The night-wind rustled through the boughs , rocking the flowers to sleep ; the wild birds sang their evening hymns , and all within the wood grew calm and still ; paler and paler grew the purple light , lower and lower drooped little Annie 's head , the tall ferns bent to shield her from the dew , the whispering pines sang a soft lullaby ; and when the Autumn moon rose up , her silver light shone on the child , where , pillowed on green moss , she lay asleep amid the wood-flowers in the dim old forest . And all night long beside her stood the Fairy she had sought , and by elfin spell and charm sent to the sleeping child this dream . Little Annie dreamed she sat in her own garden , as she had often sat before , with angry feelings in her heart , and unkind words upon her lips . The magic flower was ringing its soft warning , but she paid no heed to anything , save her own troubled thoughts ; thus she sat , when suddenly a low voice whispered in her ear , -- `` Little Annie , look and see the evil things that you are cherishing ; I will clothe in fitting shapes the thoughts and feelings that now dwell within your heart , and you shall see how great their power becomes , unless you banish them for ever . '' Then Annie saw , with fear and wonder , that the angry words she uttered changed to dark , unlovely forms , each showing plainly from what fault or passion it had sprung . Some of the shapes had scowling faces and bright , fiery eyes ; these were the spirits of Anger . Others , with sullen , anxious looks , seemed gathering up all they could reach , and Annie saw that the more they gained , the less they seemed to have ; and these she knew were shapes of Selfishness . Spirits of Pride were there , who folded their shadowy garments round them , and turned scornfully away from all the rest . These and many others little Annie saw , which had come from her own heart , and taken form before her eyes . When first she saw them , they were small and weak ; but as she looked they seemed to grow and gather strength , and each gained a strange power over her . She could not drive them from her sight , and they grew ever stronger , darker , and more unlovely to her eyes . They seemed to cast black shadows over all around , to dim the sunshine , blight the flowers , and drive away all bright and lovely things ; while rising slowly round her Annie saw a high , dark wall , that seemed to shut out everything she loved ; she dared not move , or speak , but , with a strange fear at her heart , sat watching the dim shapes that hovered round her . Higher and higher rose the shadowy wall , slowly the flowers near her died , lingeringly the sunlight faded ; but at last they both were gone , and left her all alone behind the gloomy wall . Then the spirits gathered round her , whispering strange things in her ear , bidding her obey , for by her own will she had yielded up her heart to be their home , and she was now their slave . Then she could hear no more , but , sinking down among the withered flowers , wept sad and bitter tears , for her lost liberty and joy ; then through the gloom there shone a faint , soft light , and on her breast she saw her fairy flower , upon whose snow-white leaves her tears lay shining . Clearer and brighter grew the radiant light , till the evil spirits turned away to the dark shadow of the wall , and left the child alone . The light and perfume of the flower seemed to bring new strength to Annie , and she rose up , saying , as she bent to kiss the blossom on her breast , `` Dear flower , help and guide me now , and I will listen to your voice , and cheerfully obey my faithful fairy bell . '' Then in her dream she felt how hard the spirits tried to tempt and trouble her , and how , but for her flower , they would have led her back , and made all dark and dreary as before . Long and hard she struggled , and tears often fell ; but after each new trial , brighter shone her magic flower , and sweeter grew its breath , while the spirits lost still more their power to tempt her . Meanwhile , green , flowering vines crept up the high , dark wall , and hid its roughness from her sight ; and over these she watched most tenderly , for soon , wherever green leaves and flowers bloomed , the wall beneath grew weak , and fell apart .
Thus little XXXXX worked and hoped , till one by one the evil spirits fled away , and in their place came shining forms , with gentle eyes and smiling lips , who gathered round her with such loving words , and brought such strength and joy to Annie 's heart , that nothing evil dared to enter in ; while slowly sank the gloomy wall , and , over wreaths of fragrant flowers , she passed out into the pleasant world again , the fairy gift no longer pale and drooping , but now shining like a star upon her breast .
Annie evening feelings first left lullaby night obey others wood-flowers