We worked long and hard ere they were won, and you can win one of
those, if you will do the task we give you."
And Thistle said, "No task will be too hard for me to do for dear
Lily-Bell's sake."
Then they led him to a strange, dark place, lit up with torches;
where troops of Spirits flew
busily to and fro, among damp rocks, and
through dark galleries that led far down into the earth. "What do
they here?" asked Thistle.
"I will tell," replied little Sparkle, "for I once worked here
myself. Some of them watch above the flower-roots, and keep them
fresh and strong; others gather the clear drops that
trickle from the
damp rocks, and form a little spring, which, growing ever larger,
rises to the light above, and gushes forth in some green field or
lonely forest; where the wild-birds come to drink, and wood-flowers
spread their thirsty leaves above the clear, cool waves, as they go
dancing away, carrying joy and
freshnesswherever they go. Others
shape the bright jewels into lovely forms, and make the good-luck
pennies which we give to mortals whom we love. And here you must toil
till the golden flower is won."
Then Thistle went among the Spirits, and joined in their tasks;
he tended the flower-roots, gathered the water-drops, and formed the
good-luck pennies. Long and hard he worked, and was often sad and
weary, often tempted by
unkind and
selfish thoughts; but he thought
of Lily-Bell, and
strove to be kind and
loving as she had been; and
soon the Spirits
learned to love the patient Fairy, who had left his
home to toil among them for the sake of his gentle friend.
At length came little Sparkle to him,
saying, "You have done enough;
come now, and dance and feast with us, for the golden flower is won."
But Thistle could not stay, for half his task was not yet done; and
he longed for
sunlight and Lily-Bell. So,
taking a kind
farewell,
he hastened through the torch-lit path up to the light again; and,
spreading his wings, flew over hill and dale till he reached the
forest where Lily-Bell lay
sleeping.
It was early morning, and the rosy light shone
brightly through the
lily-leaves upon her, as Thistle entered, and laid his first gift
at the Brownie King's feet.
"You have done well," said he, "we hear good
tidings of you from
bird and flower, and you are truly seeking to
repair the evil
you have done. Take now one look at your little friend, and then
go forth to seek from the Air Spirits your second gift."
Then Thistle said
farewell again to Lily-Bell, and flew far and wide
among the clouds, seeking the Air Spirits; but though he wandered till
his weary wings could bear him no longer, it was in vain. So, faint
and sad, he lay down to rest on a broad vine-leaf, that
fluttered
gently in the wind; and as he lay, he saw beneath him the home
of the kind bees whom he had so disturbed, and Lily-Bell had helped
and comforted.
"I will seek to win their
pardon, and show them that I am no longer
the cruel Fairy who so harmed them," thought Thistle, "and when they
become again my friends, I will ask their help to find the Air
Spirits; and if I
deserve it, they will
gladly aid me on my way."
So he flew down into the field below, and hastened
busily from
flower to flower, till he had filled a tiny blue-bell with sweet,
fresh honey. Then he stole
softly to the hive, and, placing it near
the door, concealed himself to watch. Soon his friend Nimble-Wing
came flying home, and when he spied the little cup, he hummed with
joy, and called his companions around him.
"Surely, some good Elf has placed it here for us," said they; "let us
bear it to our Queen; it is so fresh and
fragrant it will be a fit
gift for her"; and they
joyfully took it in, little dreaming who had
placed it there.
So each day Thistle filled a flower-cup, and laid it at the door;
and each day the bees wondered more and more, for many strange things
happened. The field-flowers told of the good spirit who watched
above them, and the birds sang of the same kind little Elf bringing
soft moss for their nests, and food for their hungry young ones;
while all around the hive had grown fairer since the Fairy came.
But the bees never saw him, for he feared he had not yet done enough
to win their
forgiveness" target="_blank" title="n.原谅,饶恕;宽仁">
forgiveness and friendship; so he lived alone among the
vines, daily bringing them honey, and doing some kindly action.
At length, as he lay
sleeping in a flower-bell, a little bee came
wandering by, and knew him for the
wicked Thistle; so he called his
friends, and, as they flew murmuring around him, he awoke.
"What shall we do to you,
naughty Elf?" said they. "You are in
our power, and we will sting you if you are not still."
"Let us close the flower-leaves around him and leave him here
to starve," cried one, who had not yet forgotten all the sorrow
Thistle had caused them long ago.
"No, no, that were very cruel, dear Buzz," said little Hum; "let us
take him to our Queen, and she will tell us how to show our anger for
the
wicked deeds he did. See how
bitterly he weeps; be kind to him,
he will not harm us more.
"You good little Hum!" cried a kind-hearted robin who had hopped near
to listen to the bees. "Dear friends, do you not know that this is
the good Fairy who has dwelt so quietly among us, watching over bird
and
blossom, giving joy to all he helps? It is HE who brings the
honey-cup each day to you, and then goes
silently away, that you may
never know who works so
faithfully for you. Be kind to him, for if
he has done wrong, he has repented of it, as you may see."
"Can this be
naughty Thistle?" said Nimble-Wing.
"Yes, it is I," said Thistle, "but no longer cruel and
unkind. I have
tried to win your love by patient industry. Ah, trust me now, and you
shall see I am not
naughty Thistle any more."
Then the wondering bees led him to their Queen, and when he had told
his tale, and begged their
forgiveness" target="_blank" title="n.原谅,饶恕;宽仁">
forgiveness, it was
gladly given; and
all
strove to show him that he was loved and trusted. Then he asked
if they could tell him where the Air Spirits dwelt, for he must not
forget dear Lily-Bell; and to his great joy the Queen said, "Yes,"
and bade little Hum guide Thistle to Cloud-Land.
