But shall I never see YOU more ? Ah ! if you would only stay with me , I should indeed be good . '' `` I can not stay now , little Annie , '' said the Elf , `` but when another Spring comes round , I shall be here again , to see how well the fairy gift has done its work . And now farewell , dear child ; be faithful to yourself , and the magic flower will never fade . '' Then the gentle Fairy folded her little arms around Annie 's neck , laid a soft kiss on her cheek , and , spreading wide her shining wings , flew singing up among the white clouds floating in the sky . And little Annie sat among her flowers , and watched with wondering joy the fairy blossom shining on her breast . The pleasant days of Spring and Summer passed away , and in little Annie 's garden Autumn flowers were blooming everywhere , with each day 's sun and dew growing still more beautiful and bright ; but the fairy flower , that should have been the loveliest of all , hung pale and drooping on little Annie 's bosom ; its fragrance seemed quite gone , and the clear , low music of its warning chime rang often in her ear . When first the Fairy placed it there , she had been pleased with her new gift , and for a while obeyed the fairy bell , and often tried to win some fragrance from the flower , by kind and pleasant words and actions ; then , as the Fairy said , she found a sweet reward in the strange , soft perfume of the magic blossom , as it shone upon her breast ; but selfish thoughts would come to tempt her , she would yield , and unkind words fell from her lips ; and then the flower drooped pale and scentless , the fairy bell rang mournfully , Annie would forget her better resolutions , and be again a selfish , wilful little child . At last she tried no longer , but grew angry with the faithful flower , and would have torn it from her breast ; but the fairy spell still held it fast , and all her angry words but made it ring a louder , sadder peal . Then she paid no heed to the silvery music sounding in her ear , and each day grew still more unhappy , discontented , and unkind ; so , when the Autumn days came round , she was no better for the gentle Fairy 's gift , and longed for Spring , that it might be returned ; for now the constant echo of the mournful music made her very sad . One sunny morning , when the fresh , cool Winds were blowing , and not a cloud was in the sky , little Annie walked among her flowers , looking carefully into each , hoping thus to find the Fairy , who alone could take the magic blossom from her breast . But she lifted up their drooping leaves , peeped into their dewy cups in vain ; no little Elf lay hidden there , and she turned sadly from them all , saying , `` I will go out into the fields and woods , and seek her there . I will not listen to this tiresome music more , nor wear this withered flower longer . '' So out into the fields she went , where the long grass rustled as she passed , and timid birds looked at her from their nests ; where lovely wild-flowers nodded in the wind , and opened wide their fragrant leaves , to welcome in the murmuring bees , while butterflies , like winged flowers , danced and glittered in the sun . Little Annie looked , searched , and asked them all if any one could tell her of the Fairy whom she sought ; but the birds looked wonderingly at her with their soft , bright eyes , and still sang on ; the flowers nodded wisely on their stems , but did not speak , while butterfly and bee buzzed and fluttered away , one far too busy , the other too idle , to stay and tell her what she asked . Then she went through broad fields of yellow grain , that waved around her like a golden forest ; here crickets chirped , grasshoppers leaped , and busy ants worked , but they could not tell her what she longed to know . `` Now will I go among the hills , '' said Annie , `` she may be there . '' So up and down the green hill-sides went her little feet ; long she searched and vainly she called ; but still no Fairy came . Then by the river-side she went , and asked the gay dragon-flies , and the cool white lilies , if the Fairy had been there ; but the blue waves rippled on the white sand at her feet , and no voice answered her .
Then into the forest little XXXXX went ; and as she passed along the dim , cool paths , the wood-flowers smiled up in her face , gay squirrels peeped at her , as they swung amid the vines , and doves cooed softly as she wandered by ; but none could answer her .
Annie Elf chime day days dragon-flies first hill-sides morning wild-flowers