登陆注册
14828000000012

第12章

THERE grew a fragrant rose-tree where the brook flows, With two little tender buds, and one full rose;When the sun went down to his bed in the west, The little buds leaned on the rose-mother's breast, While the bright eyed stars their long watch kept, And the flowers of the valley in their green cradles slept;Then silently in odors they communed with each otber, The two little buds on the bosom of their mother.

"O sister," said the little one, as she gazed at the sky, "I wish that the Dew Elves, as they wander lightly by, Would bring me a star; for they never grow dim, And the Father does not need them to burn round him.

The shining drops of dew the Elves bring each day And place in my bosom, so soon pass away;But a star would glitter brightly through the long summer hours, And I should be fairer than all my sister flowers.

That were better far than the dew-drops that fall On the high and the low, and come alike to all.

I would be fair and stately, with a bright star to shine And give a queenly air to this crimson robe of mine."And proudly she cried, "These fire-flies shall be My jewels, since the stars can never come to me."Just then a tiny dew-drop that hung o'er the dell On the breast of the bud like a soft star fell;But impatiently she flung it away from her leaf, And it fell on her mother like a tear of grief, While she folded to her breast, with wilful pride, A glittering fire-fly that hung by her side.

"Heed," said the mother rose, "daughter mine, Why shouldst thou seek for beauty not thine?

The Father hath made thee what thou now art;

And what he most loveth is a sweet, pure heart.

Then why dost thou take with such discontent The loving gift which he to thee hath sent?

For the cool fresh dew will render thee far More lovely and sweet than the brightest star;They were made for Heaven, and can never come to shine Like the fire-fly thou hast in that foolish breast of thine.

O my foolish little bud, do listen to thy mother;Care only for true beauty, and seek for no other.

There will be grief and trouble in that wilful little heart;Unfold thy leaves, my daughter, and let the fly depart."But the proud little bud would have her own will, And folded the fire-fly more closely still;Till the struggling insect tore open the vest Of purple and green, that covered her breast.

When the sun came up, she saw with grief The blooming of her sister bud leaf by leaf.

While she, once as fair and bright as the rest, Hung her weary head down on her wounded breast.

Bright grew the sunshine, and the soft summer air Was filled with the music of flowers singing there;But faint grew the little bud with thirst and pain, And longed for the cool dew; but now 't was in vain.

Then bitterly she wept for her folly and pride, As drooping she stood by her fair sister's side.

Then the rose mother leaned the weary little head On her bosom to rest, and tenderly she said:

"Thon hast learned, my little bud, that, whatever may betide, Thou canst win thyself no joy by passion or by pride.

The loving Father sends the sunshine and the shower, That thou mayst become a perfect little flower;--The sweet dews to feed thee, the soft wind to cheer, And the earth as a pleasant home, while thou art dwelling here.

Then shouldst thou not be grateful for all this kindly care, And strive to keep thyself most innocent and fair?

Then seek, my little blossom, to win humility;Be fair without, be pure within, and thou wilt happy be.

So when the quiet Autumn of thy fragrant life shall come, Thou mayst pass away, to bloom in the Flower Spirits' home."Then from the mother's breast, where it still lay hid, Into the fading bud the dew-drop gently slid;Stronger grew the little form, and happy tears fell, As the dew did its silent work, and the bud grew well, While the gentle rose leaned, with motherly pride, O'er the fair little ones that bloomed at her side.

Night came again, and the fire-flies flew;

But the bud let them pass, and drank of the dew;While the soft stars shone, from the still summer heaven, On the happy little flower that had learned the lesson given.

The music-loving Elves clapped their hands, as Star-Twinkle ceased;and the Queen placed a flower crown, with a gentle smile, upon the Fairy's head, saying,--"The little bud's lesson shall teach us how sad a thing is pride, and that humility alone can bring true happiness to flower and Fairy.

You shall come next, Zephyr."

And the little Fairy, who lay rocking to and fro upon a fluttering vine-leaf, thus began her story:--"As I lay resting in the bosom of a cowslip that bent above the brook, a little wind, tired of play, told me this tale of LILY-BELL AND THISTLEDOWN.

ONCE upon a time, two little Fairies went out into the world, to seek their fortune. Thistle-down was as gay and gallant a little Elf as ever spread a wing. His purple mantle, and doublet of green, were embroidered with the brightest threads, and the plume in his cap came always from the wing of the gayest butterfly.

But he was not loved in Fairy-Land, for, like the flower whose name and colors he wore, though fair to look upon, many were the little thorns of cruelty and selfishness that lay concealed by his gay mantle. Many a gentle flower and harmless bird died by his hand, for he cared for himself alone, and whatever gave him pleasure must be his, though happy hearts were rendered sad, and peaceful homes destroyed.

Such was Thistledown; but far different was his little friend, Lily-Bell. Kind, compassionate, and loving, wherever her gentle face was seen, joy and gratitude were found; no suffering flower or insect, that did not love and bless the kindly Fairy; and thus all Elf-Land looked upon her as a friend.

