mischief. He will
whisper sweet words in your ear, and build you a glittering boat, and
promise to row you down the pleasantest river to Paradise itself.
Perhaps he will do all he promises; perhaps he will only land you in a
madhouse or a jail.
Ambition had taken a fancy to Alfred, and never left his side. He would
urge him away from his companions and sports, to work over
books,--always to work and study,--and promised to make him a great and
useful man.
There is one strange thing about these fairy people; beautiful and rich
as they are, and free and powerful, they will follow and make their home
with the poorest little child, and shelter him with their splendid
wings, and light up his pathway with their gleaming crowns; but only on
one condition--that the child follow wherever they lead, and is true to
the fairies as they are true to him; which is but fair, you know. Who
wants to give advice that is not followed?
We all, though at the time we do not know it, choose our own fairies,
and, once chosen, they love us and make us love them so well that it is
no easy matter to escape from them, or to avoid obeying their advice.
So, when you see any one--and grown-up men and women have fairies as
well as children--who is led about by a wicked fairy, you must pity
instead of blaming the sufferer; and if he offend you, you must take
care that _his_ fairy doesn't fly into your heart and frighten away your
own, or make you forget, and give unkind answers back.
Be very sure no one _wants_ to be bad; only if a spiteful little spirit
perched on your shoulder, and whispered evil thoughts and angry words
into _your_ ear, don't you suppose that sometimes you would obey him and
believe what he said?
Whenever you feel these wicked spirits near, call loud for Violet's
fairy, Love. She will be sure to come; and they know very well they
cannot live in her presence; for the light of her starry crown puts out
their eyes, and the incense from Contentment's urn will take away their
breath.
If Love come, Content will be sure to follow; so only keep these fairies
near, and you are safe.