TITANIA COMES TO REIGN OVER THE FAIRIES
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Now in another part of the same country there was a race of fairies who
never grew old and always remained beautiful.
Their loveliness of face and form was beyond all description.
Just try to think of the prettiest young girl you ever saw. Well, even
the plainest of these fairies were ever so much prettier. That is to
say, all were very beautiful with one exception. In her case the fairy
charm was an utter failure.
She was little and old, with a queer, wrinkled face like a dried-up
crab-apple. But, because no one else looked like her, she was firmly
convinced she was the most beautiful of them all. They wore clinging
gowns made of the texture of roses, lilies, and other flowers. She who
wore fragrant rose-petals called herself Rose, she who called herself
Lily one of lilies, and so on. There were Violet, Daffodil, Bluebell,
Daisy, Jassamine, Hyacinth, and ever so many others. You could find the
names of all the rest in a seed-catalogue--that is, all but the little
old wrinkled one who was known as Dame Drusilda. The fairies had
a republic. Because they were all so very much alike, and equally
beautiful, gifted, and clever, it would have been an extremely awkward
matter to select a queen from among them. If any one had been chosen,
all the others would have felt greatly slighted. Dame Drusilda believed
she should be the queen, simply because no one else looked like her, but
she was quite alone in her opinion.
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They were very up-to-date, and they had a palace of great magnificence
that had every modern convenience, with sanitary plumbing. There was a
very gorgeous throne-room, wisely arranged in the event that they might
some day have a queen, with a portcullis at the entrance that could be
raised or lowered at will. This, of course, was to keep out unwelcome
visitors.
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The republic was most beautifully situated where a river joined the
sea, and upon a cliff one day the fairies beheld a most unusual sight.
While they were smiling and nodding a greeting to some lovely mermaids
who were down among the rocks combing their long tresses with the aid of
hand-mirrors, a golden shallop heaped with flowers came drifting down
the placid stream. The fairies signalled to the mermaids who, when their
attention was attracted to the shallop, swam to it, and guided it to the
shore. As it drew near all grew very much excited when they observed a
most exquisite little creature nestling asleep in the fragrant bed of
flowers. When the shallop grounded gently on the pebbly beach her
eyes opened, and she gazed up at them with the most enchanting smile
imaginable. "I am Queen Titania," she announced, as they bent over her,
"and I have come to reign over you!"
With tender hands they raised her from her couch, and knelt before her
in silent adoration.
Never before had they seen anyone so beautiful, as she stood before them
in her long trailing gown, with a gem-crusted crown upon her brow, and
in her hand a slender wand from whose tip shone the scintillating rays
of a diamond.
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"Your Majesty," said queer little Dame Drusilda, "we are all your loyal
subjects. Let us conduct you to the palace, where affairs of state await
you."
Amid great rejoicing they conducted Queen Titania to the palace.
Wee-winged Cupids bore her long train. The portcullis was raised, and
in triumph they entered.
The new queen was conducted with much pomp to the throne-room. When she
was placed upon the throne, two dogs, two frogs, and an ostrich were
brought before her.
"What have they done?" asked Queen Titania.
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"Your Majesty," said the fairy named Hyacinth, "these two dogs were
fighting, and one bit off a piece of the other's ear."
"Which was the one who did it?"
"Why, this one!"
"Bind him over to keep the peace!" said Queen Titania promptly.
The fairies all nodded their approval as the dogs were led away.
"Your Majesty," then spoke up one of the frogs, "will you be kind enough
to listen to the complaint of one who has always tried to conduct
himself like a perfect gentleman? I am a confirmed bachelor-frog. This
young lady-frog is continually pestering me with her attentions. She
keeps on proposing marriage, although it is not leap-year."
"With frogs every year is leap-year," said Queen Titania.
The ostrich looked very guilty as a fairy named Eglantine explained:
"Your Majesty, he deliberately swallowed a half-dozen of the palace
spoons."
"Why did you do it?" asked Queen Titania of the culprit.
