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+Project Gutenberg's The Fairy Nightcaps, by Frances Elizabeth Barrow
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Fairy Nightcaps
+
+Author: Frances Elizabeth Barrow
+
+Release Date: May 14, 2009 [EBook #28802]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FAIRY NIGHTCAPS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration: GOING TO THE MIDSUMMER BALL.]
+
+
+
+
+                   THE
+
+              FAIRY NIGHTCAPS.
+
+             BY THE AUTHOR OF
+  THE FIVE NIGHTCAP BOOKS, "AUNT FANNY'S STORIES,"
+                 ETC., ETC.
+
+                 NEW YORK:
+           D. APPLETON & COMPANY,
+             443 & 445 BROADWAY.
+          LONDON: 16 LITTLE BRITAIN.
+                   1861.
+
+
+
+
+  ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by
+                       FANNY BARROW,
+  In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
+                 Southern District of New York.
+
+
+
+
+             TO MASSA CHARLES,
+  WHOSE MOST LOVABLE QUALITIES WERE BUT FAINTLY
+             PORTRAYED IN THE
+           FIRST NIGHTCAP BOOK,
+                  THIS
+      THE SIXTH AND LAST OF THE SERIES,
+            IS AFFECTIONATELY
+                 Dedicated.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE TO THE CHILDREN.
+
+
+DEAR CHILDREN,
+
+Here is the last Nightcap book, making six in all. The story of "The
+Three Little Fishes" was taken (but very much altered) from a clever
+book for grown folks, written, I believe, nearly two hundred years
+ago; but all the rest is true, "real true."
+
+I have written them out with my heart full of love and good wishes
+for you, and _you_, and YOU; and my only desire in return is,
+that down in a cosy corner of your dear little hearts, you will keep warm,
+one kind thought of your loving
+
+                AUNT FANNY.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                                    PAGE
+
+    THE FAIRIES' LIFE; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT THEY DID IN THE
+    BEAUTIFUL HOLLOW,                                                  9
+
+    THE CHILDREN'S LIFE; WITH THEIR JOURNEY TO WEST POINT,            37
+
+    THE FAIRIES' LIFE; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE MIDSUMMER BALL,         77
+
+    THE CHILDREN'S LIFE; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF IDLEWILD, THE STAG DANCE,
+    THE BATTLE OF THE FAIRIES, &c.,                                  145
+
+    THE DEATH OF CHARLEY,                                            209
+
+
+
+
+FAIRY NIGHTCAPS.
+
+
+
+
+THE FAIRIES' LIFE.
+
+
+In the deep shadow of the Highlands, at the foot of the old Crow Nest
+Mountain, is a wild and beautiful hollow, closed around on every side
+by tall trees, interlaced together by the clasping tendrils of the
+honeysuckle, and the giant arms of luxuriant wild grape-vines.
+
+The mossy edge of this magic circle is thickly embroidered with
+violets, harebells, perfumed clover-blossoms, and delicate, feathery
+ferns. A little brook, overhung with grasses and whispering leaves,
+dances and dimples in the bright sunlight and soft moonbeams, and then
+trips away, to offer the wild-rose leaves that have fallen upon his
+bosom to his beloved tributary lord, the great Hudson River.
+
+Not a bat dare spread his unclean leathern wings across this charmed
+place, and the very owls that wink and blink in the hollow trees near
+by keep their unmusical "hoot toot" to themselves.
+
+In the short young velvety grass, a starry daisy, or a sly little
+cowslip, peeps up here and there, but nothing else disturbs the
+lawn-like smoothness, save a tiny mound of green moss near the centre
+of the hollow, shaped marvellously like a throne.
+
+It was the night of the eighteenth of June; and evidently there was
+something of importance about to happen in the beautiful hollow, for
+presently a train of glow-worms came marching gravely in, and arranged
+themselves in a circle around the mossy throne; while thousands of
+fire-flies flashed and twinkled through the trees. The soft,
+coquetting wind wandered caressingly among the flowers, and the
+moonbeams rested with a sweeter, tenderer light, upon the little brook
+which murmured and rippled, and gave back many a glancing, loving
+beam.
+
+Suddenly a silvery tinkling bell was heard, like music at a distance.
+Twelve times it sounded; and immediately after an invisible chorus of
+sweet tiny voices were heard singing:
+
+  "Hasten, Elfin! hasten, Fay!
+  From old Crow Nest wing your way;
+  Through the bush and dewy brake,
+  Fairies, hasten, for the sake
+  Of a mortal, whose pure breath
+  Soon will fade, and sink in death:
+  We for him sweet dreams will find,
+  We will fill with balm the wind;
+  Watch his young life glide away,
+  Deck with beauty its decay--
+  Till the closing earthly strife,
+  Opens into heavenly life."
+
+Instantly the air seemed filled with streams of light like falling
+stars; the booming sound of humble-bees was heard, as fairy knights
+and ladies came hastening to the call through the moon-lit air; the
+knights pricking their chargers with their wasp-sting spurs, and the
+ladies urging theirs quite as fast with their sweet, coaxing voices.
+
+The grave, elderly fairies, came more soberly. They crept out from
+under the velvet mullen leaves, and gravely mounted their palfreys,
+which were small field mice, and held them well in, with corn-silk
+bridles; for elderly fairies are inclined to be gouty, and don't like
+to do any thing in a hurry; like other people, they are apt to go too
+fast when they are young--and to balance the matter, are very slow
+coaches when they are old.
+
+Several ancient ladies, who had been napping in a secluded nook at the
+root of an old tree, waited for their nutshells and four to be brought
+up; and as the coach-horses were represented by hairy, white
+caterpillars--who were so short-legged, that they took the longest
+possible time to get over the ground--and as the ancient fairies had
+much ado to fold their wings, and arrange their crinoline in their
+carriages, you may be sure they were very fashionably late.
+
+And now a strain of delicious music filled the air, the glow-worms
+lighted up brilliantly, and the dew grew heavy with fragrance, as the
+Fairy Queen, with a bright train of attendants, floated past in dark
+green phaetons, made of the leaves of the camelia, and drawn by
+magnificently painted butterflies, harnessed and caparisoned with
+gold.
+
+The dignity and queenly presence of her Majesty would have rendered
+her conspicuous above the rest, even if her tiny golden crown and
+sceptre, tipped with a diamond that blazed like a meteor, had not
+indicated that she was a monarch; and the acclamations that rose on
+all sides attested the attachment her subjects felt for her person.
+
+She was indeed most lovely; and kind and generous beyond words to
+describe; and she had called her court together this very night to do
+that which makes both fairies and mortals lovelier and better, with
+every new effort. Do you know what it is? It is, _trying to add to the
+happiness of another_.
+
+And now the Queen and her maids of honor gracefully alighted with the
+eagerly proffered assistance of the fashionable young fairy dandies;
+and the court gathered respectfully around, as the beautiful Queen
+seated herself on her throne, and gently waved her sceptre to command
+attention.
+
+"My lords, ladies, and gentlemen," said her Majesty, in a voice of
+perfect music, "I have called you together three nights before our
+opening midsummer festival, because I know by my fairy power, that a
+mortal--a gentle, lovely boy--will arrive here to-morrow, across
+whose young life the harsh wings of pain and affliction have passed.
+For a month or more he has so drooped and faded, that I fear, before
+long, his pure life will be ended. His mother watches over him with
+the undying, untiring love, which only a mother knows. We can help
+her, my beloved subjects, and we will; we can steal the venom from his
+painful sleep, by giving him fairy dreams; and on our gala nights we
+will gently lift him from his couch, and bring him here. His sweet
+presence will cast no shadow on our festivities, so pure and lovely
+have been all the thoughts, words, and actions of his short life."
+
+A murmur of pleasure rose from the assembled court, and the good and
+beautiful Queen saw with delight, that her proposal had given pleasure
+to all her subjects, with one exception; and he was her very honest,
+but still more disagreeable prime minister, who, being a sour,
+meddlesome old bachelor, hated children. His temper was not
+particularly sweet just then, because he was making wry faces over an
+attack of the gout in his great toe, from indulging too freely in
+May-dew wine, and eating too often of roasted tiger-lily, which is a
+very highly seasoned dish, and difficult to digest, unless you take
+immediately after eating, half a dozen lady-slipper pills, which my
+lord the prime minister never would take, on account of the name--for
+of course, if he hated children he hated the ladies also--and as I
+was saying, he felt very cross, and inclined to find fault with any
+thing anybody else proposed; so making as low a bow as his stiff back
+would permit, he began, with an abominable nasal twang: "May it please
+your Majesty, who is this child you deign to favor so highly?"
+
+"He is called Lame Charley!" graciously answered the Queen. "He is the
+darling of all who know him."
+
+"Are there any other children in the family, my liege?" snarled the
+prime minister.
+
+"About three dozen, more or less," answered the Queen, frowning
+slightly, for she was not quite certain as to the number, and did not
+like to be questioned. "Humph!" grumbled the prime minister. Then
+muttering to himself, "Three dozen children! all eating dreadful
+pumpkin-pie--with cheeks like saddle-bags, and voices loud enough to
+make a mummy jump out of his skin in an ecstasy of astonishment at the
+noise! was there ever such a foolish freak?" whereupon, taking out his
+beetle-back snuff-box, and giving it the traditional taps, he helped
+himself to such a prodigious pinch, by way of consolation, that he was
+obliged to retire precipitately behind the honeysuckles, and nearly
+cracked his left wing by a tremendous fit of sneezing. For let me tell
+you that the pollen, or dust of the snap-dragon, properly dried,
+makes very powerful fairy snuff, and I advise you not to try it.
+
+The maids of honor had great difficulty to keep from bursting out
+laughing at the flight of the cross old prime minister; and the Queen
+pretended to arrange her bodice, made of the gossamer wing of the
+katydid, to hide a smile; but now, reclining on her throne, and
+gracefully fanning herself with her right wing, she indulged in a
+pleasant chat with her favorites, about Charley.
+
+"Dear Cowslip!" she began, "I am so interested in this lovely boy.
+Will you assist me to watch over him, and keep away all harm from his
+loving brothers and sisters? Particularly we will protect them from
+the Kelpies, those hateful water-sprites, who would drag them down to
+their dark caves beneath the wave, if once the children ventured upon
+their realm. We will bid their little mother to warn them from getting
+into row-boats, or wading out into the river; the Kelpies shall
+content themselves with water-rats and tadpoles for this time, for too
+many lovely children have already been sacrificed to their cruel
+spite."
+
+"Ah, beloved Queen!" answered Cowslip, "I, for one, will help you with
+heart and will; those damp, wretched little goblins shall not hurt a
+hair of their heads."
+
+"And I, with might and main, will do your behest!" said the handsome
+young Ripple, twisting his mustache.
+
+"And I, gracious Queen!" cried the pretty Lota, "for I dearly love
+children."
+
+"And I, your Majesty," said Beeswing with Ripple and Firefly, "will
+order our regiment--the seventh--to encamp under the sedges on the
+shore, half to keep watch, while the other half sleep in the swaying
+branches of the water-willows."
+
+"Give us something to do for the dear children, dearest Queen!" cried
+Dewdrop and Lilliebelle, two of the most famous beauties of the court,
+and, what is far better, as good as they were beautiful; "let us also
+help to make them happy."
+
+"Well said, fair ladies and brave knights!" exclaimed the Queen; "with
+such true and loyal assistance, my labor of love will be most
+delightful. Come now--to the dance--while they are preparing supper."
+
+She clapped her tiny hands thrice, and immediately the fairy band
+commenced playing the most enchanting dances; and the beautiful hollow
+was speedily filled with couples, whisking away in such rapid
+evolutions, that you would have thought they would soon tumble head
+over heels, from sheer dizziness; but as the dances were, after all,
+not very different from ours, I suppose the fairies were quite as well
+used to the rushing style; and, in good truth, as they were _fairies_,
+it seemed more in keeping, for these rapid, gracefully undulating
+movements, were the very poetry of motion.
+
+Of course the elderly gentlemen fairies lounged among the
+honeysuckles, and talked politics, and quarrelled dreadfully about who
+should be the next President; for they took an immense interest in the
+affairs of us mortals; and the elderly lady fairies just as much, of
+course, pulled the characters of their best friends to pieces, without
+so much as a single regret; while the lovely young Queen, with
+half-a-dozen of her favorites, after dancing once, to set the fashion,
+ordered her pages to shake down a perfect shower of wild-rose leaves,
+on the edge of the hollow, of which they made soft and freshly
+perfumed couches; and there they listened to the exquisite music, and
+watched the dancers, and gaily devised plans for the comfort of our
+dear little friend, Lame Charley.
+
+While they were thus conversing, a queer little elfin sped down one of
+the moonbeams, like a flash of summer lightning, and in an instant was
+on his knee before the Queen.
+
+It was the fairy, Slyboots, the Queen's favorite messenger, and the
+most mischievous sprite in her dominions.
+
+"Welcome, good Slyboots," cried the Queen; "by your bright eyes and
+unsoiled wings, methinks you must have fulfilled our commands
+faithfully. How fared you? and how did you find our dear 'Nightcap'
+family?"
+
+"Most gracious Majesty! I hurried to the great city, without folding
+wing; merely stopping a moment to torment a miserly old landlord, who,
+the day before, had turned a poor widow, with two little children, out
+of his tenement house, because she was not quite ready with the rent.
+I put a great fly on his nose, and a great flea in his ear, and
+ordered them to stay there, and buzz, and bite him, till he went
+nearly into fits."
+
+A chorus of sweet fairy laughter greeted this mad-cap caper, and
+Slyboots embraced the opportunity to whisper something to a small
+brown spider, who had been listening with all his ears, and staring at
+Slyboots with all his eyes, of which he had more than his share, and
+who immediately scampered off with all his legs.
+
+"Then, your Majesty," continued the elfin, "I hastened on, and flew
+through the window into the room where Charley slept. All was sweet,
+still, and hushed; and oh! how pure and lovely the pale boy looked, as
+he lay there, his hands folded across his breast. As I gazed, a
+radiant smile parted his lips, and a faint color came into his white
+cheek. He was dreaming--his soul was full of holy thoughts--and the
+smile had come, as he saw in his dream the Beautiful Home above, for
+which he was preparing.
+
+"The little mother, looking wearied with watching, lay upon a couch
+near him. As I hovered over her, a large tear crept from under her
+closed eyelid, and a quick convulsive sob broke from her breast. She
+too was dreaming, dreaming of the sorrowful time when her darling
+would be taken from her.
+
+"I swept my wings lightly across her brow, and bade her waken. She
+opened her eyes, looked upon Charley, and rising, with a sigh of
+relief, she murmured: 'I have thee yet, oh my child! my darling!' and
+hastening to him, she softly drew back the golden curls from his
+forehead, sprinkled a few drops of grateful, refreshing perfume upon
+his pillow, and then, tenderly touching his cheek with her loving
+lips, went comforted back to her couch.
+
+"The rest of the children were in the other rooms, fast asleep in
+two-story cribs, and various dear little beds; and I left some of
+them laughing merrily in their sleep, by telling them one or two
+ridiculous anecdotes about your Majesty's stuffy old prime min----"
+
+"Silence, Slyboots!" cried the Queen, trying not to laugh. "You shall
+not make fun of our minister to our face. Go and order the supper."
+
+Slyboots grinned sideways at the maids of honor, but bowed, with a
+great show of penitence, to his Queen. Retiring from the presence, he
+placed a tiny bugle, fashioned out of a small honeysuckle, to his
+lips, and blew a shrill, peculiar blast.
+
+It was perfectly well understood, for in an instant, a hundred small
+pink and white mushrooms sprang out of the earth, making the most
+delightful little tables imaginable, quite equal to the finest
+satin-wood, upon which the fairy servants and pages hastened to place
+dishes of rose-leaves filled with honey-dust, and golden buttercups of
+sparkling May-dew, which, having been bottled up for six weeks, foamed
+and effervesced, and gave out a most exquisite aroma.
