`` This is a pleasant place , '' said Thistle ; `` it shall be my home for a while . Come hither , blue dragon-fly , I would gladly make a friend of you , for I am all alone . '' The dragon-fly folded his shining wings beside the Elf , listened to the tale he told , promised to befriend the lonely one , and strove to make the forest a happy home to him . So here dwelt Thistle , and many kind friends gathered round him , for he spoke gently to them , and they knew nothing of the cruel deeds he had done ; and for a while he was happy and content . But at length he grew weary of the gentle birds , and wild-flowers , and sought new pleasure in destroying the beauty he was tired of ; and soon the friends who had so kindly welcomed him looked upon him as an evil spirit , and shrunk away as he approached . At length his friend the dragon-fly besought him to leave the quiet home he had disturbed . Then Thistle was very angry , and while the dragon-fly was sleeping among the flowers that hung over the lake , he led an ugly spider to the spot , and bade him weave his nets about the sleeping insect , and bind him fast . The cruel spider gladly obeyed the ungrateful Fairy ; and soon the poor fly could move neither leg nor wing . Then Thistle flew away through the wood , leaving sorrow and trouble behind him . He had not journeyed far before he grew weary , and lay down to rest . Long he slept , and when he awoke , and tried to rise , his hands and wings were bound ; while beside him stood two strange little figures , with dark faces and garments , that rustled like withered leaves ; who cried to him , as he struggled to get free , -- `` Lie still , you naughty Fairy , you are in the Brownies ' power , and shall be well punished for your cruelty ere we let you go . '' So poor Thistle lay sorrowfully , wondering what would come of it , and wishing Lily-Bell would come to help and comfort him ; but he had left her , and she could not help him now . Soon a troop of Brownies came rustling through the air , and gathered round him , while one who wore an acorn-cup on his head , and was their King , said , as he stood beside the trembling Fairy , -- `` You have done many cruel things , and caused much sorrow to happy hearts ; now you are in my power , and I shall keep you prisoner till you have repented . You can not dwell on the earth without harming the fair things given you to enjoy , so you shall live alone in solitude and darkness , till you have learned to find happiness in gentle deeds , and forget yourself in giving joy to others . When you have learned this , I will set you free . '' Then the Brownies bore him to a high , dark rock , and , entering a little door , led him to a small cell , dimly lighted by a crevice through which came a single gleam of sunlight ; and there , through long , long days , poor Thistle sat alone , and gazed with wistful eyes at the little opening , longing to be out on the green earth . No one came to him , but the silent Brownies who brought his daily food ; and with bitter tears he wept for Lily-Bell , mourning his cruelty and selfishness , seeking to do some kindly deed that might atone for his wrong-doing . A little vine that grew outside his prison rock came creeping up , and looked in through the crevice , as if to cheer the lonely Fairy , who welcomed it most gladly , and daily sprinkled its soft leaves with his small share of water , that the little vine might live , even if it darkened more and more his dim cell . The watchful Brownies saw this kind deed , and brought him fresh flowers , and many things , which Thistle gratefully received , though he never knew it was his kindness to the vine that gained for him these pleasures . Thus did poor Thistle strive to be more gentle and unselfish , and grew daily happier and better .
Now while Thistledown was a captive in the lonely cell , XXXXX was seeking him far and wide , and sadly traced him by the sorrowing hearts he had left behind .
Brownies Lily-Bell Thistle acorn-cup daily days dragon-fly left wild-flowers wrong-doing