Soon the golden light gleamed faintly through the cell , and she heard little voices calling for help , and high up among the heavy cobwebs hung poor little flies struggling to free themselves , while their cruel enemies sat in their nets , watching their pain . With her wand the Fairy broke the bands that held them , tenderly bound up their broken wings , and healed their wounds ; while they lay in the warm light , and feebly hummed their thanks to their kind deliverer . Then she went to the ugly brown spiders , and in gentle words told them , how in Fairy Land their kindred spun all the elfin cloth , and in return the Fairies gave them food , and then how happily they lived among the green leaves , spinning garments for their neighbors . `` And you too , '' said she , `` shall spin for me , and I will give you better food than helpless insects . You shall live in peace , and spin your delicate threads into a mantle for the stern King ; and I will weave golden threads amid the gray , that when folded over his cold heart gentle thoughts may enter in and make it their home . '' And while she gayly sung , the little weavers spun their silken threads , the flies on glittering wings flew lovingly above her head , and over all the golden light shone softly down . When the Frost-Spirits told their King , he greatly wondered and often stole to look at the sunny little room where friends and enemies worked peacefully together . Still the light grew brighter , and floated out into the cold air , where it hung like bright clouds above the dreary gardens , whence all the Spirits ' power could not drive it ; and green leaves budded on the naked trees , and flowers bloomed ; but the Spirits heaped snow upon them , and they bowed their heads and died . At length the mantle was finished , and amid the gray threads shone golden ones , making it bright ; and she sent it to the King , entreating him to wear it , for it would bring peace and love to dwell within his breast . But he scornfully threw it aside , and bade his Spirits take her to a colder cell , deep in the earth ; and there with harsh words they left her . Still she sang gayly on , and the falling drops kept time so musically , that the King in his cold ice-halls wondered at the low , sweet sounds that came stealing up to him . Thus Violet dwelt , and each day the golden light grew stronger ; and from among the crevices of the rocky walls came troops of little velvet-coated moles , praying that they might listen to the sweet music , and lie in the warm light . `` We lead , '' said they , `` a dreary life in the cold earth ; the flower-roots are dead , and no soft dews descend for us to drink , no little seed or leaf can we find . Ah , good Fairy , let us be your servants : give us but a few crumbs of your daily bread , and we will do all in our power to serve you . '' And Violet said , Yes ; so day after day they labored to make a pathway through the frozen earth , that she might reach the roots of the withered flowers ; and soon , wherever through the dark galleries she went , the soft light fell upon the roots of flowers , and they with new life spread forth in the warm ground , and forced fresh sap to the blossoms above . Brightly they bloomed and danced in the soft light , and the Frost-Spirits tried in vain to harm them , for when they came beneath the bright clouds their power to do evil left them . From his dark castle the King looked out on the happy flowers , who nodded gayly to him , and in sweet colors strove to tell him of the good little Spirit , who toiled so faithfully below , that they might live . And when he turned from the brightness without , to his stately palace , it seemed so cold and dreary , that he folded Violet 's mantle round him , and sat beneath the faded wreath upon his ice-carved throne , wondering at the strange warmth that came from it ; till at length he bade his Spirits bring the little Fairy from her dismal prison . Soon they came hastening back , and prayed him to come and see how lovely the dark cell had grown . The rough floor was spread with deep green moss , and over wall and roof grew flowery vines , filling the air with their sweet breath ; while above played the clear , soft light , casting rosy shadows on the glittering drops that lay among the fragrant leaves ; and beneath the vines stood Violet , casting crumbs to the downy little moles who ran fearlessly about and listened as she sang to them .
When the old King saw how much fairer she had made the dreary cell than his palace rooms , gentle thoughts within whispered him to grant her prayer , and let the little Fairy go back to her friends and home ; but the XXXXX breathed upon the flowers and bid him see how frail they were , and useless to a King .
Frost-Spirits Violet daily day dews downy pathway spiders stealing weavers