+
+This was for the young fairies, who cared only for sweets. The elderly
+fays were to be feasted upon broiled fly's legs, brought up hot, and
+each one was rolled up in a leaf of pepper-grass, which gave them a
+very piquant seasoning. These were garnished with small pearls,
+steeped and softened in crab-apple vinegar, sharp enough and sour
+enough to draw squeals from a Japanese ambassador, who never smiles
+or squeals at any thing.
+
+When all was ready, the fairies sat down at the tables, in pleasant
+little parties of four and six, while the band played the most admired
+fairy opera airs. But before the banquet was through, I am sadly
+afraid some of the gay young fellows forgot they were in the presence
+of ladies, they laughed so loud, and talked so much nonsense, and one
+of them came very near upsetting the table at which he sat, spilling
+his buttercup of dew all over the new gossamer dress of Lilliebelle,
+who was next to him.
+
+But this was nothing to the uproar which arose when the old prime
+minister, who had been eating flies' legs, and little pearl pickles,
+till he could scarcely breathe, attempted to leave his seat. The
+little brown spider, sent by that mischievous Slyboots, had been hard
+at work fastening his wings together in a net, and then tying them in
+a most complicated cobweb knot to the honeysuckle vine just behind
+him. The old prime minister fairly howled with rage; he turned and
+twisted from side to side; he kicked and made awful faces at Slyboots,
+who was giggling and laughing, and shaking his wings with glee at a
+safe distance. An impudent mosquito came past, and sneered out in his
+abominable nasal drone, "You don't seem to like a net any better than
+I do;" while myriads of midges up in the air danced around him,
+singing, Why-don't-you-get-out? Why-don't-you-get-out? Why-don't-you-
+get-out? to which myriads of others answered, He-would-if-he-could-
+but-he-couldn't! He-would-if-he-could-but-he-couldn't! He-would-if-
+he-could-but-he-couldn't!
+
+At last the Queen, who had been giving some private orders, inquired
+what all the noise and laughter meant; and, in great anger with
+Slyboots for thus turning her old prime minister into ridicule,
+ordered the saucy goblin to draw his sword and release the old
+minister. The young fairy knights hastened to help, for they all liked
+Slyboots, and a tremendous slashing and cutting at the cobweb net
+ensued, which speedily released the poor old prime minister, who went
+off breathing fury and vengeance.
+
+But hark! What is that? A faint, far-off tramp is heard; the galloping
+hoofs of the steeds of the morning were sounding in the eastern sky,
+and the stir of their coming rustled the leaves that crowned the tops
+of the grand old trees. The first cock-crow was heard in the distance,
+and the fairy sentinels sounded the coming of the dawn loud and clear
+on their great morning-glory trumpets, from the top of old Crow Nest.
+The sky became dappled, and a rosy streak marched up to the zenith
+like the banner of a herald.
+
+Up sprang the knights and ladies and mounted their chargers; the Queen
+and her maids entered their phaetons; the elderly fairies made what
+haste their dignity permitted to their nutshells and four, and
+field-mice palfreys, and away they all sped; some through the air,
+some through the velvety grass; banners flying, and music playing,
+until naught was left but a shining trail that melted into the first
+bright golden beam of the morning.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHILDREN'S LIFE.
+
+
+It was early in the sweet summer time. The young green leaves were
+bending over, and tenderly caressing the budding fruit and flowers,
+and the air was balmy with orchard blooms.
+
+Your old friends, the Nightcap children, were as merry and happy and
+well as ever, except Charley--poor lame Charley. He was much worse;
+his sufferings had greatly increased with the dreadful hip disease,
+and a terrible cough racked his delicate and wasted frame. Death had
+been coming slowly on for a long time; but now he hastened his
+footsteps, and Charley knew that he should never see another summer in
+this world. He was not _afraid_ to die--oh, no! the guileless, holy
+life of the gentle boy had robbed death of its sting. He well knew
+that _this_ life was but a small part of our career, and the
+separation from those he loved so well, would be short. His faith in
+his Saviour was perfect and entire. _He_ would soften the pang of
+parting to those left behind, and _He_ would guide them with unchanged
+love to their darling in heaven.
+
+The good little mother was advised by the doctor to take Charley into
+the country, somewhere up the beautiful Hudson River, among those
+grand old hills where the air is so bracing and pure.
+
+It happened, fortunately, that one of her oldest friends, who was an
+officer at West Point, was obliged to leave there upon some government
+expedition for about three months; and he offered his pretty cottage
+to his friend for that time. This was most delightful, as Charley
+could have far more comfort living in this way than in a
+boarding-house; and the rest of the children would not have to be tied
+up by the leg to the bedposts, because their noise disturbed other
+people.
+
+So the little mother gladly and gratefully accepted the offer, and was
+now very busy making up dozens of petticoats and pantaloons, and
+coarse brown aprons, and great sun-bonnets, buying copper-toed shoes,
+so that the children might go where they pleased, and do any thing
+they liked, except tumble into the river, or fall down a well to live
+with the bull-frogs.
+
+A few days before they left, the grand Japanese procession took place
+in New York; and Minnie said, "Oh, mamma, please take us to see the
+_Jackanapes_," which made the rest laugh. So down Broadway they all
+went, looking like a boarding-school that took boys as well as girls,
+with the little mother marching like a captain at their head, and
+turned into a fine store, opposite the City Hall Park, that belonged
+to their uncle, where they had such an excellent view, that their
+faces were a perfect picture of wonder and delight while the
+procession was passing.
+
+"Dear me!" exclaimed George, "I am nearly crazy with joy; I wish the
+Japanese would come every day. How funny! they all look like old women
+in black nightgowns!"
+
+"And their heads have little top-knots, like Poland hens," said Henry;
+"and see that fellow sticking his foot on the edge of the
+carriage--look! his great toe is put in a thumb!"
+
+At this they all laughed, and Harry, laughing too, cried out: "I don't
+mean that; I mean that they knit thumbs in their stockings, and stick
+their great toes in;--dear! how it must tickle!"
+
+It was a grand sight. Many of the stores were decorated with numerous
+little Japanese flags, which consist of a large red ball in the centre
+of a plain white surface, and many Japanese lanterns were hung around.
+The soldiers looked and marched splendidly; and the fine music was
+enchanting. Guns were firing in the Park, and smoking and flaming like
+steamboat funnels: little boys were popping off squibs and crackers,
+and everybody seemed perfectly happy.
+
+"Dear me!" cried Arthur, "I wish I could hear the speeches they intend
+to make. I suppose they will be stuck full of compliments, not a word
+of which the Mayor will understand; but, of course, he will bow a
+great many times to show that he agrees with it all: and then he, in
+return, will make a speech to the ambassadors, all flaming over with
+fine words and flummery, and the Japanese will bow all in a row like
+four-and-twenty fiddlers--and oh! how nice it will all be!"
+
+When the children got home, they told Charley about the grand
+procession, all speaking at once; and one of them put on an old black
+gown of his mother's, and half shut his eyes, and would have shaved
+his head, if his mother had let him, to show Charley just how they
+looked; because he, poor little fellow, had to stay behind--he could
+not have endured the fatigue of that long day away from home. But his
+kind little mother never forgot him; she was determined he should see
+something; so about eight o'clock that evening, two horses, with a
+nice comfortable barouche, were driven up to the door, and Charley was
+tenderly lifted in, and two large pillows were placed behind and at
+his side, and his mother and two of the oldest children were driven
+slowly down Broadway to see the illumination.
+
+[Illustration: THE JAPANESE RECEPTION.]
+
+The street was crowded. Beautiful colored lanterns were hung here and
+there, and little Japanese flags fluttered in every direction. As they
+came near the great Metropolitan Hotel, where the Japanese were
+staying, the crowd increased, and a burst of delightful surprise broke
+from Charley and the rest, as the beautiful blazing windows came in
+view. In each of the several hundred windows were fine Japanese
+lanterns of different colors and two little flags. Such a glittering
+and a fluttering as they made! and over the door was the word
+"Welcome," in blazing gas-burners, with the splendid flag of the
+United States on one side, and a great Japanese banner on the other.
+Everybody was shouting and hurrahing, and every up-turned face looked
+happy, but none so merry and joyous as the children in the carriage;
+their eyes fairly danced with delight, and their faces looked as if
+they had been illuminated too. All they wanted was to have two little
+Japanese flags fastened to their ears, and to be placed in the
+windows, to have beaten the lanterns and gas-burners all to pieces.
+
+After they had looked just as long as they liked, and shouted and
+waved their hats, when they saw any of the Japanese at the windows
+shaking out their queer-looking black pocket-handkerchiefs with round
+white spots, the carriage turned round, and the children had a fine
+drive home, perfectly delighted with the unusual grandeur of a ride in
+a carriage at night; _that_ was almost the best of all, to be out
+after bed-time. They thought they could never admire the bright stars
+enough, which, with their sleepless eyes, watched the world below--fit
+emblems of the difference between the things made by man, and the
+enduring works of God. Before long those glittering lights below would
+fade and die; while these heavenly luminaries would shine on forever.
+
+The next evening the little mother thought she would call upon Captain
+Porter, who had the Japanese in charge. He was a brave, noble-hearted
+officer, and an old friend, and accordingly she went with some other
+friends. Captain Porter received them very kindly, and amused them
+very much with funny accounts of how the Japanese were stared at, and
+sometimes annoyed by people who ought to know better. While she sat
+there, there came a knock at the door, and a morocco case was handed
+in: it was opened; and what do you think appeared? You will hardly
+believe it: some sets _of false teeth_; one set of them _jet black_,
+as a present! The little mother laughed, and wondered if the dentist
+who sent them, thought the Japanese would want to have their own
+teeth pulled right out, and these put right in. Then two gentlemen
+came in, and wanted Captain Porter to persuade the Japanese to buy a
+lot of guns from them, very cheap, indeed. Then, who do you think came
+in? Why, "Little Tommy," the young Japanese that everybody was talking
+about.
+
+He looked so very smiling, that the two comical little triangular
+slits in his head which served for eyes nearly disappeared, when
+Captain Porter took him by the hand and introduced him to the little
+mother.
+
+"How do?" said he, and shook hands with her; then he took up Captain
+Porter's sword and belt and buckled it round his waist, and said, "Ver
+good sword, indeed;" then he tried on the Captain's naval uniform
+cap, with the gold band round it, and ran and looked in the glass. It
+would not go on very well, on account of Tommy's pig-tail, which was
+fastened in a knot on the very top of his half-shaven pate, and which
+stuck up rather inconveniently: then the Captain said, "Tommy, this
+lady wants to see the portrait of your little Washington sweetheart;
+come, show it to her."
+
+"No show," said Tommy; which answer made the little mother esteem him
+very much, because it was plain that he had too much self-respect, and
+_too much respect_ for the young lady, if she _was_ a little girl only
+twelve years old, to show her likeness to every stranger. He was not
+going to be made fun of. Not he!
+
+Presently the little mother got up to go; and, shaking hands with
+Tommy, said, "Good-bye Tommy; I mean to send you a 'Nightcap' book. It
+is written by 'Aunt Fanny.' Say, Aunt Fanny."
+
+"Arnta Farnny. Yes! I like it," answered Tommy, holding the little
+mother's hand; "but you," he continued, "I like you; are you Spaniss?"
+
+"No," said she.
+
+"You Frence?"
+
+"No," said she, smiling.
+
+"You Angliss?"
+
+"No," said she.
+
+"Why, Tommy, she is an American," said Captain Porter.
+
+"Ah," cried Tommy; "she so leetle--she ver good--good-bye:" then he
+wrote his name on a card for her, and she went home very much pleased.
+But just before she went, Captain Porter told her that the great
+phrenologist, Mr. Fowler, who knows all about you by merely looking at
+the outside of your head, had been to see Tommy, and had told him that
+he had the most tremendous bumps for reading, writing, and arithmetic,
+that ever were seen; a great bump of trying on American clothes;
+making love to little girls; eating sugar-candy, and having a good
+time generally; and scarcely any bump at all for getting up early in
+the morning, working hard, or taking medicine; in fact, that his
+cranium was as full as the Metropolitan Hotel, of all sorts of good
+things; which flattering description delighted Tommy so much, that he
+wrote Mr. Fowler of his own accord, and without any assistance from
+Captain Porter or any other dictionary, the following note of thanks:
+
+                       METROPOLITAN HOTEL, NEW YORK,
+                                   June 22, 1860.
+
+"DEAR SIR:--I am much oblige to you the history and head some paper
+and the letter with it whole my head examination. I shall take it to
+Japan, and esteemed much doctor Kawasake is also much please have been
+receive it.
+
+    "I am very true your friend,
+        "TATEISH ONAJEIRO (TOMMY)."
+
+And now every thing was made in the way of "anti-tear-clothes," as
+the children called them, and the express wagon was sent for on the
+afternoon of the 19th of June to carry the baggage down to the
+steamboat.
+
+The express man stared with amazement at the quantity of children
+whisking and frisking, and rushing and brushing about in the hall;
+and, still more, at the trunks, boxes, and bundles, that were brought
+clattering and tumbling down the stairs for him to take away.
+
+Just before he was leaving with the last bundle, little Johnny rushed
+breathless down the stairs with what looked like a horse's tail, only
+shorter and smaller, in one hand, and an old tin-box that had once
+contained preserved tomatoes in the other, and screamed out,
+"Here!--say! man, man! take this! here, take it! It's mamma's hair!
+she's forgotten to sew it on her head! here, pack it up in this
+tin-box, and tie it with a rope, and put it on board the
+steamboat--will you?"
+
+Dear me! how the poor express man did bite his lips and swell his
+cheeks, and turn very red, and try not to laugh: but it _would_ come
+out, and he laughed himself nearly into fits, while the little mother
+felt for a moment as if she could have shaken _Johnny_ into fits, but
+only for a moment; for, after all, what was the use of being angry: he
+_meant_ to be so useful and thoughtful, and if her hair was so thin,
+she had to buy some to put with it--why, it was nothing to be ashamed
+of; so she laughed, too, at last, and all the children joined in with
+such good-will, that the canary bird over the way hearing such a
+pleasant noise, set up his pipes and twittered in company, and sang so
+shrill and loud, that all his feathers stood out on end; and, on the
+whole, it was thought a very good joke.
+
+And now a great hotel carriage, which is about three times as large as
+any other, drove up, and the children were packed in it, till it was
+as full as an egg; and they gave three cheers, as it started, to the
+astonishment of all the neighbors, and sang "John Brown had a little
+Indian" all the way down to the boat.
+
+There had been so many berths engaged for one name, that the Captain
+thought there must be a colony going out west to set up a town for
+themselves. But when he saw the family marching down the gang-plank
+two-and-two, like the animals that went into the ark, from the biggest
+to the smallest, he lifted up his hands and exclaimed, "Dew tell! what
+an orful lot of children! I shud think that old lady'd want the
+patience of Job, any how!"
+
+Ah! the Yankee-talking Captain didn't know what you and I know--that
+these children all "_loved one another_" and _that_ made every thing
+easy to the little mother.
+
+There was no wrangling in that family. They left all that to "dogs and
+cats," and "bears and lions," as I am sure all good children do. There
+was plenty of noise, to be sure; but this the great power of love
+changed into sweet melody, so that, instead of irritating you, as a
+rude blustering wind would do, it charmed and delighted, because it
+was first passed over the AEolian harp-strings of _love_.
+
+And now, before I forget it, let's have a little laugh you and I, over
+that ridiculous picture of our "Nightcap children" in "Baby
+Nightcaps." I intended to have had a picture of the little mother
+surrounded by lots of pretty children playing about her; but, instead
+of that, I was presented with a family that made my sides ache with
+laughter. Such noses and such hats! I want to tip that tall-spook-of-
+a-boy's hat off his head every time I look at it; And _such_ a baby!
+Apple-dumpling face and squint eyes! Never mind! The funny printer
+wanted to make us laugh, and I am sure he did--_one_ of us, any way;
+but don't _you_ believe, for a moment, that _our_ Nightcap children
+looked the least like his. Not a bit of it!
