She unbound the starving dragon-fly , and tended the wounded birds ; but though all learned to love her , none could tell where the Brownies had borne her friend , till a little wind came whispering by , and told her that a sweet voice had been heard , singing Fairy songs , deep in a moss-grown rock . Then Lily-Bell went seeking through the forest , listening for the voice . Long she looked and listened in vain ; when one day , as she was wandering through a lonely dell , she heard a faint , low sound of music , and soon a distant voice mournfully singing , -- `` Bright shines the summer sun , Soft is the summer air ; Gayly the wood-birds sing , Flowers are blooming fair . `` But , deep in the dark , cold rock , Sadly I dwell , Longing for thee , dear friend , Lily-Bell ! Lily-Bell ! '' `` Thistle , dear Thistle , where are you ? '' joyfully cried Lily-Bell , as she flew from rock to rock . But the voice was still , and she would have looked in vain , had she not seen a little vine , whose green leaves fluttering to and fro seemed beckoning her to come ; and as she stood among its flowers she sang , -- `` Through sunlight and summer air I have sought for thee long , Guided by birds and flowers , And now by thy song . `` Thistledown ! Thistledown ! O'er hill and dell Hither to comfort thee Comes Lily-Bell . '' Then from the vine-leaves two little arms were stretched out to her , and Thistledown was found . So Lily-Bell made her home in the shadow of the vine , and brought such joy to Thistle , that his lonely cell seemed pleasanter to him than all the world beside ; and he grew daily more like his gentle friend . But it did not last long , for one day she did not come . He watched and waited long , for the little face that used to peep smiling in through the vine-leaves . He called and beckoned through the narrow opening , but no Lily-Bell answered ; and he wept sadly as he thought of all she had done for him , and that now he could not go to seek and help her , for he had lost his freedom by his own cruel and wicked deeds . At last he besought the silent Brownie earnestly to tell him whither she had gone . `` O let me go to her , '' prayed Thistle ; `` if she is in sorrow , I will comfort her , and show my gratitude for all she has done for me : dear Brownie , set me free , and when she is found I will come and be your prisoner again . I will bear and suffer any danger for her sake . '' `` Lily-Bell is safe , '' replied the Brownie ; `` come , you shall learn the trial that awaits you . ''
Then he led the wondering Fairy from his prison , to a group of tall , drooping ferns , beneath whose shade a large white lily had been placed , forming a little tent , within which , on a couch of thick green moss , lay XXXXX in a deep sleep ; the sunlight stole softly in , and all was cool and still .
Brownies Gayly Lily-Bell Thistle Thistledown daily day fro vine-leaves wood-birds