Little Hum
joyfully obeyed; and Thistle followed him, as he flew
higher and higher among the soft clouds, till in the distance they saw
a
radiant light.
"There is their home, and I must leave you now, dear Thistle," said
the little bee; and, bidding him
farewell, he flew singing back; while
Thistle, following the light, soon found himself in the Air Spirits'
home.
The sky was gold and
purple like an autumn
sunset, and long walls of
brilliant clouds lay round him. A rosy light shone through the silver
mist, on gleaming columns and the
rainbow roof; soft,
fragrant winds
went whispering by, and airy little forms were flitting to and fro.
Long Thistle wondered at the beauty round him; and then he went
among the shining Spirits, told his tale, and asked a gift.
But they answered like the Earth Spirits. "You must serve us first,
and then we will
gladly give you a robe of
sunlight like our own "
And then they told him how they wafted flower-seeds over the earth,
to
beautify and
brightenlonely spots; how they watched above the
blossoms by day, and scattered dews at night, brought
sunlightinto darkened places, and soft winds to
refresh and cheer.
"These are the things we do," said they, " and you must aid us
for a time."
And Thistle
gladly went with the lovely Spirits; by day he joined
the
sunlight and the
breeze in their silent work; by night, with
Star-Light and her sister spirits, he flew over the moon-lit earth,
dropping cool dew upon the folded flowers, and bringing happy dreams
to
sleeping mortals. Many a kind deed was done, many a gentle word
was
spoken; and each day lighter grew his heart, and stronger his
power of giving joy to others.
At length Star-Light bade him work no more, and
gladly gave him
the gift he had won. Then his second task was done, and he flew gayly
back to the green earth and slumbering Lily-Bell.
The
silverymoonlight shone upon her, as he came to give his second
gift; and the Brownie spoke more kindly than before.
"One more trial, Thistle, and she will awake. Go
bravely forth and
win your last and hardest gift."
Then with a light heart Thistle journeyed away to the brooks and
rivers, seeking the Water Spirits. But he looked in vain; till,
wandering through the forest where the Brownies took him captive,
he stopped beside the quiet lake.
As he stood here he heard a sound of pain, and, looking in the tall
grass at his side, he saw the dragon-fly whose kindness he once
repayed by pain and sorrow, and who now lay
suffering and alone.
Thistle bent
tenderly beside him,
saying, "Dear Flutter, do not
fear me. I will
gladly ease your pain, if you will let me; I am your
friend, and long to show you how I
grieve for all the wrong I did you,
when you were so kind to me. Forgive, and let me help and comfort
you."
Then he bound up the broken wing, and spoke so
tenderly that Flutter
doubted him no longer, and was his friend again.
Day by day did Thistle watch beside him, making little beds of
cool, fresh moss for him to rest upon, fanning him when he slept,
and singing sweet songs to cheer him when awake. And often when
poor Flutter longed to be dancing once again over the blue waves,
the Fairy bore him in his arms to the lake, and on a broad leaf,
with a green flag for a sail, they floated on the still water; while
the dragon-fly's companions flew about them, playing merry games.
At length the broken wing was well, and Thistle said he must again
seek the Water Spirits. "I can tell you where to find them," said
Flutter; "you must follow yonder little brook, and it will lead you
to the sea, where the Spirits dwell. I would
gladly do more for you,
dear Thistle, but I cannot, for they live deep beneath the waves.
You will find some kind friend to aid you on your way; and so
farewell."
Thistle followed the little brook, as it flowed through field and
valley, growing ever larger, till it reached the sea. Here the wind
blew
freshly, and the great waves rolled and broke at Thistle's feet,
as he stood upon the shore, watching the billows dancing and sparkling
in the sun.
"How shall I find the Spirits in this great sea, with none to help or
guide me? Yet it is my last task, and for Lily-Bell's sake I must not
fear or
falter now," said Thistle. So he flew
hither and t
hitherover the sea, looking through the waves. Soon he saw, far below,
the branches of the coral tree.
"They must be here," thought he, and, folding his wings, he plunged
into the deep, cold sea. But he saw only
fearful monsters and dark
shapes that gathered round him; and, trembling with fear, he struggled
up again.
The great waves tossed him to and fro, and cast him bruised and faint
upon the shore. Here he lay
weepingbitterly, till a voice beside him
said, "Poor little Elf, what has
befallen you? These rough waves are
not fit playmates for so
delicate a thing as you. Tell me your
sorrow, and I will comfort you."
And Thistle, looking up, saw a white sea-bird at his side, who tried
with friendly words to cheer him. So he told all his wanderings,
and how he sought the Sea Spirits.
"Surely, if bee and
blossom do their part to help you, birds should
aid you too," said the Sea-bird. "I will call my friend, the
Nautilus, and he will bear you
safely to the Coral Palace where the
Spirits dwell."
So, spreading his great wings, he flew away, and soon Thistle saw
a little boat come dancing over the waves, and wait beside the shore
for him.
In he
sprang. Nautilus raised his little sail to the wind, and the
light boat glided
swiftly over the blue sea. At last Thistle cried,
"I see lovely arches far below; let me go, it is the Spirits' home."
"Nay, close your eyes, and trust to me. I will bear you
safely down,"
said Nautilus.
So Thistle closed his eyes, and listened to the murmur of the sea,
as they sank slowly through the waves. The soft sound lulled him
to sleep, and when he awoke the boat was gone, and he stood among
the Water Spirits, in their strange and lovely home.
Lofty arches of snow-white coral bent above him, and the walls