+
+When the family were all comfortably settled, the splendid palace-like
+steamboat--the Alida--started from the pier, and was soon gliding so
+swiftly over the water, that the magnificent Palisades rose in the
+blue evening air, while the golden glory of sunset was still lingering
+upon them. Charley sat by his mother, with his curly head pressed
+close against her breast; his pure and simple thoughts mirrored in his
+sweet face. He was silently thanking God for the beautiful changing
+picture before his eyes. All the children were enjoying the trip; for
+their mother had taught them to feel and appreciate the beauty,
+goodness, and grandeur of all God's works; and, save an exclamation of
+delight now and then, they sat quite still.
+
+But the silence did not last long. Of course not. If children are
+quite still for more than five minutes at a time, you may be sure they
+are either sick or in mischief; so presently George exclaimed,--
+
+"Just see that sea-gull dipping his wings in the river!"
+
+"That's the way he does his washing," said Annie.
+
+"Oh! look at that row-boat," cried Harry; "four gentlemen and three
+ladies rowing with parasols."
+
+How the children laughed, and pretended to see the parasols rowing,
+till Harry explained that he meant that the ladies had the parasols,
+and the gentlemen were rowing. His mother said she would have to give
+him a dish of boiled grammar for his breakfast, if he did not mind his
+antecedents better.
+
+"Grammar!" cried George; "dreadful! Aren't you all glad school-days
+are over for the summer?"
+
+At this blissful recollection all the children clapped their hands at
+such a rate, that a fat old lady jumped up in a hurry and gave a queer
+little squeak, because she thought the boiler was bursting; and
+although they were now in the very middle of the broad Tappaan Sea,
+she waddled off to order the captain to set her immediately on shore;
+and a select company of blue jays, who had just started from the
+Palisades to take tea with some brown sparrows on the other side,
+turned somersets and flew back again, almost tripping each other up in
+their hurry.
+
+"Yes, indeed," answered Annie, "glad enough. Just think; no more hard
+sums either. I do believe arithmetic is meant on purpose to torment
+us, and that's the reason Willie made that mistake with such a grave
+face, when the lady asked him how far he had gotten in his sums."
+
+"So it is," cried Clara; "Willie said he had got to _dis_traction; I,
+for one, wish that all the people that make the arithmetic books had
+to eat them with pepper-sauce the moment they were printed--and that
+would be the end of them."
+
+"But compositions! Just think of compositions!" cried Harry; "they are
+the most hateful things. Just because I wrote in my last one, that 'a
+mule is a beast of burden which draws a rail-car shaped like a zebra,
+and is sometimes used for carts with two long ears and a miserable
+tail,' they all burst out laughing at me, and I very nearly cried--I
+_did_ cry."
+
+"Well, never mind, Harry," cried George; "it is all over now, and we
+are going to that delightful West Point: I wonder if those soldiers we
+saw parading with the Japanese last Saturday came from West Point?
+they were such splendid fellows."
+
+"Yes, indeed," cried Harry; "I dare say they did; they looked as if
+they were afraid of nothing, but would be really glad to have an arm
+or a leg shot off in every battle, and are so brave, that they would
+keep on fighting the enemies of America, if they had only an ear and
+one great-toe left."
+
+Charley lifted his head and laughed at this, for he could hear all the
+children were saying; and he whispered to his mother, "Isn't Harry a
+funny fellow? The idea of one ear, and a great-toe firing a gun!" and
+he laughed again a sweet, low laugh; and Clara, who was sitting
+nearest, took his small thin white hand and kissed it, and patted it,
+and murmured, "Oh, Charley, I'm so glad you are happy; I'm so glad
+that cruel pain has gone away."
+
+All this time they had been passing many beautiful villages and
+elegant country mansions, half buried in luxuriant foliage. They were
+now leaving the Tappaan Sea; and soon after the little mother showed
+the children Sunnyside, the lovely home of the great Washington
+Irving.
+
+"He does not live there any more," said she; "his home is now 'Eternal
+in the Heavens;' but his fame, and goodness, and renown will live in
+every land for many, many years; and I hope the beautiful Sunnyside
+will never fall into neglect or decay as long as his memory lasts."
+
+The children looked with mournful interest at the beautiful place;
+but when their mother pointed out the spot where Major Andre was
+captured, there was quite a difference of opinion; the boys were glad
+that he, the spy, was taken and hung by the great Washington, while
+the more tender-hearted girls wished he could have escaped: and
+Minnie said, "General _Wassingter_ ought to have forgiven him, because
+he would not like to be hung himself--would he?" which, _I_ think, was
+_the golden-rule way_ of putting the case.
+
+And now the banks seemed to close in, and great dark mountains rose on
+either side.
+
+"There's Anthony's nose," said the little mother.
+
+"Where? where?" cried the children, and looked with eager interest,
+as the profile of a great Roman nose was pointed out on the edge of a
+mountain. They were also delighted with Sugar-loaf Mountain, and
+wished it had really been made of sugar, for they thought they would
+like to eat a hole through it. As they were eagerly gazing at the
+splendid view which had now darkened and deepened with twilight
+shadows, a saucy puff of wind came round a jutting point, and in an
+instant blew off Minnie's round hat.
+
+"Oh! my hat! my hat!" she screamed; "get it! get it! quick! before it
+goes across the Atlantic Ocean, and runs up the big mountains. Oh! get
+it! get it!"
+
+How everybody around did laugh, as George jumped after the hat, which
+Minnie thought would walk on the Atlantic Ocean; and how Minnie
+jumped and laughed when he caught it just as it was flying off on its
+travels. I have no words to tell, but everybody after that listened to
+the comical talk of the Nightcap children, who caused so much
+merriment, that they arrived at West Point before they knew it; but
+had to burst out with laughter again as Minnie, gravely looking up,
+said, "Is this West Point? Well, I don't think it looks so very,
+_very_ Pointy."
+
+The first stars were peeping out, and the little birds had sung their
+evening hymns and were hushed into stillness, as the children got into
+the stage, the strong horses of which toiled up the short but steep
+ascent, and they soon arrived at their summer home. "Oh, what a
+beautiful cottage!" exclaimed Harry, and George, and Clara; "it seems
+covered with roses; it must be the Castle of Perfect Happiness."
+
+They all hurried in, in the most delightful bustle; and the children
+had a grand time assisting the little mother to unpack every thing.
+You would have imagined, to look in at the windows, that the house was
+full of fishes out of water; they kept up such a continual bouncing
+and fluttering about, but they were not fishes, nor pollywogs, nor
+tadpoles, nor any thing like them; they were a company of capering
+children, taking all sorts of little boxes and bundles out of trunks,
+and putting them in the wrong places, and then running to get some
+more, because they liked the fun of _helping_.
+
+The good-natured little mother did not think them at all in the way:
+she only laughed softly to herself, and would not for forty new
+bandboxes have given them any _ear_-boxes for what they were doing.
+No, indeed! she just let them trot about as much as they liked with
+the pillows, boxes, bags, and bundles, of which there seemed to be
+about a hundred and fifty; and when they were tired of _helping_, she
+quietly arranged the things in their proper places.
+
+Oh! how soundly the children slept that night with the "fragrant
+stillness" all around them, far away from the roar and whirl of the
+great city. The moonlight, sweet and mournful, flooded the earth, and
+a white ray stole into the room where Charley lay and rested lovingly
+above his head.
+
+The next day Charley was very ill indeed. Even the short journey from
+the city had overtasked his strength. He lay in a darkened chamber,
+for his mother had to shut out the sweet sunshine, his head and side
+were so racked with pain.
+
+The children crept lovingly up to the door of the room they were not
+permitted to enter many times during the day; to hope in a whisper
+that he felt better, and went about the pretty cottage on tip-toe--all
+their merriment gone. You would hardly believe they were the same
+children that yesterday had kept half the people in the steamboat
+laughing; so changed and still were they become, through their love
+for their sick brother.
+
+The little mother sent for the doctor. He belonged to the army, and,
+of course dressed like the officers in military uniform.
+
+When he entered, the children gazed with wonder and delight upon his
+bright buttons, each of which had an astonishing spread-eagle
+engraved upon it, and thought they could never admire enough the
+beautiful gold lace upon his coat-sleeves. Really, he was quite a
+shining doctor.
+
+He became interested with Charley at once: the sweet, patient smile of
+the suffering boy won his heart.
+
+"My dear madam," said he to the little mother, "this is nothing but
+temporary exhaustion; with some strengthening medicine which I shall
+leave, and a good night's rest, our dear little friend will be as well
+as he was before he came up; and I am in great hopes that this bracing
+mountain air will soon make him much better than he was before he
+came."
+
+The children now approached the door and begged leave to enter, for
+they wanted to hear about Charley, and have a "_good look_" at the
+"soldier doctor."
+
+"Well, my little friends," said he, in a hearty, cheery voice, "so
+you've come up, I suppose, to help the fairies amuse Charley this
+summer."
+
+"FAIRIES!" exclaimed the children; "DELIGHTFUL! Are there _fairies_
+here?"
+
+"Lots of them," answered the doctor, laughing--"_that is_, if I may
+believe my man, Patrick O'Neal. He declares he has seen the fairy
+rings in the beautiful hollow at the foot of Crow Nest mountain many
+and many a time."
+
+"Oh dear! how perfect!" cried the children; "only fancy the dear
+little fairies dancing on the parade-ground in the moonlight."
+
+"Not exactly," said the doctor, laughing again; "fairies don't come so
+near the haunts of mortals; besides, the cadets want the parade-ground
+for their own dances and rings--not fairy rings--for those are made
+with sparkling dew-drops, while the cadets have to content themselves
+with tallow candles stuck into scooped-out turnips and placed in a
+circle, and the lights throwing the shadows up, make the long legs of
+the cadets look like ever so many great goblin black spiders, hopping
+harem-scarem over each other; but the cadets call them 'Stag-dances.'"
+
+"_Stag dances_," cried the children, "who ever heard of such a thing?
+Why! do they nail antlers on their foreheads and go on all-fours? Dear
+doctor! how _do_ they go?"
+
+"Some on their heels, and some on their toes; but _I_ never saw one
+dance on all-fours; and, as to the antlers, _without_ them they
+prance: 'tis because they're all _boys_, that it's called a 'stag
+dance.'"
+
+"Why, only listen," whispered George to Annie, "he is talking
+poetry--how queer!"
+
+"Isn't he a nice bright doctor?" said Minnie; "he shines so shiny, and
+he's so very _buttony_; I think his buttons are splendid."
+
+The doctor heard this speech and burst out laughing, and then seeing
+that Minnie looked abashed, he took out his penknife, and in a moment
+had snipt off one of the spread-eagle buttons, and said,--"Here,
+little lady-bird--here is a bright button, which you can fasten up
+your cloak with to-night when you go to the fairies' midsummer ball;
+for, I suppose, you will all have an invitation, and when I come
+to-morrow, I expect to hear all about it. Good-bye, Charley; old
+fellows like you and I don't care to go to balls, but we won't object
+to hearing about the fairy festival, because that you know will be
+something particularly superfine;" and he went away smiling, leaving
+the delighted children chattering like a perfect army of magpies about
+the fairies, and pretending to think that the good-natured doctor was
+really in earnest.
+
+
+
+
+THE FAIRIES' LIFE.
+
+
+It was Midsummer eve; the moon in regal splendor proudly sailed above;
+the fair, lovely June flowers were sleeping, fanned by the wings of
+the tiny zephyrs floating past. A spell of enchantment was upon every
+thing, for a deep stillness reigned around; the little brown cricket
+had ceased to chirp; the katydid no longer quarrelled in shrill tones
+with her neighbor; the wail of the sad whippoorwill was hushed; the
+rugged sides of old Crow Nest were rounded and softened in the
+silvery moonbeams, adown which the little brooklet sprang this night
+with a more lightsome leap and a sweeter song.
+
+Charley lay sleeping in his room, his cheek resting on his hand, and
+his golden curls lightly stirred by the soft west wind, were floating
+upon the pillow: a faint flush rested upon his sweet face, giving it a
+lovely, but, alas! deceptive hue of health; his lips were slightly
+apart, and now they were moving as if he was softly and slowly
+answering some question.
+
+The window was wide open, and the room was bright with moonbeams; but
+now a softer, tenderer light, shone through the apartments; the air
+was filled with delicious fragrance, and low sweet music was heard:
+afar off, a halo in the moonlight was seen; it came near and nearer;
+now it was close to the window, and one could plainly perceive that it
+was a shining band of fairies, floating on the moonbeams with their
+beautiful Queen at their head.
+
+They stopped at the window, for the Queen, with a wave of her sceptre,
+gave them to understand that she would enter alone.
+
+She was radiant to-night; a magnificent necklace of many-colored
+stones cut from a rainbow, sparkled like a wreath of prismatic fire
+around her white and slender throat; her wings were fringed with small
+diamond dew-drops; her robe was fashioned of the royal purple velvet
+of the pansy; and her crown and sceptre flashed with precious gems.
+
+  "But, oh! her beauty was far beyond
+  Her sparkling jewels:"
+
+for the sweet loving expression that beamed from her eyes, and the
+smile that played about the corners of her beautiful mouth, mirrored
+the pure, unselfish, spotless nature of the Queen.
+
+Softly she floated towards the couch, and gently touched the boy with
+her sceptre.
+
+Charley opened his blue eyes. In a sweet amaze he slowly raised
+himself and leaned upon his arm, gazing in bewildered delight upon the
+radiant stranger. The little mother still slept on; but in the room
+was a young kitten--a daughter of Crocus, of whom you read in "New
+Nightcaps," and whom Charley so loved, that he brought her away with
+him. She was lying at the foot of his bed; in a moment she bristled up
+her coat and tail, and darted out her sharp claws in terror at the
+sight; but at a touch of the Queen's sceptre she drew them into their
+velvety sheath again, and laid quietly down.
+
+"Dear Charley," said the Queen in a low, sweet voice, "we do so love
+your innocent and guileless nature, that while the pulses beat, and
+the blood flows in your frail and fading form, we will do our utmost
+to drive the demon of pain far away; tender and beautiful influences
+shall surround you; you shall be a most favored mortal, for you shall
+behold the happiest scenes in fairy life; you shall dream the
+sweetest dreams of fairy-land; this night is our great midsummer
+festival; even now our subjects are hastening to the beautiful hollow,
+where the fairy revels are kept. Hark to the fairy call! they are
+inviting the fays from the beautiful green island that is sleeping in
+the moonlight opposite to us."
+
+Charley with all his senses quickened, his lips slightly apart, his
+eyes dilated, one hand raised in an attitude of intense listening,
+caught the delicious harmony of fairy voices singing these words:
+
+  "Hasten fairies--haste away;
+  Hasten through the golden spray;
+  Hasten to the frolic play.
+
+  "Fly o'er water--fly o'er vale;
+  Ply the oar, and spread the sail;
+  Hie ye to the moon-lit dale.
+
+  "Silver sweet the music swells
+  Of the snow-white lily-bells,
+  And the sounding pink sea-shells.
+
+  "Hither--hither, haste away
+  To the fairies' frolic play;
+  'Tis the festive fairy-day."
+
+Brighter grew the eyes of the sick boy, and his cheek flushed with
+excitement as he listened.
+
+"Oh, how beautiful!" he murmured; "what dainty little rippling notes!"
+
+"Listen again," said the Queen, with a gratified smile, for she liked
+to hear her people praised; "listen! the island fairies are
+answering."
+
+Was it magic that brought those tiny voices so far over the water?
+Surely it was, for there rose on the air a clear tinkling sound like
+the ringing of little glass bells; and Charley heard these words:
+
+  "Beaming moon--shimmering fountain--
+      Light, and deck the fairy dell;
+  We are coming to the mountain,
+      From the isle we love so well:
+  To the fairy ball we hie;
+  Thought-swift through the purple sky
+  We are hastening at the call;
+  'Tis the great midsummer ball.
+
+  "Open lily--blossom rose,
+      Shed around thy perfume light;
+  Heliotrope--thy sweets disclose
+      To the fragrant dews of night.
+  Dogwood grim we fairies banish;
+  Purple nightshade! fly! evanish!
+  We are hastening at the call;
+  'Tis the great midsummer ball.
+
+  "Chime hare-bells! clearly, sweetly,
+      Joy our hearts with blithe accord,
+  As we fairies neatly, featly,
+      Trip it o'er the dainty sward.