"I don't know," he said shamefacedly.
"But I do," said Queen Titania. "You did it to stir up things. Have you
a sweetheart?"
"Yes, I've got a bird!"
"Well, now you can go and spoon with her!"
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All were quite delighted with the wisdom shown by their tiny sovereign
in dispensing justice. But before other important matters could be
disposed of a fairy messenger named Pink with her petalled attire all
flecked with dust dashed in great excitement into the throne-room. She
had ridden many leagues upon a winged steed, and in its terrific speed
which was far greater than that of the swiftest aeroplane it had used
both wings and feet.
Pink ran toward the throne to impart the news that had brought her in
such hot haste, but the unexpected sight of Queen Titania stilled the
words upon her frightened lips, and caused them to part instead with
wonder and surprise.
"This is Queen Titania," hastily explained Dame Drusilda, "who
henceforth is to reign over us."
Pink knelt low before Titania and kissed her royal robe.
"Your Majesty," she said, "I am the bearer of bad news. Dragonfel the
wicked enchanter across the sea has declared his intention of making
trouble for the fairies."
"Who told you this?" asked Queen Titania.
"A little bird," was Pink's reply.
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"This is very serious," said Queen Titania gravely, "for little birds
never tell fibs." There was a clamor of dismayed, excited voices, but
the queen raised her wand for silence, and continued:
"Though it may only be an idle threat, I will still appeal to
Euphrosyne. Should we ever need her help right gladly she will give it."
Her hearers all looked puzzled, and Dame Drusilda made bold to ask: "Who
is Euphrosyne of whom you speak?" "Have you not heard of her?" Queen
Titania asked, with much surprise. "She is the Goddess of Mirth, who
tries to make the whole world happy--a most gigantic task. Come with me,
and I will send her an invisible summons." With the Cupids bearing her
train she passed with the fairies out to the palace courtyard where
fountains played and flowers bloomed. There she raised her wand, and
told them to look up. And doing so they beheld a most marvelous sight--a
radiant, smiling-faced, gloriously beautiful young woman in classical
white robes, with her sandalled feet resting ever so lightly upon one of
the pearl-tinged clouds.
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Around her circled snowy doves, cooing, fluttering, and settling on her
head, bare shoulders and arms.
While Titania waved her wand, she suddenly gazed downward, as though
something by means of an electric current had been transmitted to her
through the air. She stroked a dove that had found its way trustingly to
her hand, and as the others flew from her she herself seemed plumed for
flight.
The fairies watched her with a suspense that was almost painful, but to
their great disappointment the passing clouds blotted her from sight.
But even the fairies who all the time are witnessing the most wonderful
things were quite astounded when Euphrosyne in what seemed to be the
very next moment appeared with the dove right in their very midst.
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"What is your wish?" she said to Queen Titania.
"Oh, beautiful Euphrosyne," said the little queen, "we are much
concerned over the wicked Dragonfel."
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"The enchanter across the sea?" said Euphrosyne.
"And what about him?"
"He threatens harm to the fairies."
"Do not borrow trouble," said Euphrosyne.
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"Sometimes people make foolish threats, and when others heed them they
have a good deal of needless worry." All looked very much relieved, and
Queen Titania said: "Your encouraging words comfort us greatly."
"If I were you," advised Euphrosyne, "I'd always keep the portcullis
down, and be very careful about admitting strangers. Don't let anyone in
without a first-class reference. If Dragonfel annoys you, let me know."
"But how?" asked Queen Titania.
"You can send this magic dove to me!"
They looked at her, but she was gone, and no one knew whither. She
seemed to have just melted away. Where her hand had been there was
a dove, and, as it started to flutter off, with some difficulty they
caught it.
Though she was very much encouraged by all Euphrosyne had said, Queen
Titania still thought it prudent to post on one of the palace walls a
warning placard so that those who ran might read.
And, it proved a task that was sufficient to interest some of the
fairies the rest of the afternoon, and, by the time they got through,
they were able to make some show at hitting the nail on the head.
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