Nor did this make her vain and heedless of others; she humb]y dwelt among them, seeking to do all the good she might; and many a houseless bird and hungry insect that Thistledown had harmed did she feed and shelter, and in return no evil could befall her, for so many friends were all about her, seeking to repay her tenderness and love by their watchful care.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 恐惧本源

    恐惧本源

    本书是一部有众多短篇故事组合而成的惊悚悬疑小说,所写内容保证极大地满足您的好奇心。比如,手持电锯的僵尸杀人狂、受诅咒的小人偶、深夜出没的无表情的人以及充满死亡危险的夏令营之行等等等等惊悚界经久不衰的经典题材。
  • 神盟

    神盟

    花寻原本是五庄观内的一位普普通通的土地爷。石猴出世的巨大震动,震下了一枚未成熟的人生果,机缘巧合被花寻吃下。吃下人参果之后的花寻返老还童,重新变成了一个毫无修为的少年,改名花小寻。失去了所有修为的花小寻,再次踏上了重返仙途的旅程。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 都门天骄

    都门天骄

    一场车祸永远改变他的命运!他是人,却冷血无情,是幽冥中走出来的死者!十年寒载,以冰铸剑,名曰,誓约胜利之剑!当天灾降临,众生苦难,他独自一人挑起重梁,所为一切,自由,以剑定国,名曰自由誓约王国!红粉知己,跻身都门,满满一堂,只为融化他天骄的心!他!还是个人!不过是个一人至上,万人至下的人!
  • 黑灵人皮面具(方白羽中篇系列)

    黑灵人皮面具(方白羽中篇系列)

    “黑灵!”总有人从血腥中惊醒,但也只能恐惧地喊出这两个字,喉咙便被割断!和前门进来的同伴会合后,相信整个李府除了他们,再没有活物,然后六人分头放火,一把大火以后,不会再留任何痕迹。黑灵(比起“一号”来,他更接受这个名字)举着火把来到后堂,猛然一惊,在火光的摇拽下,一个小女孩从暗处现了出来。。。
  • 时空异客

    时空异客

    他叫楚离,是人类十大至强天尊之一。被十大兽王围攻致死!他叫燕奇,是华夏一个普普通通的高二学生,毫无存在感!在天意的安排下,两人的灵魂发生了重叠。厌倦了无休止战斗的楚离要用燕奇的身份平淡的度过一生。但是,当他发现这个世界有着比另一个世界更浓郁的混沌因子的时候,强烈的不安使他再次踏上成为强者的路。“我只想掌握自己命运,安静的享受生活。为什么会有那么多的麻烦找到我?”“既然天意不让我平静,我便打破这天地有何妨?”为了守护珍惜的人,为了不让另一个世界的悲剧再次重现,看我时空异客在平行时空如何书写新的传奇!
  • 南城戏子

    南城戏子

    南城小曲,一首小诗谱写成曲。南城一曲,一名戏子唱演惊鸿。别把我的悲伤当真,也别为了我的表演心碎,今生今世,我只是个戏子,在别人的故事里,流着自己的泪。他日我若为青帝,报与桃花一处开!
  • 傲娇忠犬,娇妻如玉

    傲娇忠犬,娇妻如玉

    千望舒她重生了,这一世,她决定要做个坏人,把渣爹、小三和白莲花妹妹通通干掉。然后,她遇到了墨珏,只是……“望舒,宝贝儿,不要把我关在外面啦。”“我跟你讲,你这样会失去本宝宝的!”“滚!”她揉了揉酸痛的腰,说好的冰山大总裁呢?这样撒娇是什么鬼!#我的老公每天都在崩人设##老公是个脑补帝##拒绝傲娇,还我冰山#
  • 奇缘传

    奇缘传

    《奇缘传》某一章也许就是长篇,也有可能就是中篇、短篇,它集合了古代、现代生活多元化,惊悚、诡异、灵魂出窍、穿越、玄幻、修行、修仙、爱情、、科幻等等,描述不同的故事情节表达不同的人物思想,反映人的精神状态及生活面貌。内容包罗万象,范围之广,这也是和众多作品不一样的地方,选择《奇缘传》作品,你们不会后悔!
  • 冥修

    冥修

    一个因意外穿到冥月大陆的苦命仔获得了全大陆最神秘的冥王决,修练途中揭开了大陆四大皇族的统治秘密及他与各皇族的恩怨,看他如何凭借强大的冥王决将对方连根拔起并帮助冥王决的创始人返回神界成功复仇。路过打酱油的朋友顺手收藏一下本书,恳请推荐票支持,谢谢各位!全新的设定:冥徒——冥士——冥师——冥宗——冥圣——冥神,除了最后面的冥神前面每个等级都分有三个阶段:初阶——中阶——巅峰冥界群:110905002