+  Velvet sod thy carpet spread,
+  With small buds enamelled,
+  We are hastening at the call;
+  'Tis the great midsummer ball.
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed the entranced boy, "how I should like to see the
+beautiful fairies dancing in the moonlight. May I, sweet lady?"
+
+With a loving smile the Queen bent over and lightly tapped him thrice
+upon each shoulder-blade with her jewelled sceptre. Immediately a pair
+of gauzy wings started from his back. With an involuntary motion he
+gently waved them back and forth, and felt himself rising--_rising_
+--RISING--till he had floated out of the window into the moonbeams.
+The poor little kitten set up a piteous cry, but a fairy spell was
+upon the mother, for she slept quietly on.
+
+Oh! with what delight was the enchanted boy now welcomed by the
+waiting train outside! They pressed lovingly around him; they played
+with his golden curls; they fanned him with their delicate wings; they
+looked down into the lambent depths of his clear blue eyes, and saw
+his pure spirit within so free from guile; they touched with their
+tender fingers his poor little thin white neck and breast, and felt
+his heart beating fast and faster with delight.
+
+Up, up they mounted, and a joyous thrill, like a sweet and sudden
+wind, shook the leaves of the trees as they passed swiftly by them.
+
+And now they approached the beautiful hollow; they heard the stirring
+sound of the fairy kettle-drums (which you know are chestnut shells,
+divided in half, with mouse-skin drawn tightly over). Quickly they
+floated over the last tree-tops; the frisky young fairies folding
+their wings and sliding down the moonbeams for fun, just as you slide
+down the bannisters.
+
+They are there, directly over the beautiful hollow, floating slowly
+downward with a graceful waving motion; and Charley looked on a most
+enchanting sight. Crowds of fairies were assembled within an immense
+circle of sparkling dew-drops, tricked out in all their holiday
+attire. More were coming in on every side; some in their nut-shells
+and four--others flying through the soft air. In the centre of the
+hollow the mossy throne was this night surmounted by a magnificent
+canopy of scarlet geraniums, looped up at the sides by splendid
+clasps, formed of the backs of the scarlet lady-bug, dotted with spots
+of jet. The canopy was heavily fringed with small scarlet fuchsias, or
+lady's ear-drops. At the foot of the throne there appeared to be a
+low seat of heaped-up rose-leaves, and in a circle round it a double
+row of glow-worms shed a soft clear light. Small mushroom tables,
+filled with plates of dew-drop ices, were already laid out; and the
+fairies only waited for the presence of their beloved Queen to open
+the ball.
+
+Suddenly the music quickened; the fire-flies sparkled and danced, and
+all rose respectfully as the Queen touched the green velvety floor.
+Bowing and smiling, she gracefully seated herself upon the throne, and
+tenderly placed the spell-bound Charley upon the rose-leaf couch at
+her feet. The rich color of the beautiful canopy threw a rosy blush
+over the boy's sweet face; and the glancing fairies thought they had
+never seen a lovelier mortal. Although the soft rose-leaves pressed
+caressingly around him and hid his poor deformed limbs, it would have
+made no difference if they had been plainly seen, for the fairies only
+looked in his _face_, where so much purity and goodness shone; and,
+seeing this, they loved him, and were glad he had come.
+
+"Where is Slyboots?" said the Queen.
+
+"At your feet, most gracious Majesty," answered the sprite, dropping
+down all at once from somewhere.
+
+"And what is the last piece of mischief, you comical imp?"
+
+"Your Majesty! Mischief! I disapprove of it! but I have just been
+tying Peas-cod and Bean-pod together by their long green coat-tails,
+because they are such grumbling, discontented chaps."
+
+"How do you know?" asked the Queen.
+
+"Please your Majesty," answered Slyboots, "I heard Peas-cod say that
+he hated the sight of every thing and everybody; that all other
+fairies could wear different colors, while he had to be green all his
+days; then he opened his mouth so wide, and gave such a fearful yawn,
+I thought all his round bones would roll out; _I_ think, your Majesty,
+he is not only green--he is '_jolly_' green."
+
+"Don't talk slang to me," said the Queen, though she laughed a little;
+"but go on and tell me about Bean-pod."
+
+"Oh! Bean-pod is miserable because of his shape; he says he is bigger
+round his waist than anywhere else, and that is _so_ ungenteel; all
+your Majesty's maids of honor laugh and make faces at him."
+
+"Ah! I cannot have that," said the Queen; "all must be happy here,
+especially on midsummer night. Go, Slyboots, and command them to come
+into my presence."
+
+Off started the sprite, and presently returned with the naughty
+fairies looking very much ashamed of themselves, with their
+coat-tails all curled round from having been tied in a hard knot.
+Lilliebelle and Dewdrop laughed behind their butterfly wing-fans,
+while Ripple and Firefly curled their mustaches, and looked on with
+dandified airs.
+
+The Queen began with a severe aspect: "I regret to learn, Peas-cod and
+Bean-pod, that you are indulging in discontent; it is very wicked in
+any one to murmur or repine at his lot in this world. Learn from this
+mortal," she continued, placing her hand tenderly on Charley's head;
+"almost since his birth he has led a life of suffering, yet no
+repining falls from his patient lips; he is willing to live, and he
+will be resigned to die. I think my story-teller, Charm-ear, has
+written down something that happened to some neighbors of ours in the
+little brook near by, which will serve as a warning to you. Would you
+like to hear this story, Charley?"
+
+"Oh, beautiful lady!" cried Charley; for, being an American boy, he
+did not know he must say 'your Majesty.' "Oh, beautiful lady! a story
+would be so--so _fairy_ nice!"
+
+The Queen smiled, and, waving her hand to Charm-ear, the court
+story-teller, he began as follows:
+
+    THE THREE LITTLE FISH.
+
+    "Not very long ago, in our beautiful brook, there lived three
+    little silver trouts, who were very great friends. For some time
+    they were happier than the day was long, playing together, eating
+    together, and sleeping cosily together in the same little cave
+    scooped out of a stone under the water, and wanted for nothing
+    that good little fishes ought to have.
+
+    "But after this I am sorry to have to tell that two of the little
+    trout became very sad and discontented: one wished for this, the
+    other for that, and neither cared a shrimp for any thing he had,
+    because they were always foolishly sighing for something else.
+
+    "At last Neptune, the King of the Sea, heard of these naughty
+    little fish, and he resolved to punish them, by granting them all
+    their desires.
+
+    "Accordingly he called them before him, and told them they should
+    have whatever they wanted.
+
+    "Now, the oldest was a very proud little fish, and wanted to be
+    able to snub up all the other fishes, by being set above them--so
+    he said,
+
+    "'Please your gracious goodness Majesty, I do not like the place
+    where you have put me. Here I am poked into a mean, narrow river,
+    where I can neither get down into the ground, or up into the air,
+    and yet I can see well enough what fine times others have; there
+    are the little birds that fly about over my head, and sing all
+    day, because they have wings. Give me wings, gracious goodness
+    Majesty--only give me wings, and then I shall have something for
+    which to be thankful; in fact, it will make me perfectly happy.'
+
+    "No sooner asked for than granted. In a moment the little fish
+    felt the wings fluttering, and in another moment he had spread
+    them wide, and rose joyfully out of the water.
+
+    "Ah! what a delicious sensation. He resolved to travel; then a
+    thought struck him.
+
+    "'One favor more, your gracious Majesty.'
+
+    "'Well, speak,' answered Neptune.
+
+    "'Give me a wife, so that I may not fly alone in the world.'
+
+    "'Granted,' said the Sea King; and immediately a beautiful little
+    silver trout swam the surface, and then flew to his side.
+
+    "With joy the silver fish greeted his mate, and forthwith they
+    fluttered into a tree on the banks of the Hudson River, and
+    commenced building a nest.
+
+    "In the due course of time a brood of little flying fish were
+    peeping up in the nest, and the papa and mamma had their hands
+    full (so to speak) in finding food for their young; they were very
+    happy, and thought this was the perfection of living, and heartily
+    despised their old companions in the beautiful brook.
+
+    "But, alas! in this world it is very often the case that just as
+    we have attained our wishes, and are perfectly happy--bang! it is
+    all over. This was literally the case with our poor little trout,
+    for a party of sportsmen crossing the river in a row-boat seeing
+    such a queer bird, one of them deliberately took aim and shot the
+    mother trout, just as she was returning with food for her
+    children; and the poor papa, who had been keeping watch on the
+    nest, in the extremity of his terror, opened his mouth, and popped
+    out his eyes, and took to flight, and left his family to be
+    captured by the wicked sportsmen.
+
+[Illustration: DEATH OF THE SILVER TROUT.]
+
+    "But our little flying fish happened to alight among desert-like
+    sands and rocks--far, far away from the least thing to eat or
+    drink. Faint, weary, and unable to rise again, he lay fluttering,
+    panting, and beating himself against the flinty stones. Oh! how he
+    longed for one drop of crystal water out of his own little
+    brook--only one drop.
+
+    "Gasping, wounded, and sore, he lay there, wretched and all alone,
+    till at length, with a sob and a sigh, he breathed his last. He
+    was dead.
+
+    "The second little silver trout was not so high-minded as the
+    first; still he was dreadfully conceited, and moreover, he was a
+    narrow-hearted, selfish little fish; for, provided _he_ was safe
+    and happy, he did not care the flap of a fin, what became of all
+    the rest of the fishes in the whole universe, or anywhere else.
+
+    "'So,' said he to Neptune, 'may it please your worshipful honor; I
+    do not wish for wings to fly, for I do not care to poke my nose
+    into strange places; I might get lost or hurt, you know; I was
+    contented enough until the other day, when I saw a great rope come
+    down into the water, and fasten itself in some mysterious way
+    about the gills of a sweet little cousin of mine, and she was
+    hauled and dragged out of the water before my eyes, wriggling and
+    struggling with fright and pain. It scared me terribly, your
+    worshipful honor; for I thought this dreadful rope might some time
+    fasten upon me. Now, all I desire, is to know the meaning of this
+    rope, and of every single one of the dangers to which you have
+    subjected us poor little fishes.'
+
+    "No sooner said than done. Neptune opened the eyes of the little
+    trout in such a marvellous manner, that he understood in a moment
+    all about snares, nets, hooks, and the lines, which he called a
+    rope, artificial flies, and every other danger to which little
+    fishes are exposed.
+
+    "At first he was perfectly delighted with his newly-acquired
+    knowledge, and he took precious good care from this time forth,
+    not to go into deep water, for fear a great greedy pike or some
+    other great fish might be there and swallow him up at a mouthful.
+    He kept away from the shallow places in hot weather, lest the sun
+    should dry them up. When he saw a shadow on the water, he said to
+    himself, 'Halloo! here are the good-for-nothing fishermen with
+    their nets!' and immediately he sculled away and got under the
+    banks, where he sat trembling in all his scales; and when he saw a
+    tempting fly skimming on the water, or a nice fat worm, he did not
+    dare to bite, although he was half-starved. 'No, no,' said the
+    little trout, 'I am not such a fool as all that comes to; go and
+    tempt those _flats_, the flounders; _I_ know better.'
+
+    "In this way the poor little silver trout kept himself in a
+    continual fright and flurry; and, of course, could neither eat,
+    drink, nor sleep, for fear some mischief might be at hand.
+
+    "He grew poorer and poorer, and sighed and frightened himself to
+    skin and bone, until at last--ah me!--dear me!--alas! he died, for
+    fear of dying.
+
+    "Now when Neptune came to the youngest trout, and asked him what
+    he wished for, he said: 'Oh, your great big Highness, you know I
+    am but a very foolish and good-for-nothing little fish; I don't
+    know what is good for me and what is bad for me; and I wonder how
+    I came to be thought worth bringing into the world at all. But if
+    I must wish for any thing, it is that you will please to do
+    whatever you think best; I shall be happy to live or die, just as
+    you would have me.'
+
+    "When the precious little silver trout had said all this so
+    sweetly and modestly, Neptune immediately felt an immense liking
+    for him, and determined to take great care of this sweet little
+    fish who had such entire trust in his goodness; so he watched
+    tenderly over him, and was a father and a friend to him. He put a
+    perfect fountain of contentment into his gills, and, consequently,
+    happiness into his heart.
+
+    "Thus, this dear little trout slept always in peace, and wakened
+    in gladness; and whether he was full or hungry, or whatever
+    happened to him, he was still pleased and thankful; and he is now
+    the happiest of all the little fishes that swim in our beautiful
+    brook."
+
+A delighted murmur of applause rose on every side as Charm-ear
+finished this excellent story; and Charley was, if possible, still
+more enchanted to find such a capital moral in a story told by a
+fairy. Peas-cod and Bean-pod looked very uncomfortable as the Queen
+said, "Thank you, Charm-ear; you have related the story well; and I
+hope," she continued, looking kindly at the discontented fays, "it
+will have a profitable effect. It is no doubt a great blessing to
+possess what one wishes; but it is a greater blessing still, not to
+desire that which we can never possess."
+
+Then the Queen, who ruled altogether by LOVE, said: "Go, dear
+Peas-cod and Bean-pod--go join the dances; I give you Lilliebelle and
+Dewdrop for partners, and let me hear no more of discontent."
+
+The two green fairies brightened up amazingly when they heard their
+Queen speaking so kindly; really, their green coats became quite
+fashionable-looking--and not such a bad color either; and though
+Lilliebelle and Dewdrop pouted a little at their humble partners,
+they dared not disobey the Queen; but soon the inspiring music and
+the pleasure of dancing, of which, like all fairies and most young
+ladies, they were immoderately fond, caused them to forget their
+annoyance, especially as Peas-cod and Bean-pod were accomplished
+dancers, and hopped about in the most surprising manner.
+
+And Charley looked on in an ecstasy of delight, and the flush deepened
+and brightened in his cheek. It seemed as if a million of tiny flowers
+of every color had been taken from their stems and had gone on a
+pic-nic, and were now at the very height of their fun. Such laughing!
+such dancing! such eager rushing for the ices and other goodies, just
+as you do at your parties. In one corner a small party of extremely
+fashionable belles were promenading, each holding a parasol over her
+head made of a small green leaf, to preserve her complexion; for you
+must know that moonbeams are very tanning. Among the honeysuckles, the
+elderly fairies were playing backgammon, talking, and pretending to
+admire each others' dresses, thinking their own handsomer all the
+time; while the bachelor fairies were smoking poppy leaf cigars, and
+ordering any quantity of buttercups of Maydew.
+
+All at once a tremendous shout of laughter was heard, and Charley and
+the Queen looking eagerly in the direction whence it came, saw, to
+their unspeakable astonishment, the old prime minister turning a
+somerset in the air. He got up, walked a few steps, and went
+head-over-heels again; while the fairies, ready for any fun, thought
+he had become crack-brained and was doing it on purpose, and screamed
+with laughter.
+
+But, bless your little heart! what a mistake they made! Rising from
+his last leap in the air, with a scowl on his face, breathing forth
+fire and fury like a hippogriff or a fiery dragon, he pushed his way
+through the crowd and marched straight to the throne, where, kneeling
+as well as he could for his bumps and bruises, he demanded of the
+Queen in a shrill, gasping, wheezing voice, like the wind whistling
+through a broken bellows:
+
+"Your Majesty!! your Majesty!!! that wretch! that Slyboots! confine
+him in a nut-shell for a thousand years! tie him fast to a hornet!
+cut off his wings! oh! oh! oh! the impertinent little scamp!"
+
+"Why, my lord, calm yourself," said the Queen; while Charley looked on
+in bewildered astonishment at the enraged prime minister, and a great
+crowd of fairies gathered around.
+
+"Tell me what has happened."
+
+"I need not remind your Majesty that our state affairs are very much
+behindhand, and not feeling inclined to mix with coxcombs like Ripple,
+(here the Queen frowned, and Ripple, who was just behind him, made a
+grimace,) I went to one of the mushroom tables, and sat down to finish
+my memorial regarding the loan for the hospital for sick bumble-bees,
+when this torment of a Slyboots comes up, and looking over my
+shoulder, exclaims, 'What! my lord; surely you are not going to
+stupefy the Queen with the odious sick bumble-bee memorial _to-night_,
+are you? Say?'"
+
+"'Certainly I am,' I said; 'what would become of all the business in
+the Queen's dominions if it were not for me? Go away, you ugly Ouphe!'
+At this, Slyboots rushed off in such a haste, and with such a wicked
+gleam in his eye, that I smelt mischief immediately. 'After finishing
+my memorial on eleven bees-wings closely written, I was hastening with
+it to your Majesty, when I fell, with great violence, over three
+successive ropes that were stretched across the section of the hollow
+where I had been writing, crumpling and soiling my memorial, and
+breaking off a corner of my right wing. I know it is Slyboots that has
+committed this outrage. Drive him out of your kingdom, your Majesty!
+give him up to the water fairies! tell the snails to poke him well
+with their horns!' and in a very torrent of passion and anger, the
+prime minister was going on, when the Queen interrupted him
+with--'Softly, softly, my lord; we will call Slyboots and hear what he
+says.'"
+
+And now there was a great call for the culprit; and presently he came
+in the ring, riding on a comical-looking bull-frog, and making
+tremendous leaps, apparently in great haste, as if he had been on a
+long journey, and had just that moment arrived. With an inconceivably
+roguish air, he alighted, and hastening up, bent his knee before the
+Queen. The foolish young fairies came very near bursting out laughing
+when they saw him put on a demure, innocent look of surprise, as he
+caught sight of the scowling face of the prime minister; but at that
+moment her Majesty said in an angry tone:
+
+"What shocking mischief have you been doing?"
+
+"_I_ have been doing nothing, your Majesty."
+
+"And who helped you to do it, you saucy goblin?"
+
+"Only a little brown spider," said Slyboots, "and he didn't mean to."
+
+"But between you two, the prime minister has had three heavy falls;
+and I am afraid not without intention on _your_ part."
+
+"Please your Majesty, if my lord, the prime minister, loads himself
+with such a heavy article as that sick humble-cum-tumble-bee
+memorial, and then puts his eyes in his pockets, no wonder he can't
+see straight before him, and falls down and cracks his crown. Why
+don't he be jolly, like the rest of us? Your Majesty had better order
+an unlimited quantity of dandelion feather-beds to be put around in
+spots for my lord, the prime minister, to turn head over heels in."
+
+"Hush! sauce-box," cried the Queen; while the prime minister gave him
+a furious look. "Here, Trip (turning to a page), go bring me the
+little brown spider; I must get at the bottom of this business."
+
+The little brown spider came and made her obeisance, all in a fuzz of
+fear, for she could not imagine why she was called into the presence
+of the Queen. She shook so violently, that her Majesty said, kindly:
+
+"Don't be afraid, Brownie; but tell me, with perfect truth, what did
+Slyboots employ you about this evening?"
+
+"Please your beautiful Majesty," began the spider, "Slyboots is my
+friend, and I would not like to get him into trouble."
+
+"That is neither here nor there," said the Queen; "I command you to
+tell me what you did for him."
+
+"Well," said the spider, almost crying, "Slyboots came to my house in
+the grape-vine in the greatest hurry, and begged me to scrabble and
+scratch with all my might and main to a certain part of the hollow,
+and spin three ropes, knee high, just as quickly as possible across
+it, as some of the court had taken a prodigious fancy to tight-rope
+dancing, and meant to give an exhibition before the evening was over;
+and he was to give me, for doing it, just the fattest little fly I
+ever beheld, which he had fast by the legs; it made my mouth water
+only to look at it; so, your Majesty may believe, I rushed down and
+worked at the ropes for dear life, and finished them to Slyboots'
+satisfaction, for he gave me the delicious fly, and I've just
+finished eating it up; and that is all I know about it, please your
+beautiful Majesty."
+
+It was all as plain as moonlight; and after one moment passed in
+vainly endeavoring to suppress their merriment, the whole court burst
+into such a scream of laughter, that the very leaves rustled, as if
+some musical wind had stirred them. Of course not a fairy had ever
+heard that anybody had taken up the profession of tight-rope dancing,
+and Slyboots was at once convicted of having told a dreadful fib, and
+had the ropes erected for the express purpose of tripping up the prime
+minister, to prevent his boring the Queen on the great gala night with
+his sick bumble-bee memorial.
+
+There the naughty sprite stood with a penitent look out of one eye,
+and winking ridiculously with the other; and the fairies having
+laughed till they were tired, now waited in breathless silence to hear
+his sentence pronounced.
+
+Charley was really sorry for Slyboots; he was distressed that the
+fairy had told a falsehood; but, as to the mischief, it was so like
+the capers his own brothers and sisters were always cutting, that he
+felt very certain the comical little imp had not one grain of malice
+in his heart, so he softly touched the Queen's knee, and as she kindly
+bent down to him, whispered--"Oh, beautiful lady! he has a good heart,
+and he is very sorry; please to forgive him."
+
+"Slyboots," began the Queen, in a tone which she tried to make very
+severe, "you have passed all reasonable bounds in this last prank; you
+have outraged and insulted my faithful servant--and, worse than all,
+you have told an untruth. If it had not been for this last, I might
+have forgiven you after you had made fitting apologies to the prime
+minister; even now I shall lighten your punishment, because this pure
+and lovely mortal has interceded for you. Listen to your sentence. My
+power tells me that the great wasp, Spiteful, has just entered the
+chamber where little Minnie, Charley's sister, is lying peacefully
+asleep, and within the hour he will thrust his poisonous cruel sting
+into the tender arm of the little child. With your wings to dart here
+and there, you might easily conquer him; but these must be fastened
+together by your friend Brownie, and within the hour you must bring me
+the dead body of the wasp. You have heard; Brownie, to your work!"
+
+In the midst of a deep silence, the poor little trembling spider began
+to spin thread after thread round and round the beautiful gauzy wings
+of the disgraced and now sorrowful fay; one after the other the
+beautiful tints of blue, and gold, and purple, first faded, then were
+hidden under the misty cloud-color of network.
+
+The court looked on in sorrow, for the elfin was beloved by many, but
+not a fay dared murmur or question the justice of the sentence. At
+last his wings, of a dead dull gray, were prisoned fast; and the
+Queen, waving her sceptre, said--"Go, Slyboots; if you carry a right
+spirit to your work, you will win the fight."
+
+The fairy said not a word, but bowed him low, and turned sadly away.
+The time was short, and he must hasten and don his stoutest armor, for
+the foe was deadly. A friendly grasshopper offered to take him to the
+foot of the window where he must enter. With a gleeful spring he
+mounted, and away with great leaps they went through the ferns and
+over the grass, scrambling painfully in and out of bramble bushes, and
+pricking themselves with the sharp nettles that lay in their path. But
+the grasshopper (that friend in need) carried him bravely through
+them all, and came at last to a little house under a great mushroom,
+where Slyboots kept bachelor's hall.
+
+Here he alighted, and hastily fastened on his acorn helmet, with its
+beautiful plume from the humming bird's breast; then he donned his
+close-fitting vest, made of the skin of the prickly-pear--the sharp
+points bristling terror to invaders. On his left arm he carried his
+trusty shield, made of the back of the golden beetle, and his right
+hand grasped his sharp blade, fashioned out of the blue sword-grass.
+
+Swiftly he bestrode his grasshopper steed again, and in a few moments
+they were beneath the open window of the room where lay the sleeping
+child.
+
+Alighting, and thanking his friendly courser, Slyboots clambered up by
+the luxuriant rose-vine fastened against the cottage wall, and in a
+moment had dropped noiselessly into the room.
+
+It was flooded with sweet clear moonlight. Clusters of roses were
+peeping in at the window, but none were half so lovely as the little
+human rose-bud lying so quietly in her tiny white bed. She might have
+come out of Elfin land--she was so fair and sweet; her merry blue eyes
+closed, her little song-voice stilled, and a lovely flush on her soft
+cheek from the kissing of the warm and balmy wind, which danced in
+and out of its own sweet will.
+
+Hovering over her--a malignant gleam in his eyes--was the wasp.
+Already was his body curved to inflict the mean and cruel sting upon
+the defenceless child, when, with a bound, Slyboots was upon him, cut
+him sharply with his sword, and then scampered out of the window and
+took refuge in a great rose, apologizing to the little fairy whose
+home it was. With his back against the rose-leaves, and his shield on
+guard, Slyboots waited for the fray.
+
+[Illustration: SLYBOOTS FIGHTING THE WASP.]
+
+Out came the wasp, breathing fire and fury; his usual snarling hum
+changed into a fiendish roar of rage. Then did begin a most tremendous
+battle!! The fairy's blows fell thick and fast upon the horny head
+of his enemy, who vainly sought to sting him; but the trusty shield
+was never off duty. The wasp kept up a horrid din, as with maddening
+ferocity and desperation, he tried to find his foe, for he was now
+blinded with the blows. Panting with pain, and roaring with rage, he
+flew wildly round and round, returning each time with fourfold fury to
+the charge, till at last a well-directed stroke of the elfin's sword
+cleft his head asunder, and he fell prone to the earth, with one
+prodigious kick of all his feet in the air together.
+
+Down jumped Slyboots from the friendly rose, and making sure of the
+death of his enemy by sundry bangs and whacks with the flat of his
+sword, quickly made a stout rope of corn silk, and fastening it round
+the head of the wasp, began his joyful journey back to the fairy
+hollow.
+
+The good grasshopper had been a deeply interested spectator of the
+battle; his eyes hanging out like a lobster's with anxiety, and
+chirping a perfectly continuous rattle of encouragement to Slyboots,
+so that really he was as hoarse as a bull-frog when it was all over.
+With cheerful alacrity he helped the breathless fairy tie up the dead
+body of the wasp, and willingly allowed the other end of the corn silk
+rope to be fastened to one of his long hind legs; and then Slyboots
+mounting him once more, he tugged and scrambled along with his double
+burthen with so much hearty _will_, that they arrived at the fairy
+ground at least one minute and a quarter within the hour.
+
+Meanwhile harmony and order had been restored in the beautiful hollow.
+The old prime minister was fast asleep under a fern leaf, with his
+precious bumble-bee memorial under his head, and Charley was watching
+with delighted interest the many happy groups upon which the moonbeams
+lovingly rested. Some were dancing the Fairy Lancers, some eating and
+laughing at the little tables, some having a childish game of
+cats-cradle with the tendrils of the grape-vine, and all were full of
+mirth and gaiety, as noisy and happy as it was possible to be; in
+fact, the fairies were marvellously like you, little reader; you are
+both full of fun and noise, and have no idea of going through the
+world slowly and carefully, as if you were stepping on one
+feather-bed, and had your head tied up in another. Not at all! they
+and you just jump and tumble about with prodigious talents for frolic,
+wearing out your shoes, and tearing your clothes--that is, _you_, for
+the fairies' shoes and clothes have a patent trick of always looking
+fresh and new. Charley thought his dear brothers and sisters were very
+like these little creatures in their fondness for fun, and he did wish
+that they were here this Midsummer night to have "a real good time."
+
+Presently the Queen said to him, "Charley, did you ever blow bubbles?"
+
+"Yes, often, beautiful lady."
+
+
+"And what have you seen in them?" asked the Queen.
+
+"Oh! the most lovely colors! and sometimes a charming tiny picture of
+the room where we were."
+
+"Would you like to see some _fairy_ bubbles?"
+
+"Ah, yes! I should like it of all things."
+
+The Queen gently clapped her hands, and instantly a page was kneeling
+at her feet.
+
+"Go, Light-wing," said the Queen, "and tell Fancy to come here with
+her basin of foam and magic pipe."
+
+The fairy rose from his knee, bowed low, and sped away. In an instant
+he returned in company with the daintiest, most ethereal little elf
+in fairy-land. Her wings were of air--her golden ringlets danced in
+the "tremulous, singing wind," giving out the perfume of the
+blossoming lily; her tiny rose-bud of a mouth opened, disclosing the
+whitest and smallest seed-pearl teeth, as with a smile beaming with
+love and sweetness, she said:
+
+"Beloved Queen, most gladly have I come at your bidding. Deign but to
+command, and I will hasten to obey."
+
+"Dear Fancy," said the Queen, placing her hand tenderly upon Charley's
+shoulder, "here is a lovely mortal who has suffered from his infancy;
+but all his pain has not been sufficient to sour his temper, or
+conquer his gratitude and love for the blessings and mercies which
+remain to him. As flowers spring from the dust, so have love, and
+truth, and every noble quality, sprung from the dark and bitter
+suffering of his life. For this I love him, and will strive to make
+the few days left to him on earth less sad, less painful; and I will
+do this by showing him all our fairy life. I have sent for you to ask
+you to exhibit, for his amusement, some magic bubbles; I would like
+him to look at them now."
+
+For answer, the little elf bowed gracefully, dipped her pipe in the
+foaming dew, and began to breathe softly through the stem.
+
+Soon the thin bubble rose in the twinkling fire-fly light. At first it
+was all of a gray-dark color; but out of this dark, like the sun
+breaking through the mist, bright golden and ruby tints began to
+appear.
+
+It grew in size and splendor, till at last the fairy gently waving the
+pipe, the bubble slowly and gracefully floated away, and up a little,
+and then poised itself, and rested just before Charley.
+
+It was like a moving picture in an oval frame. Within appeared a large
+and handsome parlor; a number of beautiful little children were
+grouped about the room, evidently waiting for some event to happen.
+Presently a baby-boy entered--a perfect bud of beauty. His fine and
+snowy-white garment was daintily embroidered and trimmed after a most
+royal fashion, with ivy leaves. Upon his beautiful head, crowned with
+light and lovely pale golden curls, was a wreath also of ivy.
+
+With his luminous starry eyes uplifted, and the dimples peeping in and
+out of his rose-pink cheeks, he went around and offered a welcoming
+kiss to every one in the room. It was his birthday. Two sweet, happy
+years, had been unfurled in his little life, and the children were now
+gathered together in honor of the event.
+
+Charley gazed with lips apart, intent and eager.
+
+All at once he exclaimed,--
+
+"Why! it is Howard! little Howard! Why, yes! and there is sweet little
+Carrie, his sister, with the beautiful wreath of roses, and the roses
+on her dress! Oh! what wonders I am seeing!"
+
+As he spoke, a lady entered, Howard's loving and lovely mother, with
+an immense paper bag, and proceeded to fasten it to the chandelier in
+the centre of the ceiling; then some one else came in, and spread a
+large white sheet upon the carpet immediately underneath.
+
+Then one of the little ones was blindfolded, and a cane was put into
+his hands. He was to try to strike the bag, but instead, he made a
+tremendous whack at nothing half a yard one side of the bag, which
+made the children laugh merrily.
+
+Charley laughed, too; you could _hear_ him, but he could only _see_
+that the children in the magic bubble were laughing.
+
+"I know them almost all!" he cried, in a voice of delight; "there are
+Eva, and Robbie, and Alice, and Hattie, and Minnie, and Eddie, and
+sweet little Kitty and Mortie; and oh! how happy they all look! how
+perfect! and what a nice time they must be having!"
+
+After two or three had tried to strike the bag, little baby Howard had
+the handkerchief tied _above_ his eyes, just for fun, because he was
+too little to be _really_ blindfolded; and, armed with the cane, he
+grasped it with both tiny hands, his eyes dancing with glee, and a
+gladsome smile parting his sweet little mouth, showing the pearly
+teeth within. He gave the bag a sounding thump, and instantly it
+burst asunder, and a perfect cataract of candies and sugar-plums
+poured down upon the carpet. Quick as a flash every child in the room
+was clustered together upon the sheet helter-skelter, head-over-heels,
+laughing, screaming, dashing after the candies; and then--the bubble
+burst, and Charley saw no more.
+
+"Oh! oh! how beautiful! how wonderful!" said the lame boy; "dear, dear
+little fairy! I thank you; but I should so like to know what the
+children did after that."
+
+Again the pipe was dipped in the foam-dew, and the fairy blew out
+another bubble, that floated away and rested as before.
+
+This time a wide hall, with a table in the centre, appeared. Upon the
+table the colored waiters were quickly placing large dishes of cakes,
+oranges, mottoes, and pyramids of cream. A door, within which shone a
+bright light, opened into this hall, and a little dancing form
+flitting past now and then, showed that the children were frolicking
+inside.
+
+When the table was so perfectly covered, that it very nearly broke
+down under the weight of goodies, there was seen issuing from the
+parlor-door, first, the beautiful little king of the feast, carried in
+his father's arms, his eyes sparkling, and his whole face radiant with
+smiles. After him came, two and two, all the lovely little band; they
+marched entirely round the table, and you may be sure they all looked
+one way--and that way was the table-way, of course, where such a grand
+feast was spread out. _That_ was the party, as I once heard a little
+girl say, and who added, "Oh! I'm so glad! the party has come--look
+what a lot of it!"
+
+And now what a tremendous time the boys had helping the little girls,
+and filling their laps with every thing they could lay their hands on,
+and then cramming their own pockets till they stuck out all over like
+balloons.
+
+Just as they were in the height of eating, and laughing, and
+presenting each other with mottoes, on which were printed the most
+beautiful poetry, declaring that they would love each other as long as
+they lived, and nobody knows how much longer; and Charley was looking
+on wild with delight--presto! the bubble suddenly burst, and the
+picture was gone.
+
+"Oh! can any thing be more perfect!" cried Charley. "I am so happy!
+Dear little fairy! do let me kiss you for making me so happy."
+
+With a loving smile the beautiful elfin fluttered her wings and flew
+into his breast, where she lay nestling like a little white dove.
+Charley tenderly lifted her up, kissed her soft tiny cheek, touched
+her golden ringlets, and felt her breath, fragrant as the perfume of
+violets, fanning his face. He was silent with happiness, painting over
+in his mind Fancy's magic pictures. The beautiful Queen sat watching
+him, and enjoying his delight, when a far-off sound startled them
+both--a sound of acclamation. Nearer and nearer it came, till the air
+rang with tiny shouts and joyful clapping of hands. The voices were
+respectfully hushed as a crowd of fairies advanced into the Queen's
+presence; and Charley saw that Slyboots was in their midst, weary and
+breathless, his wings still hidden in the spider-net, but exultantly
+dragging the dead wasp by the corn-silk cord. His wee face looked
+pale; but his eyes shone with the old brightness, as the Queen's
+glance fell kindly and approvingly upon him.
+
+"Did you arrive in time to save Minnie from the cruel sting?" she
+said.
+
+"I did, please your gracious Majesty," answered Slyboots.
+
+"And did you waken her?"
+
+"No, my Queen; I struck the wasp, and drew him outside of the window,
+where I took refuge in a rose, and from thence, with my good sword, I
+gave him battle. Long and fiercely we fought in the moonlight. The
+little yellow butterflies crept under the leaves affrighted; the
+midges in the air trembled, and whispered to each other that an
+earthquake was surely at hand; but at last my enemy bit the dust, and
+I pounded him till he was as dead as the prime minister's abominable
+bumble-bee's mem--"
+
+"Silence!" interrupted the Queen; but she really had to laugh, for
+Slyboots looked at her with such a comical twist of his eye, which
+changed to a beam of happiness as her Majesty said to him:
+
+"You have done your task aright, and gladly we forgive you; but
+remember, Slyboots, never let your love of fun carry you so far again;
+and put this piece of advice in your pocket--keep out of the way of
+the prime minister the next time you have tight ropes erected for your
+friends to dance on."
+
+Slyboots' face grew as red as a scarlet poppy at this allusion, and
+the laugh that followed; and the Queen, seeing his confusion, said:
+"Quick, Ripple--quick, Firefly--release his wings."
+
+In a moment the fairy knights had cut away the gray network, and
+Slyboots joyfully shook his wings, now brighter than ever.
+
+Just at that moment a bugle-call sounded from the sentry at the top of
+Crow Nest, and a faint twittering of a little bird was heard in a tree
+skirting the hollow. The dawn was coming, lifting the dew-mist from
+the lap of the earth; a faint light was streaking the east, as the
+Queen, gathering her shining band, with Charley in the midst, rose in
+the air, and flitted away to the cottage window. Softly they laid him
+down, and the Queen touched his eyes. The white lids drooped heavily,
+then closed, as a grateful balmy sleep wrapped his senses like a
+mantle.
+
+Then the Queen softly detached the gauzy wings, and handed them to her
+page, Lightwing, charging him to guard them carefully. The little
+mother lay with her cheek in her hand, never stirring, and the kitten
+looked on this time with a friendly purr; and just as the first day
+glimpse had gilded the hill-tops, the fairy train had vanished into
+the sweet hazy mist of the MIDSUMMER MORN.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHILDREN'S LIFE.
+
+
+Midsummer morning broke in gorgeous, glorious brightness. Light fleecy
+clouds floated swiftly over the blue heaven; a crisp fresh wind curled
+the waters of the Hudson; and the beautiful little island opposite
+West Point lay on its bosom like an emerald; its green banks clasped
+by the loving tide.
+
+With the first drum-beat, the happy Nightcap children were up and
+dressed; and having, with more gratitude than usual, thanked their
+Heavenly Father for so many blessings, they went first to inquire how
+their dear brother Charley had passed the night.
+
+"Hush!" said the little mother, as they came to the door, "don't
+chatter now; Charley is still sleeping; do not make any noise; see how
+lovely he looks."
+
+The children crept in on tiptoe, and gazed lovingly at the sleeping
+boy. At that moment a warm glow flashed suddenly into his cheek, and
+his lips parted in a glad smile.
+
+"Oh! see, see!" whispered the children, "Charley is dreaming; perhaps
+he is talking to the fairies the doctor told us about; when he awakes
+we will ask him."
+
+Then they went softly down stairs and out into the fresh delicious
+air. The birds were chanting their morning hymns; the lawn was golden
+green with the sun's rays, and spangled with dew. Bees were dreamily
+humming over the wealth of honeysuckles and roses that covered the
+cottage-wall, gathering their sweet and fragrant food at their
+leisure.
+
+The children felt the blessed influences of all these lovely works of
+the great Creator in an increase (if such a thing were possible) of
+their happiness and joy.
+
+You would have thought they were made of corks, so lightly did they
+skip here and there, running round the trees after each other, the
+boys turning somersets on the grass, and the girls declaring that they
+could get to the top of Crow Nest with only a hop, skip, and jump.
+
+"Oh, delightful!" cried George, "to get up a mountain with three
+steps! you'll have to borrow Jack's seven-leagued boots. I wonder who
+lives on the top?"
+
+"Why, the crows, to be sure," said Harry, "and they keep up _such_ a
+talking; it is like a hail-storm all the time; you never heard any
+thing like the way crows can scold. If one crow is caught stealing,
+all the rest caw and croak at him, till he very nearly goes into fits,
+and then they all fly at him till he hasn't a feather left; I read all
+about it in my Natural History."
+
+"Oh!" cried little Minnie, "how I like to hear stories about fishes!
+tell another crow story."
+
+While the children were good-naturedly laughing and explaining to
+Minnie that a crow was a bird, their mother appeared at the
+cottage-door and said, "Breakfast, children."
+
+In they all rushed, quite ready for the nice corn-bread, boiled eggs,
+and _real milk_--not _milkman's_ milk--but they looked round in some
+surprise for Charley.
+
+"He is still sleeping," said the little mother, "and smiling in his
+sleep; this quiet rest will do him so much good, I hope. Oh, my
+precious Charley!" she exclaimed, "if I could only keep you a little
+longer;" and her eyes filled with tears.
+
+The children looked sad and grave, and two or three went round and
+kissed their mother, and patted her kind cheek, and said they were
+sure Charley was better. After breakfast they stole softly up stairs
+to look again at their darling brother.
+
+Charley was sitting up in bed as they entered: a strange bewildered
+expression was upon his face, and he had his hands behind him, trying
+to feel his shoulders.
+
+"Do come here, George," said he, "and see if there are wings upon my
+back."
+
+"WINGS!!!" shouted the children in amazement, "what _can_ Charley
+mean?"
+
+"Yes, _wings_," replied Charley; "the fairy Queen fastened them upon
+my back last night, and I went with her and her beautiful maids of
+honor to the Midsummer ball. Oh! how delightful it was, and how I
+longed for you!"
+
+"Goodness!" exclaimed the children, "did you really go? How perfect!
+Did you ever? Why didn't they take us, too? Oh, Charley! do begin at
+the very beginning, and tell us all about it. Won't you? Say! do, come!"
+
+Clustering around the bed, their eyes fastened upon his face,
+breathless with wonder and delight, and with no end of exclamations,
+they listened to the enchanting account of Charley's adventures. The
+little mother came in the room just at the end; upon which they all
+rushed at her in a body, and told the amazing story over again, all
+talking at the same time; and the little mother said quite as many
+"Ahs" and "Ohs" and "did you evers" as they did. But she smiled
+lovingly at her lame boy, and parting the golden curls on his white
+forehead, and kissing him tenderly, whispered, "My darling knows that
+he has been DREAMING."
+
+Was it a dream?
+
+Charley was so much better that day, that the good doctor, when he
+came, was astonished; and when he heard that the fairies had done him
+the honor to take him to their Midsummer festival, he was delighted,
+as well as astonished, and laughingly declared that the elves had
+robbed him of his patient. "Why, Charley," he continued, "if the fairy
+Queen can put such a rosy color in your cheeks, and such a sparkle in
+your eyes in one night, she beats me all to pieces at doctoring. I
+shall have to give you up to her, and only come here every day to make
+a social call, so that you and I, two old fellows, can have a talk
+about the state of the country. But I may as well put my pills and
+powders into one of the cannons, and fire them off at some of the fine
+ladies who go about, sweeping the parade-ground with their furbelowed
+dresses, and think they are dying of dyspepsia, when all they want is
+some useful occupation. I have lots of them to make bread pills for,
+and I may as well let the fairies have my dear little friend here."
+
+Just at that instant the drums made a prodigious clatter, and the
+children started up to see what it meant.
+
+"It is the call for the cavalry drill," said the doctor; "you had
+better run."
+
+Off scampered the children to the edge of the parade-ground, their
+eyes dancing with expectation and eagerness.
+
+On their way they passed the encampment; they gazed at the snow-white
+tents of the cadets with the utmost interest, and indeed would rather
+have lived in these delightful canvas houses, than in a king's palace.
+
+"Oh! Harry!" exclaimed Anna, "I wonder if we mightn't just peep into
+one of them."
+
+"Certainly," answered Harry, who was always ready for adventures, and
+he lifted up the opening of the tent nearest.
+
+"Oh! what a perfect place!" he cried; "come! look!" and he disappeared
+within.
+
+[Illustration: NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.]
+
+The children all peeped in, their heads looking like a bunch of
+grapes, all piled one on top of the other; while Harry, inside,
+pretended he was a showman, and made them a speech.
+
+"Walk in, ladies and gentlemen," he said, "and see the show--all for
+sixpence; children half price. Here you have one small bed, or humble
+cot, one camp stool, one very small looking-glass, on the back of
+which," he continued, turning it suddenly over, "is a picture of the
+great Napoleon Bonaparte, running away, with his drawn sword in one
+hand, and a leg of mutton in the other; while just below is another of
+an old cadet, poking a young one with his bayonet."
+
+The children were laughing heartily over these specimens of the fine
+arts, drawn by one of the cadets, when
+
+Bang! tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr. Bang! tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr went the drums again.
+Off they hurried to the parade-ground, and there, out in the bright
+morning sunlight, which came down like "flickering gold" through the
+glowing air, galloped that fierce and brave Colonel Hardie, who looked
+as if he should consider it the merest trifle to fight a dozen enemies
+at once, and kill them all, as a matter of course.
+
+And out galloped a regiment of cadets, while Colonel Hardie, wheeling
+round, awaited their coming.
+
+With their drawn swords flashing in the glorious brightness, and the
+gallant Colonel now at their head; they wheeled about, and turned
+about, dashed here and there, suddenly advancing, then as suddenly
+retreating, with their horses rearing and prancing, and snorting and
+dancing, till you would have been sure they were in the greatest
+possible hurry to rush full tilt at somebody, no matter who, and
+instantly run them through with their sharp naked swords, without
+giving them a ghost of a chance to cry "Quarter."
+
+The children looked on with great eyes and a kind of delicious fear,
+and were almost crazy after the drill was over, to run and beg the
+cadets to lend them their horses and swords, so as to practise the
+cavalry drill themselves.
+
+They walked on the edge of the parade-ground, looking all around them
+with the most amused and delighted interest; at times fairly singing
+and skipping for joy, and eagerly planning long walks and voyages of
+discovery.
+
+Minnie thought there must be a "day party" somewhere, the people were
+dressed so fine, and everybody seemed so very happy.
+
+Numbers of elegantly dressed ladies were walking about, and some
+fine-looking officers were paying them all the compliments they could
+think of. In the midst of a group of gentlemen, high above them all,
+towered the majestic form of the brave General Scott, who has won so
+many battles for us in Mexico, and who is Commander-in-Chief of all
+the soldiers in our country. The children looked at him with the
+greatest admiration; and the boys made up their minds that it was
+absolutely necessary they should be soldiers when they grew up; and
+they would have given all they possessed to sleep now in the canvas
+tents like the brave cadets.
+
+And now the children began to descend a winding path, and wandered
+down a beautiful road where the trees met overhead. The air was
+fragrant with the woodbine which curled round the trunks of the trees,
+while, at their feet, tiny harebells and the purple violet modestly
+peeped up.
+
+Jumping, skipping, and gathering wild flowers, they came at length to
+a lovely open space scooped out of the rock, as it seemed, in the
+centre of which is a crystal spring, which comes up sweet and clear
+into a stone basin.
+
+Upon this basin they read the name of the great "Kosciusko;" and this
+was his garden, where he used to sit for many hours in the day reading
+his book, or admiring the glorious works of God spread before him. The
+children looked with love and admiration upon the name and place where
+the good and brave Pole had been; and the boys audibly hoped that they
+would do something very noble and brave when they grew up, so that
+everybody might speak well of them.
+
+As they drew near the house, they saw a lady sitting in the bowery
+porch with their mother.
+
+"Goodness!" cried half a dozen of them, "it's Aunt Fanny! Did you
+ever?" And thereupon they charged like a company of cadets going to
+fire on the run, and shot Aunt Fanny with a whole volley of kisses.
+
+It was really a wonder she looked so well after it; fifty kisses in a
+minute is pretty severe loving; but Aunt Fanny only laughed when she
+could catch her breath, and, taking Minnie on her lap, asked what
+particular fun and mischief they had been about lately.
+
+Then didn't they have a grand time, telling about their journey? and
+the wonderful fairy adventures of Charley? And Charley, who was
+sitting leaning against his mother, declared that he could not have
+dreamt them, because he remembered them all so well, and he had felt
+so much better ever since the beautiful fairy Queen had taken him in
+charge.
+
+"Why," cried Aunt Fanny, "I shall have to go back to Idlewild, where I
+passed two delightful hours this morning, right away, and tell all
+this to the lovely children I saw there. I am sure Edith, and Daisy,
+and sweet little Bailey, would go straightway down to their beautiful
+Glen, to hunt up the fairies that no doubt live there hidden under the
+ferns and mosses, so fairily fine and delicate.
+
+"O Aunt Fanny!" cried the children, "do tell us about Idlewild and
+dear little Edith, and Daisy, and Bailey Idlewild."
+
+"That is not the name of the children, you monkeys," said Aunt Fanny,
+laughing, "any more than you are Harry and Minnie Nightcap. It is the
+fanciful, dreamily sweet name of the place; and the pure life and
+neighborly love ever adorning and brightening that graceful and kindly
+house-roof, make June sunshine all over the lovely place the year
+round."
+
+"Ah! how delightful it must be," cried the children; "do tell us, Aunt
+Fanny, all about your visit."
+
+"Well, to begin at the beginning, I went up to Cornwall upon some
+business, and I staid all night at a house just this side of the
+beautiful Idlewild Glen. In the evening I was invited to go to a
+Sunday-school celebration; I was very glad to get this invitation,
+because I love children so much. The services were all very
+interesting, but the best thing of all was a most beautiful story
+which was told, to prove the blessed effect of love upon the heart,
+and how much better it was to govern by _love_, than by fear and
+continual punishment."
+
+"_We_ know that!" exclaimed the children, "that's the very way mother
+governs us--don't you, mamma?" and they all had to give her a kiss
+before they said, "Please go on, Aunt Fanny; do tell us the story."
+
+"The teacher said it was true, every word of it, but I do not know
+whether he got it out of a book, or whether it happened to some
+children he knew; perhaps you have read it already."
+
+"O dear! no, we haven't, I'm sure," said the children, "and if we
+have, your way of telling it will make it new again. Come, Aunt Fanny,
+tell the story."
+
+"Well, then, here it is--Once on a time a good old farmer said to his
+wife, 'Wife, you know poor neighbor Jones died a little while ago, and
+his little son Johnny is left alone in the world. Suppose we take him?
+One more will make very little difference. Shall we?'
+
+"'O deary me! no,' said the wife, 'I wouldn't have him among our
+children for any thing! Why, he's worse than a little heathen!'
+
+"'So he is,' said the farmer, 'I'm a little afraid to try it
+myself--that's a fact!'
+
+"Now while the old farmer was talking, he was also busily engaged in
+eating his dinner of pork and greens, and his children had kept their
+ears open, and had heard all that was said.
+
+"Presently one of the boys, whose name was Luke, looked up and said,
+'Father, you know we send _one good missionary_ among a _great many
+heathen_. Now, why can't we bring this _one little heathen_ among a
+great many good people? I'll lend Johnny my kite and ball, and we'll
+be so kind to him he will never _want_ to be bad. Father, WE'LL LOVE
+HIM GOOD.'
+
+"The good old farmer, who tried his best to keep God's holy
+commandments, and especially to 'love his neighbor,' thought this an
+excellent plan; so he brought Johnny home with him the very next day.
+
+"Sure enough, Johnny was worse than any heathen. He broke the good
+little boy's ball, tore his kite all to pieces, pulled little Susie's
+hair, pinched the baby, kicked the small children, and butted the
+large boys with his head, and, in short, behaved so badly, that they
+were all nearly crying: still they would not give up Luke's plan, but
+kept on trying to be kind to him.
+
+"But it was all of no use; Johnny was really a dreadful boy. At last
+the old farmer said, 'Well, we can't go on so with Johnny; he must
+have obedience knocked into him like a nail in a plank of wood. I must
+try if I can't whip him into better behavior:' so he beat the bad
+boy, and whipped him, and shook him till his teeth rattled in his
+head, and his hair was all in a friz about his eyes. But, alas! it did
+no good; Johnny was as bad as ever.
+
+"Then the farmer said, 'Wife, this is a very bad business; whipping
+does not make Johnny any better; we must try if we can't STARVE the
+obstinacy out of him.'
+
+"'I don't like to do that,' said the wife.
+
+"'But it must be done,' answered the old farmer; 'it is our duty to
+try to make him a good boy.'
+
+"So they shut him up in the great garret, where paper bags of dried
+herbs, and strings of red peppers, and great cobwebs, kept him
+company. They gave him nothing to eat and drink but dry bread and a
+cup of water.
+
+"Every now and then the farmer's wife would come, tap at the door, and
+say, 'Johnny, will you be good _now_?' and Johnny would shout out in a
+fierce defiant voice, 'No! no! I won't! You may lock me up forever and
+ever, and I won't be good.' So the poor farmer's wife would heave a
+sigh and go away.
+
+"All the morning little Susie had been very silent, with the tears
+just trembling on her eyelids. She felt very much grieved that Johnny
+was such a bad boy, and she could not bear to think of him in the
+lonely garret with no company but his wicked thoughts: so, after
+dinner, she crept softly up to her mother, and said, 'Mother, I think
+I can get Johnny to be good, if you will let me try.'
+
+"'Well,' said her mother, smoothing her hair lovingly, 'what is your
+plan?'
+
+"'Why, mother,' answered the little girl, 'I will go and tell Johnny
+that I will be locked up instead of him, and he may go play with my
+dear little boat that brother made, and named for me.'
+
+"The mother looked at her a moment with a loving tear swelling in her
+eyes, then she said, 'Very well, you may go.'
+
+"So Susie took down the key of the garret, which hung behind the door,
+and went up stairs, unlocked the door, and then tapped gently.
+'Johnny, may I come in?' said she.
+
+"'What do you want _now_?' grumbled the bad boy. Susie went in, and
+going softly up to him, she said--'Johnny, mother says you may go
+and play with my little boat this afternoon, and I will be locked up
+instead.'
+
+"I am ashamed to say that Johnny was mean enough to accept this offer,
+and let the little girl bear his punishment; for without even stopping
+to thank her, he started up and made off, slamming the door behind
+him, and locking it with a spiteful snap.
+
+"He had a famous time sailing the pretty little boat in the brook; and
+only came in at tea-time--as hungry as a bear.
+
+"After he had eaten a hearty meal of bread and butter, baked pears,
+and a great piece of nice gingerbread, he noticed that the farmer's
+wife commenced to clear away the things, and then he remembered poor
+little Susie. He sat silent a good while, but at last he could not
+stand it any longer, and he said--'Say? ain't you agoing to give that
+little gal up stairs any tea? say?'
+
+"'Yes, Johnny,' answered the mother, 'you can take this to her,' and
+she handed him a piece of dry bread on a plate.
+
+"Johnny took the plate, carried it up stairs, and began to kick and
+bang at the door--Thump! bump! thump!
+
+"'Unlock it and come in,' cried Susie. So Johnny did so, and went in;
+but when he saw the dear little child sitting there so patiently and
+smiling at him, a strange trembling came to his lips, and without
+saying a word, he put down the plate, and darted away.
+
+"All that night Susie staid in the garret, and slept as quietly and
+sweetly as if she had been in her own little room.
+
+"When the next day came, Johnny felt very much like asking pardon for
+his bad conduct, and begging that Susie might come down from her
+captivity, while he took her place; but the sun was shining
+gloriously, and Johnny thought of the little boat; and so, driving
+away the good thoughts and impulses, he eat his breakfast, snatched up
+the boat, and ran out to play.
+
+"When dinner-time came, he was the very first to come in, he was so
+hungry; and soon after the rest of the family, _except_ one, took
+their places.
+
+"'Where's Susie?' asked Johnny.
+
+"'She is locked up in the garret,' said her mother.
+
+"'Can't she have any dinner?'
+
+"'Yes; she can have some dry bread;' and the farmer's wife gave him a
+piece on a plate, as before.
+
+"Johnny took it, and went slowly up stairs. He opened the door. There
+sat Susie, patient and silent. He put the plate beside her, but
+instead of going away, he stood looking at her in silence.
+
+"Presently he burst out with--'Susie! you're a fool, I say! a perfect
+fool! Before I'd let myself be locked up, I'd--I'd--' here Johnny
+stopped; a great lump came into his throat, and was choking him. He
+drew in his breath with a painful sob, and then burst into an agony of
+tears, and rushing up to Susie, he threw his arms about her neck, and
+cried out--
+
+"'O Susie! Susie! please forgive me. I'll never be so bad again,
+never. They might have whipped me forever, and starved me forever, and
+it would just have made me worse; but you (and here the great tears
+came fast and faster)--you have LOVED ME GOOD.'"
+
+"O----h!" cried the children, taking long breaths, and wiping their
+eyes, "how lovely!--what a good, _GOOD_ story--what a dear, darling
+Susie! She must have heard of mamma, when she wanted to _LOVE_ Johnny
+good."
+
+"Yes," said Aunt Fanny, "I think she was very much like your dear
+mother, and you children can hardly know what a blessed lot is yours,
+in having a mother who rules you by LOVE."
+
+"Yes, we do! yes, we do!" cried the children; we know she is a perfect
+darling; and thereupon the little mother underwent a series of
+caresses quite alarming to witness.
+
+"And now about my visit to Idlewild," said Aunt Fanny, when they were
+once more quiet. "Soon after breakfast I commenced my walk. I had to
+cross the wild and beautiful ravine. I am afraid I looked a little
+like a figure of fun, scrambling and scratching down the slippery
+descent. I have no doubt some of Charley's fairies were laughing at me
+all the time; and I am sure the beautiful little waterfall did, as it
+came joyously dancing down the great black rocks. Really, some of the
+places were as slippery as ice; and I had to go a-sliding in the
+summer time, whether I wanted to or not."
+
+"How nice!" cried the children; "that would just have suited the old
+woman in Mother Goose, who wanted her children to slide on dry ground.
+You can't drown that way, you know."
+
+"Not exactly; but at last I stood upon the famous zigzag bridge, which
+is only a single plank with a railing on one side, made of a long,
+slender sapling. And now, how lovely the scene was that I looked
+upon! The sun came in dimples and ripples of light through the trees,
+and the waterfall, with its soft white foam, talked to me in a voice
+full of power and beauty, of the greatness and goodness of God.
+
+"When I got to the house, I was welcomed by its fair and gentle
+mistress with a simple courtesy, that made me feel at home at once.
+Very soon a sweet little maiden came to me, and shyly offered her
+hand; she told me her name was Daisy, and then she called her baby
+brother. He was afraid of me at first, but when I said, 'Why, Bailey,
+I know all about you. I know how you fed the little birds last
+winter'"--
+
+"Oh," interrupted the children, "how did he feed the little birds,
+Aunt Fanny?"
+
+"If you will put me in mind, I will tell you by and by. Then Bailey
+looked at me when I said that, with wide-open eyes; and I continued,
+'I know all about the peacock, too, so I do--more, too.'
+
+"Then he came right up to me, and laid his dear little curly head in
+my lap, and looking up in my face with his merry, bright blue eyes, he
+said--'I've got a horse.'
+
+"'Why, no! You don't tell me so!' I exclaimed. 'Why, I'm astonished!
+How many legs has he?'
+
+"'Two, nailed fast, and two, kicking up in the air.'
+
+"'My patience! what a horse!' said I.
+
+"'But come!' said the little darling fellow, pulling at my dress,
+'come see my horse! come!'
+
+"So Daisy and the mother, and Bailey and I, went out of the room. Of
+course I expected to be conducted to the stables; but we began to
+mount the stairs, and up we went till we arrived at the third story,
+Bailey holding me fast by the hand. We went into a large room--the
+children's play-room--from the windows of which there was a
+magnificent view. Sitting at one of them, was the kind,
+motherly-looking nurse, to whom I was introduced as to an old friend.
+As I pressed her hand, her eyes turned fondly upon her mistress and
+the lovely children. I looked around, and sure enough, in one corner
+was a prancing charger, standing on his hind legs, which were made
+fast to a spring rocker, while the others were kicking up in the air,
+just as Bailey had told me.
+
+"Then the little fellow was lifted up on his horse, and I said, "Get
+up, pony;" and then all of a sudden such a funny little shy fit came
+over Bailey, that down went his curly head on the horse's neck, and he
+very nearly tumbled off. After that he dismounted, and pulling down
+the prancing legs of the horse, got between them, and holding fast, he
+had a fine ride after an ingenious invention of his own; for, as the
+horse's legs rose in the air, up went little Bailey, and then down he
+came with a funny little stamp of his feet on the carpet, which sent
+him into the air again.
+
+"Then the dear little fair-haired Daisy showed me her birds,
+'Buttercup' and 'Primrose,' and two others whose names I did not hear;
+and then we went down stairs again.
+
+"In the charming library we met another daughter, a lovely young lady,
+and a friend who was visiting her. I knew this young lady before, and
+loved her very much; and I was very glad to meet her; and you may be
+sure we were very merry together.
+
+"Just then we heard Bailey's voice in the hall, lifted up in loud
+wailing and weeping. We all rushed out, thinking the sweet little
+fellow had fallen down stairs. But he was safe, though the great tears
+were running down his cheeks; and he sobbed out, 'Mamma! mamma! Edith
+won't come to see Aunt Fanny!' Dear little fellow! It seems that
+Edith was the shyest little maiden in the world, and Bailey, in his
+loving endeavor to get her to come to me, had first coaxed her, then
+kissed her over and over again, and at last, broken-hearted about it,
+had burst into loud crying. Edith stood at the turn of the stairs,
+ready to dart away; and when I said, 'Do come, darling--come, little
+Edith,' she fled like a frightened fawn, upon which Bailey began
+lamenting again, and I had hard work to bring the peace once more into
+his little, loving, troubled heart.
+
+"When we returned to the room, Miss Laura, the young lady who was
+visiting the family, told a funny story about Bailey. She was walking
+in the beautiful glen before breakfast, and frolicking round her were
+Gouldy, and Caesar, and Bailey."
+
+"Were they all boys? or what?" asked the children.
+
+"Not exactly, for two of them were dogs; but far better and gentler
+companions than _some_ boys I know. Gouldy was a dear old fellow, that
+would not have hurt a hair of your head for a thousand dollars in
+gold, even if he knew about or cared for money; and Caesar--Oh! he was
+something and somebody very extra indeed."
+
+"What! did he have horns on his head?" asked Harry.
+
+[Illustration: DR. KANE AND CAESAR IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS.]
+
+"Not a horn; but he once belonged to the good and famous Dr. Kane, the
+great Arctic explorer; and Caesar had seen as many icebergs and
+white bears as he wanted to, and a few over, I imagine; for Dr. Kane
+gave him to his friend, the owner of Idlewild; and the good dog tells
+his new master every day by an extra flourish of his tail, how happy
+he is, and how much he loves to live in such a lovely place, and with
+such lovely children.
+
+"Well, as I was telling you, the dogs and little Bailey were
+scampering here and there, while Miss Laura walked in the glen,
+thinking how sweetly the rippling golden light came down through the
+green leaves. After a while she thought it was time to return, so she
+called--'Come, Gouldy, come, Caesar, come, Bailey. It is time to go
+home.' Up bounded the two dogs at her bidding, but the darling little
+rogue, Bailey, pretended to be very busy looking for something in the
+grass. Then the dogs, seeing that _he_ did not mind, went leaping off,
+tumbling over each other, pretending to bite, and growling at a great
+rate. So Miss Laura walked a few steps nearer Bailey, and called
+again--'Come, Gouldy, come, Caesar, come, _Bailey_.' The dogs ran to
+her as before, but Bailey walked as grave as any deacon, and looking
+sideways at her, with a merry twinkle in his blue eyes, and a comical
+little chuckle, he said--'Miss Laura, there is no _dog_ of that name
+in this place.' His face looked so full of fun and mischief, that Miss
+Laura screamed out laughing, and then Bailey laughed, and was very
+glad he had been so funny."
+
+"What a funny little fellow," exclaimed the children, "to make believe
+Miss Laura did not mean him when she called. I _do_ wish he could come
+and play with us. He's a darling! Well, please go on Aunt Fanny."
+
+"While we were sitting in the parlor, Bailey brought me a superb book
+of engravings to look at. They were flowers. I only wish you could
+have heard him telling me the long names, slowly and carefully, in
+such a sweet little voice--'This is the Rho-de-den-dron,' and then
+giving a quick, satisfied sigh, because he had gotten it all right.
+When he showed me a picture of a splendid lily, I looked at the
+beautiful flower, and then at his innocent baby-brow, and in his
+unclouded eyes, through which the immortal soul shone purer and
+whiter than any lily, and softly said--'Consider the lilies of the
+field; they toil not, neither do they spin;' and as I bent over to
+kiss this immortal lily, I heard the gentle little mother murmur--'Yet
+Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.' Truly the
+innocence of a little child invests him with a greater glory than any
+this world can give. Why may we not always retain it, pure and
+undefiled?
+
+"At last the carriage came to take me away; and they all bid me a kind
+adieu; and Bailey and Daisy kissed me so lovingly, that I felt the
+kisses all the way to my heart, where I mean to keep the memory of
+them as long as I live. Wonderful to relate, something happened at the
+very last moment, that made Bailey dance with delight, for Edith, shy
+Edith, ran to me and put up her sweet pink and white cheek for a kiss;
+and so I left beautiful Idlewild, a very happy Aunt Fanny."
+
+The children were delighted with this account, which Minnie called "a
+very nice _inscription_."
+
+"And now about the birds, Aunt Fanny. You know you told us to put you
+in mind."
+
+"Oh, yes. Well, I will try to remember what I read in the Home Journal
+a year ago about the dear little winter birds at Idlewild."
+
+"There is a charming study at the north-west corner of the house; and
+the father of Daisy, and Edith, and Bailey, began his beautiful little
+story, by saying that he had two very sociable sets of visitors in
+his study early every morning. First the little folks jump out of
+their beds, and run in to him in their slippers and nightgowns, just
+as Laina the cook, with her kind dark face, comes along with the
+tea-tray for him, and bread for the second set of visitors. The
+children crumble the bread very joyfully and carefully, and the window
+is quickly opened, (for it is winter, and snowing,) and the
+bread-feast is spread out over the roof of the portico.
+
+"Then the children cluster round the fire, and talk about the dogs and
+the peacock and their lessons, keeping one eye upon the window, near
+which the snow-white hemlocks are bowing in the wintry wind.
+
+"Presently--'Hush! There they are!' and the little nightgowns flutter
+softly to the window, and gaze lovingly at fifteen or twenty little
+birds, in only their bare feet and feathers, who have come with the
+first peep of dawn, and are made happy with a bountiful breakfast.
+They were dear old birds, that had been before, and no doubt some
+invited friends. Such a nice time as they all have! inside the window
+and out; and the children are so delighted that they can soften the
+winter for those poor little houseless ones out in the cold, who,
+remembering the kindness of last year, came so trustingly again. It
+was this confidence and love that was shown by the dear little birds,
+that made the children so glad; and a rosier, happier troop of little
+folk, could hardly be found than this early morning party in Idlewild
+study."
+
+"Oh! oh! how sweet! how lovely!" cried the children. "How we wish we
+lived at Idlewild, or at any rate in the country, where we could feed
+the little birds. We wish it would snow like every thing this very
+minute."
+
+Aunt Fanny laughed, and said she was delighted, the story had pleased
+them so much, but was afraid she had not done it justice, as it had
+been most beautifully told in the Home Journal; but she could not
+remember the exact words.
+
+[Illustration: THE WICKED WATER FAIRY.]
+
+After tea that evening, the whole family went out in a large row-boat.
+It was bright moonlight. A light breeze stole through the
+tree-tops, making soft music; and it was so still and sweet on the
+water, that everybody felt a thrill of delight.
+
+Charley had been carried down to the water, and he sat in the bow of
+the boat, leaning his head upon his mother's breast. He was in no
+pain, and soothed by the measured and musical drip of the oars, he
+closed his blue eyes and fell into a sweet sleep.
+
+In a few moments he was awakened by a tap upon his arm; opening his
+eyes, he beheld, close by him, seated upon the back of a flying-fish,
+an ugly kelpie, or water-fairy, with a malevolent, evil aspect, who
+regarded him with a look of hate.
+
+"Come out of the boat! come out of the boat!" he said, in a baleful
+whisper.
+
+Spite of his terror and shrinking, Charley felt himself impelled to
+lean over and look down into the moon-lit water.
+
+Oh! what frightful forms he saw! Some riding on crabs, some on great
+leeches, and more on the backs of flying-fishes, who took tremendous
+leaps in the air, while their riders uttered frantic yells of delight.
+
+[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF THE FAIRIES.]
+
+The poor boy felt that some horrible but irresistible power was
+dragging him down, down into the deep water, where these wicked imps
+would bury him in some dark cave. He struggled to resist the impulse
+to plunge, but it grew stronger and stronger, till, with a faint moan
+of despair, he was just yielding to his hapless fate, when the sound
+of distant fairy music broke upon his ear, and raising his head, he
+beheld, riding swiftly down on the moonbeams, in all the pomp and
+blazonry of military equipment, a band of armed fairy knights, with
+Firefly at their head. On they came, with dash and hurry, and soon the
+air was darkened with arrows and javelins hurled at the hateful
+water-sprites.
+
+Fast and sharp they came, and in a very few moments a still more
+brilliant light gleamed from the eyes of the victorious army, as the
+kelpies, after a short but furious resistance, sank yelling with rage
+and disappointment beneath the wave, and the water became still and
+glassy as before.
+
+The agitated boy heard a tiny but hearty shout of triumph, and then
+the brave little fairy soldiers, after kissing their hands and waving
+their gossamer scarfs at Charley, turned and flew on their light and
+winged steeds, towards the beautiful hollow from which the good Queen
+had sent them, for she knew, by her fairy power, the danger her
+beloved Charley was in.
+
+The music, faint and sweet, lingered till the last lance had flashed
+in the moonbeams, as it disappeared over the tall tree-tops, and then
+it died insensibly away, so lingering were the delicious notes.
+
+Then the wondering boy looking round, saw only the bright moon, the
+still water, and the row-boat full of his brothers and sisters.
+
+"Why, Charley," said his mother, kissing him, "you have had a nice
+little sleep; haven't you?"
+
+"Sleep? Oh no!" answered the bewildered child. "Did you see the
+battle?"
+
+"BATTLE!" screamed all the children. "Why, Charley, you must be
+getting crazy!"
+
+"Not at all," said Charley, very earnestly, "this time it really
+happened;" and he told of the battle of the fairies, while the
+children opened their eyes and mouths so wide with astonishment, that
+their faces looked all holes; and they stared with all their might up
+at the moonbeams and down into the water, in the hope that at least
+some one fairy might have found it necessary to see Charley safe on
+dry land; but I am sorry to have to relate that they were not
+gratified with a sight, though their very eye-balls stuck out, so
+intense and eager did they look, and so sure was Charley that he had
+not been asleep.
+
+_Had he been asleep?_
+
+And now, for more than a month after this, Charley and the rest of the
+children lived a most delightful life. They were up at drum-beat
+every morning. They would not have missed a parade on any account
+whatever, that is, all except Charley, and he enjoyed it almost as
+much as the rest. They were so enthusiastic and glowing in their
+descriptions. They even went to a stag-dance at night, and almost
+killed themselves laughing at the cadets.
+
+This stag-dance is performed on the green. A ring is formed, and a
+tallow candle is stuck in a cut potato, and placed at intervals round
+the circle; and within this not very brilliant illumination, the
+cadets dance with each other to the excellent music of the band. Those
+who personate ladies, take hold of their little bob-tailed jackets,
+and prink and mince, and take fine airs upon themselves, and look so
+precisely like fine ladies, that the real fine ladies looking at them,
+want to give them a good shaking.
+
+But the children went off into fits of laughter at the long and
+quizzical shadows on the ground. When the cadets dance a figure, their
+shadows look like a company of sickly, melancholy monkeys, which dodge
+about in a distracting way, and look so irresistibly funny, that
+everybody shouts with laughter--and it is a very merry spectacle.
+
+Then this pleasant family had the most delightful tea parties in an
+arbor at the back of the house. To be sure the ear-wigs and
+daddy-long-legs, _would_ drop into their tea once in a while, making
+them first squeal, and jump up, and then laugh, and a grasshopper or
+two, _would_ hop suddenly on the cake, and hop more suddenly off,
+before they could catch him; but what of that? Some people shriek so
+if a grasshopper hops near them, you would think it was an elephant
+come to pack them up in his trunk, for the rest of their lives; but
+these children had more sense, and did not mind a little insect a
+thousand times smaller than themselves.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And now I must come to a sad, sad part of my story--I dread to begin
+it--and would gladly have told you a great deal more about the
+fairies, and what they did for Charley; but Mr. Appleton says, you
+would not like to have the same story go through two books, and this,
+I am afraid, is already too long.
+
+But I must relate one circumstance. Charley had retired to his little
+bed one evening earlier than usual; dark, lowering clouds had sped
+quickly over the sky, soon after he fell asleep. The tops of the high
+trees, skirting the fairy hollow, waved restlessly to and fro, and the
+angry growls of the thunder portended a violent storm. This night,
+there was to have been a festival in the beautiful hollow.
+
+As the fairies flew along in the troubled air, and the Queen tried
+vainly to charm away the coming tempest, (for they were to carry
+Charley to the hollow that night,) a dark form, like gathered mist,
+went slowly past, her head bent, her arms folded.
+
+And now, the lightnings came with a blinding glare, and the grand
+booming of Heaven's artillery awoke the solemn echoes. Fast the
+affrighted, shuddering fairies sped away, to hide under the fern
+leaves, and in the tiny caves at the foot of the rocks. But the misty,
+shadowy form still floated past, till it arrived at the open window of
+Charley's room.
+
+[Illustration: THE ANGEL OF DEATH.]
+
+With noiseless motion it glided to the bed, bent over Charley, and
+whispered in a soft, sweet voice, "Beloved one, you are taken away in
+your early and lovely spring-time, because for you, to live, is to
+suffer. You will go where there are no storms, no sorrows, no
+sufferings; clasped in my arms, you will sleep, and be at rest
+forever."
+
+And Charley smiled lovingly upon the ANGEL OF DEATH, and his sleep
+grew deeper, and calmer, and sweeter. But the next day, he told his
+mother, and sisters, and brothers, of his mournful visitor, who had
+passed out of the window into the veiling clouds, and disappeared. The
+children burst into passionate weeping, and clasped him in their arms,
+and refused to let him go. The little mother knew he had been
+_dreaming as before_; but alas! she knew also only too well, that her
+darling's time had come. He suffered no pain; but he became weaker and
+weaker, and life was slowly but surely ebbing away. Consumption, that
+fell disease, had nearly finished her baleful work, and his lamp of
+life, flickering and dim, would soon pass away into the dark valley of
+the shadow of death.
+
+God knew best, and in His infinite wisdom saw fit to take Charley out
+of this wearisome world, in which, if he had lived, he would suffer so
+much.
+
+But the child was so much beloved. _He was the sunlight of the house_;
+and the pang of parting would be so cruel. They knew that they would
+meet again in the place Jesus had prepared for them in His Father's
+house--they knew _that_; but how could they help grieving now?
+
+The good doctor came every day, and used his utmost skill, for he
+dearly loved the sweet, patient child; but it was of no avail,
+Charley's everlasting HOME was ready for him.
+
+Slowly and sadly the poor children wandered around; for their sorrow
+pressed like a weight upon them. They would come softly to his
+bedside, smooth his golden hair, and kiss his forehead, and hope he
+would yet get well; then seeing his pallid face, and little wasted
+hands lying so still outside of the white bedspread, they would go
+hastily away, and shed bitter, bitter tears; vainly struggling to
+repress them, lest he should hear and be grieved.
+
+The joyous little birds still sang in the trees; the majestic
+Highlands still rose in the blue air; and the splendid sunset clouds
+still covered their summits with a glory; the glittering water was
+beautiful as ever. The drums beat to reveille, and crowds of gay
+people walked about the parade-ground.
+
+And Charley was dying.
+
+Even now, the loving guardian angels were waiting on the other side of
+the dark valley, to conduct this summer blossom to his heavenly home.
+Myriads of little children were tuning their golden harps, to greet
+his purified spirit with a hymn of joyful welcome, and Jesus was
+saying, "Come."
+
+And now, his last day on earth was passing--lovely and serene.
+Charley's little bed had been moved in the afternoon, close to the
+open window, where he could see the white sails gliding by on the
+smooth silvery water. A peace from within, not of this world,
+illuminated his sweet face. He had sent for all his brothers and
+sisters, and with a faint voice, and at broken intervals, was talking
+to them, and giving to each one some little trifle belonging to him;
+and one by one, convulsed with sobs, they would rush from the
+room--and after a painful struggle would return, with their tears
+forced back; their loving gaze fastened upon him, whom in a few short
+hours they would see no more.
+
+When the good doctor entered, and saw that the end was so near, his
+features worked painfully, and covering his face with his hands, in
+another moment the great scalding tears trickled through. This brave
+man, in the midst of battle, with the death strokes falling right and
+left, and the great cannons booming destruction before him, had walked
+without fear or flinching among the dead and wounded, giving help and
+succor; but now, loving and tender-hearted as he was brave, he had
+covered his face, and was weeping like a child.
+
+"Tell the doctor not to cry," whispered the dying boy. "I am going
+home to Jesus. I am going _now_," he said, with a gasping sigh. "Kiss
+me, mother. Oh! how I thank you for all your love and kindness. I
+thank you all; I bless you all. God bless you all;" and thus to the
+end, grateful and loving, Charley spoke his last words.
+
+For now his silken hair lay heavy and damp upon his snow-white
+forehead; and as the solemn twilight deepened into shade, and the
+first star broke like a promise in the sky, one little upward
+fluttering sigh was heard, and they knew that this life was ended, and
+Charley was winging his bright way to HEAVEN.
+
+Not a word was spoken, not a sob broke the stillness. The moonbeams,
+struggling into the room, disclosed the little mother on her knees by
+the small white couch, her head buried in the white coverings. The
+children sat sorrow-stricken, motionless, almost breathless, their
+eyes fastened on the face of the dead child, in a despairing hope that
+he might speak again; but not a breath stirred those still lips. The
+good doctor, after a while, tenderly raised the heart-broken mother,
+and led her away, and then sending for some kind neighbors, they
+gently and lovingly prepared the remains of Charley for their last
+quiet resting-place.
+
+How lovely now looked what was left of the good and lovely boy. The
+glistening golden curls pressed closely around the broad, open brow,
+white as a lily, and a heaven-sent smile just parted the pale lips.
+The leaves of a cluster of white roses curled around his little hands,
+which were folded so tenderly above his stilled and quiet heart; and
+every flower that he loved was placed with tears and kisses all about
+him.
+
+But oh! what a desolate cry arose in those children's hearts when the
+little coffin was closed, and the sweet, peaceful face was seen no
+more. Charley was in heaven--Charley was happy, but they wanted him,
+_they wanted him_.
+
+It seemed so cruel that the world should go on gay as ever, and their
+Charley dead. They wondered, as they came on board the boat, which was
+to carry what was left of their darling back to New York, they
+wondered why every face was not tearful, when theirs was so full of
+sorrow.
+
+They made a little grave for him in the beautiful Greenwood Cemetery.
+The soft moonlight sleeps lovingly upon it, and people tread lightly
+as they approach and read the name of "LAME CHARLEY."
+
+Slowly and sadly passed the rest of the summer, for the little mother
+told no more stories. Once she tried, for she could not bear to see
+the sad faces of her children; alas! that one vanished face, with its
+sweet, grateful smile, and little tender ways, came before her, and
+the story was lost in a flood of tears.
+
+But late one lovely evening, as she was sitting by the open window,
+thinking of her loved and lost one, some friend, unseen beneath, sang
+these words, to a sweet and tender melody--
+
+  "Mildly, sweet summer moon,
+      Shine on this mother, weeping;
+  Whisper within her heart,
+      'He is not dead, but sleeping.'
+
+  "Softly, sweet summer stars,
+      Evermore vigil keeping,
+  Tell her, in steadfast tones,
+      'He is not dead, but sleeping.'
+
+  "Gently, sweet summer wind,
+      All things in perfume steeping;
+  Breathe in her sorrowing soul,
+      'He is not dead, but sleeping;
+
+  "'And safe in Jesus' arms,
+      His great reward is reaping.'
+  Up! mother, up! and cry,
+      'He is not dead, but sleeping.'"
+
+A faint flush passed over the mother's pale cheek, for she knew that
+some one who loved her, had thus tenderly warned her that her grief
+was not endured as hopefully as it should be. She had not remembered
+that her beloved Charley was only "gone before, not lost."
+
+With an earnest, prayerful effort, she once more grew cheerful, and
+with her cheerfulness came happiness to the children's hearts, though
+they all their lives will remember their good, pure, and tenderly
+beloved brother--whom you, dear little reader, also love, and know as
+
+LAME CHARLEY.
+
+
+Dear little readers, you and I have now followed Charley together
+through six books, in which his life, and the lives of his brothers
+and sisters, have been faithfully portrayed. If the good and pure life
+of the little lame child, now happy in heaven, gives you _one_
+steadfast resolution, to endeavor, from this time forth, to lead a
+good and pure life, it will gladden the inmost heart of your loving
+
+               AUNT FANNY.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+  Variations and inconsistencies in spelling, hyphenation, and
+  punctuation in the original text have been retained in this ebook.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Fairy Nightcaps, by Frances Elizabeth Barrow
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